02/21/2026
At the The Last Chance 2026 Weight Lifting competition held in Little Falls on Saturday, February 21st, three dedicated athletes gave outstanding performances in their final opportunity to qualify for state. The Minnesota State Championship will be held in Cannon Falls on March 6th.
Competing proudly for Minnesota, athletes are placed in divisions based on age (DOB), with Eva and Bennett competing at the Varsity level and Mason at the JV level.
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🏋️♀️ Eva Lang – Varsity
• Sn**ch: 36kg (79 lbs) – Clean lift
• Clean & Jerk: 53kg (116 lbs) – Clean lift
• Total: 89kg (196 lbs)
• Improvement: +8kg (17 lbs) from previous meet
Eva delivered a strong performance, improving her total by 8kg from her last competition. State qualification requires a 95kg total, and Eva narrowly missed qualifying by just 6kg (13 lbs). She earned an impressive 3rd place finish at this meet — a tremendous accomplishment and a testament to her continued growth.
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🏋️ Mason Kirchner – JV
• Sn**ch: 63kg (140 lbs) – Personal Record
• Clean & Jerk: 95kg (209 lbs) – Personal Record
• Total: 158kg (349 lbs)
• State Qualifying Total: 130kg (286 lbs)
Mason had an incredible day on the platform, setting personal records in both lifts. With a total of 158kg, he has surpassed the state qualifying total and is currently ranked #1 in his weight division for State qualification. An outstanding performance and exciting momentum heading into State!
Mason Placed 1st at this meet.
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🏋️♂️ Bennett Runkle – Varsity
• Sn**ch: 90kg (200 lbs) – Personal Record
• Clean & Jerk: 114kg (251 lbs) – Personal Record
• Total: 204kg (449 lbs)
• State Qualifying Total: 223kg (491 lbs)
Bennett also had a phenomenal meet, hitting personal records in both lifts. With a massive 204kg total, he continues to push closer to the state qualifying mark and demonstrates remarkable strength and determination.
Bennett took 3rd at this meet.
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This meet truly showcased perseverance, growth, and competitive spirit. With State just around the corner, these athletes have set the tone for what’s to come. The hard work is showing — and the future is bright! 💪
These lifters are coached by Head Coach Ryan Koopman and Assistant Coach Jen Tiesler