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Austin's Sorenson adds hurdles to future of his track career
By Ross Thede / Austin Daily Herald
Evan Sorenson's success in the hurdles and pole vault has led the Austin High School senior to even greater heights.
On Tuesday, Sorenson signed his National Letter of Intent to run track at North Dakota State University in Fargo, where he will pursue his future as a decathlete. The decathlon consists of 10 events, of which the 110-meter high hurdles and the pole vault are a part of. Sorenson earned All-State honors in both events, as well as the 300-meter hurdles, at last spring's Class AA State Track and Field Meet.
"The decathlon, I think, is a great fit for Evan," said AHS track coach Tony Einertson. "He's definitely been a multi-talented athlete for us over the years."
Sorenson qualified for state in the 110 highs as a sophomore but failed to reach the finals, a hurdle he quickly overcame the following spring. Sorenson reached state in three events and earned All-State status (top nine) in each. His ability to compete on a number of different platforms makes him applicable as a decathlete.
"I think it's going to be a fun experience," Sorenson said. "Doing the decathlon didn't really dawn on me until the school contacted me about doing it.
"I want to try something new, and I think I can be successful at it if I work hard."
Hard work has not been a stretch for this Austin student-athlete, who threatened to break the school record in the 110 high hurdles. His career-best time of 14.91 seconds at the Section 1AA meet in Northfield came dangerously close to breaking Tom Krieger's record of 14.74 set in 1979 at the state meet.
Sorenson overlooked a school record to eye a state championship in the pole vault before his senior season is over.
"I think I have a good shot at a state title this year," he said, "but it's not going to be easy. I'll be in the weight room all winter, running the hallways."
Sorenson visited three schools in three weekends as the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State at Mankato and NDSU pursued the local standout. They were all in the running, but Sorenson felt more at home on Fargo's campus.
"That's how I made that decision," he said.
The decathlon coach at NDSU is Stevie Keller, who still competes unattached. Keller is an Olympic trials qualifier for 2004.
"It's obvious by his stats that he knows what he's doing," Sorenson said. "Hopefully someday I can be the same caliber."
At his signing ceremony Tuesday at Austin High School, Sorenson thanked his parents for their support, his coaches for their instruction, and the community of Austin for helping to fund the rebuilding project at the Wescott Track. The upgrade to a Mondo surface track has AHS as the envy of the state, and Sorenson has tried not to put it to waste.
"It's really a beautiful surface to run on, it makes a big difference," he said.
Sorenson said he was unsure of what he would study at college, but he did exclaim an interest in joining the ROTC with aspirations of becoming a commercial pilot someday.
"I'll just major in track, I guess," he said.
