Zupancich sets records

Ely sophomore Jen Zupancich had a big week.In a matter of six days, Zupancich shattered school and track records, picked up six first-place finishes, and vaulted to the top of the state rankings in her signature event - the 200 meter dash.It was in the 200 that Zupancich set a new Ely standard, during the May 5 Kerzie Invitational at Virginia.Zupancich shattered the mark set by former Timberwolf Kizzy Lovald and blew away the competition in 26.1 seconds, establishing a new Virginia track record in the process.And in ratings compiled by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Zupancich is first among all Class A girls in the 200.Zupancich leads the way as the Wolves gear up for subsection competition, set for next week at Hibbing.Kerzie InvitationalIn addition to her win in the 200, Zupancich won the high jump with a leap of four feet, 10 inches, and was part of Ely’s first-place 1,600 relay foursome with Carolyn Freeman, Casey Sovil and Ali Schulze.The Wolves also had several second and third-place finishes. Schulze was second in the 400 dash in 1:04.1, while Carolyn Freeman was the runner-up in the 300 hurdles in 52.3 seconds.Jenna Klein placed second in the 3,200 run and Sovil was second in the 600 run.Sovil added a third-place showing in the 1,600 run and the Wolves’ 3,200 relay also took third.Virginia Fun NightZupancich had a hand in three first-place finishes for the Wolves and Ely took third among six teams.Zupancich won the 200 in 28 seconds and took first in the 400 in 1:02.4.It was Zupancich, Freeman, Sovil and Schulze who combined to form a first-place relay in the 1,600, winning in 4;19.5.Klein, Freeman and Sovil all added individual wins for the Wolves.Klein set the pace in the 1,600 in 5:49.5, and Freeman cruised to a win in the 300 hurdles (51.0).In the 800, Sovil ran a 2:28.9 to take first and edged Mesabi East’s Ashley Loe.Ely had a first-place 3,200 relay, as Taryn Cunningham, Schulze, Tomi McDonald and Klein teamed up to win in 10:44.4The Wolves had a second-place finish from Amelia Donars in the 3,200 run (13:21.2) and Zoe Lampman was third (14:19.3) in the same event.Zupancich took second in the high jump in 4-8.Tower-Soudan’s Whitney Johnson was a double-winner, taking both the long jump (15-6) and triple jump (32-8).Team scores were: Eveleth-Gilbert (84), Virginia (83), Ely (81), BEST (50), Mesabi East (44) and Cook (8).