BP’s Forsberg, Hein take second at state

Blooming Prairie athlete Annaka Forsberg extends during her triple jump attempt. Forsberg took second in the high jump event and third in the triple jump at state. Staff photo by Johnnie Phillips
Blooming Prairie sent three field athletes to the 2024 state meet and returned home with plenty of podium pictures and medals after scoring multiple top-three finishes.
Senior Annaka Forsberg faced a tough test in the high jump this season and ultimately came up just short of winning the state title for the third consecutive season, then turned heads the next day by taking third place in the triple jump.
Forsberg hit a final mark of five feet, three inches in the high jump but flew up the standings in the triple jump by leaping 37 feet, 3.5 inches.
The second day of competition was also good to teammate Gabe Hein on his journey to the top of the boys’ high jump rankings.
In just his second year of competing in the event, Hein found himself in a one-versus-one battle with GMLOKS’s Sam Snitker for the state title after hitting a mark of six feet, six inches.
Neither Hein nor Snitker was able to reach the final agreed-upon height of six feet, eight inches, resulting in Snitker winning off of criteria.
“We haven’t hit a six-foot, six-inch mark in a while, and it’s definitely more nerve-racking when you’re here at state. He really gave it his all. It’s so fun seeing him out here smiling because it’s his last year. We’re really proud of him,” said Blooming Prairie head coach Alli Schmidt.
Hein’s final jump might have been unsuccessful, but fans in attendance could do nothing but cheer for the Awesome Blossoms athlete as he walked off the jump with a smile and plenty of hugs for his coaches and teammates.
Blooming Prairie’s Owen Krueger also competed at the state meet in the shot put and discus throw events.
The junior took 16th place in the shot put and finished 17th in the discus the following day.
Forsberg’s big meet helped Blooming Prairie score 18 team points and crack the top 20 in team points with 18.
The Blooming Prairie boys tied Windom Area, Winger-Erskine-McIntosh and Medford for 34th place with 10 points.