June 14, 2022 at 1:27 p.m.
Albany’s Goebel races to state championship
Olivia Goebel has made a habit of breaking records for the Albany girls track and field team and continued her remarkable season with a state Class AA championship in the 3,200-meter race.
What makes her accomplishment even more remarkable is that she has only run the 3,200 four times this season.
That final race of the season came at the Minnesota State High School League Class A Boys and Girls Track and Field State Meet June 10 at St. Michael-Albertville High School in St. Michael, when she came in first with a time of 10 minutes, 34.40 seconds.
“I really didn’t start racing it until closer toward the end of the year,” Goebel said.
She told her coach that she thought she should race the 3,200. She tried it and “instantly fell in love with the race,” Goebel said. “I’m really glad I chose to race it. Right from the get-go, it was like OK, this is my race. I love it.”
At the state meet, her strategy was to let the second-place racer get ahead for the first mile, but that did not happen. “So, I just took charge of the race, and I think my pace was right on track,” she said.
In the last lap, Goebel used her breakaway speed to pull out a gutsy victory.
“I knew she wanted to pass me and … used all of the rest of my energy and finished strong,” she said.
Luan Scorzelli of St. Paul Highland Park came in second with a time of 10:35.43.
Albany head coach Kathy Conrad said Goebel has broken the 3,200 record twice and the 1,600 four times this season.
Goebel also raced in the 1,600 the next day, June 11, and finished sixth among 16 runners with a time of 5:01.83. Aleah Miller of Alexandria snagged first place with a time of 4:59.57.
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