Several local track athletes who competed last weekend at Veterans Memorial Stadium will hate to see the track demolished.
The home of the WIAA state track meet, UW-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium will be demolished to pave the way for a new track in 2009. The state track meet is the biggest stage for a collection of talent. It's turning into more than just track stars and storybook endings. It's like an athletic graduation party filled with surprises.
The new track facility will seat about two times the fans and is expected to be ready for the state meet next year.
Sugar River senior Ashley Beutler brought fans to the edge of their seats winning a state title in the 3,200-meter run (10 minutes, 33.43 seconds), breaking a 24-year-old state record set by Sauk Prairie's Lori Wolter in 1984 (10:36.88).
Beutler, a University of Wisconsin recruit swept state titles in the 3,200 and 1,600 for the second straight year. Beutler, who set the state record in the 1,600 last year (4:48.37), won her third straight title in the mile Saturday.
While it helps to have a lot of state qualifiers to finish high at the state meet, it's impressive the Darlington girls track team capitalized the most in its events. It was nail-biting time for Redbird fans and the 1,600-meter relay team delivered a sixth-place finish to secure a state runner-up finish.
Most track fans couldn't help but break into a united clapping cheer rooting for Richland Center's Paul Annear and his state record bid to clear 7-feet in the high jump. Annear, who swept state titles in the triple jump, high jump and long jump for the second straight year, tied the Division 2 high jump record with a jump of 6-11.
Since the state track and field meet moved to La Crosse in 1990, there have been many memorable moments including:
The Monroe 3,200-meter relay team of Brandon Miles, Brett DeNure, Patrick Klein and Aaron Kehoe winning a state title and setting a Division 1 state record with a time of 7 minutes, 42.91 seconds in 2007.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Michael Bennett breaking the Division 1 state records in the 100 (:10.33) and 200 (:20.68) dashes in 1998.
Former Chicago Bear and Green Bay Packer Jim Flanigan of Southern Door setting a Division 2 state record in the shot put (64-feet, 8.75 inches).
The home of the WIAA state track meet, UW-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium will be demolished to pave the way for a new track in 2009. The state track meet is the biggest stage for a collection of talent. It's turning into more than just track stars and storybook endings. It's like an athletic graduation party filled with surprises.
The new track facility will seat about two times the fans and is expected to be ready for the state meet next year.
Sugar River senior Ashley Beutler brought fans to the edge of their seats winning a state title in the 3,200-meter run (10 minutes, 33.43 seconds), breaking a 24-year-old state record set by Sauk Prairie's Lori Wolter in 1984 (10:36.88).
Beutler, a University of Wisconsin recruit swept state titles in the 3,200 and 1,600 for the second straight year. Beutler, who set the state record in the 1,600 last year (4:48.37), won her third straight title in the mile Saturday.
While it helps to have a lot of state qualifiers to finish high at the state meet, it's impressive the Darlington girls track team capitalized the most in its events. It was nail-biting time for Redbird fans and the 1,600-meter relay team delivered a sixth-place finish to secure a state runner-up finish.
Most track fans couldn't help but break into a united clapping cheer rooting for Richland Center's Paul Annear and his state record bid to clear 7-feet in the high jump. Annear, who swept state titles in the triple jump, high jump and long jump for the second straight year, tied the Division 2 high jump record with a jump of 6-11.
Since the state track and field meet moved to La Crosse in 1990, there have been many memorable moments including:
The Monroe 3,200-meter relay team of Brandon Miles, Brett DeNure, Patrick Klein and Aaron Kehoe winning a state title and setting a Division 1 state record with a time of 7 minutes, 42.91 seconds in 2007.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Michael Bennett breaking the Division 1 state records in the 100 (:10.33) and 200 (:20.68) dashes in 1998.
Former Chicago Bear and Green Bay Packer Jim Flanigan of Southern Door setting a Division 2 state record in the shot put (64-feet, 8.75 inches).
