Minot High’s Blake Anderson captured state titles in both the shot put and discus at the state track & field meet at the MDU Resources Community Bowl in Bismarck, recording personal records in both. Mike Kraft/MDN

Blake Anderson couldn’t have asked for a better way to cap off his high school track & field career.

The Minot High senior and future Minot State Beaver won a pair of state titles over the first two days of the state meet at the MDU Resources Community Bowl in Bismarck, claiming both the shot put and discus events for his first state track & field titles of his career.

Anderson earned his first state title on Thursday, May 21, with a personal-best toss of 58 feet, 3 inches in the shot put. His previous best was 57 feet, 2 inches back on April 20 at the Minot Boys Invite. Anderson’s state title came less than a week after winning the WDA title for the first time. He and Ethan Howey finished with the same top distance, but Anderson took the title via tiebreaker, which came down to the fourth-best throw by each competitor, as they shared the top three throws at 58-3, 57-2 and 57-1. Anderson’s fourth throw was 55-4, while Howey’s was 51-4.5. Anderson’s winning throw came on his first attempt, while Howey matched him on his final throw.

Anderson was ninth at state in the shot put last year with a throw of 51-0.5

The next day, Anderson was on the top of the podium once again, this time following the discus event. No tiebreaker was needed on Friday, as Anderson again recorded a persona-best throw of 185 feet, 7 inches. Fargo Davies’ Alexander Meece finished second with a distance of 179 feet, 5 inches. Anderson’s previous best mark was 184 feet, 1 inch.

Anderson was the state runner-up in the discus last year with a toss of 168 feet, 8 inches. Century’s Ole Taylor won the title with a throw of 173 feet, 1 inch.

Through two days of competition, Anderson is the lone local athlete to take home a state title, but there were others who placed in the top three.

Minot North’s Cameron Jesz finished runner-up in the long jump with a leap of 22 feet, 7 inches. Bismarck High’s Levi Ehrlich took the title with a distance of 23 feet, 9 inches.

In Class B boys, Stanley’s Ben Hynek was second in the discus (152-5) and third in the shot put (49-6). Carrington’s Andrew Matt won the discus title with a toss of 163 feet, 7 inches.

In Class A girls, Hadlea Faul threw a personal-best 129 feet, 5 inches to take third in the discus. She finished behind Grand Forks Central’s Jacie Reardon (136-2) and Legacy’s Ryen Brothers (132-1).

In Class B girls, Des Lacs-Burlington/Lewis & Clark’s Brynn Hanson finished second in the 3200 meter race, finishing in 11 minutes, 28.94 seconds.

Kenmare-Bowbell’s 4×800 relay team of Taley Michel, Mersadie Miller, Tenley Michel and Anna Peterson placed second with a time of 9:51.47.

Beulah’s Malayah Williams took third in the shot put with a throw of 41 feet, 4 inches.

The final day of the state meet is Saturday, May 23, beginning at 9:30 a.m. There will be nine track events and eight field events.