DARLINGTON - Albany junior Ciara Kaderly couldn't have scripted a better finish than what the girls cross country team turned in during the WIAA Division 3 Darlington sectional on Saturday.
Belleville junior Noelle Marie was the individual sectional champion with a time of 19 minutes, 27.2 seconds, just ahead of Boscobel junior Mackenzie Kauffman, who took second (19:49.9). Kaderly finished third (19:55.8) and the Comets had five runners finish in the top 13 to run away with the sectional team championship 41-76 over Lancaster to earn the program's first trip to state since 2001.
"It's probably the best day of my life," Kaderly said. "It's so much better to have your team running with you. Our No. 2 runner has mono and we have a senior (Sydnee Woyak) out with an injury. They worked so hard despite all of the odds. When I came to Albany I knew they had some good runners, but I didn't know how it would work out. We have a lot of freshmen. The girls we have stepped up."
Albany freshman Kirsten Oliver took seventh (21:39.7), followed by senior Emily Hauri who took eighth (21:40.6) and sophomore Emma Guenther who was 10th (21:48.4). Albany freshman Megan Anderson took 13th (22:02.6).
"They are running with a lot of confidence right now," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "That (state) has been their goal since last year."
Brewer credited Oliver and Anderson for their improvement this season.
"For freshmen girls you don't know what you will get," Brewer said. "When they come in they don't know how good they can be. These freshmen girls know they can compete now."
Darlington sophomore Erin Wolf has recovered from a pinched nerve in her back earlier this year to earn a state berth. Wolf finished sixth (21:33.8).
"It feels amazing considering last year when we didn't even qualify," Wolf said. "It's one of the best feelings in the world. After conference, I knew I had to push myself. I wish my team would be there with me."
Darlington finished fourth as a team (120) led by Wolf. Darlington junior Paige Schilling took 20th (22:28.7) and freshman Ilse Mendez was 25th (22:45.9). Sophomore teammate Emma Crist finished 31st (23:00.5) and sophomore Meghan Douglas was 38th (23:40.2).
Pecatonica-Argyle didn't have enough runners to score as a team. However, the Vikings had two of the top 45 runners. Pecatonica-Argyle junior Josie Penniston finished 41st (23:43.5) and senior teammate Hannah James took 43rd (23:51).
Darlington coach Arnie Miehe was impressed by Wolf's perseverance to come back from a pinched nerve and get in position to qualify for state.
"She went one and a half weeks without running. Four weeks ago she was running JV. For her to come back shows a lot of character. She came back with a workman-like attitude. You could see a sense of purpose in her eyes."
Belleville junior Noelle Marie was the individual sectional champion with a time of 19 minutes, 27.2 seconds, just ahead of Boscobel junior Mackenzie Kauffman, who took second (19:49.9). Kaderly finished third (19:55.8) and the Comets had five runners finish in the top 13 to run away with the sectional team championship 41-76 over Lancaster to earn the program's first trip to state since 2001.
"It's probably the best day of my life," Kaderly said. "It's so much better to have your team running with you. Our No. 2 runner has mono and we have a senior (Sydnee Woyak) out with an injury. They worked so hard despite all of the odds. When I came to Albany I knew they had some good runners, but I didn't know how it would work out. We have a lot of freshmen. The girls we have stepped up."
Albany freshman Kirsten Oliver took seventh (21:39.7), followed by senior Emily Hauri who took eighth (21:40.6) and sophomore Emma Guenther who was 10th (21:48.4). Albany freshman Megan Anderson took 13th (22:02.6).
"They are running with a lot of confidence right now," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "That (state) has been their goal since last year."
Brewer credited Oliver and Anderson for their improvement this season.
"For freshmen girls you don't know what you will get," Brewer said. "When they come in they don't know how good they can be. These freshmen girls know they can compete now."
Darlington sophomore Erin Wolf has recovered from a pinched nerve in her back earlier this year to earn a state berth. Wolf finished sixth (21:33.8).
"It feels amazing considering last year when we didn't even qualify," Wolf said. "It's one of the best feelings in the world. After conference, I knew I had to push myself. I wish my team would be there with me."
Darlington finished fourth as a team (120) led by Wolf. Darlington junior Paige Schilling took 20th (22:28.7) and freshman Ilse Mendez was 25th (22:45.9). Sophomore teammate Emma Crist finished 31st (23:00.5) and sophomore Meghan Douglas was 38th (23:40.2).
Pecatonica-Argyle didn't have enough runners to score as a team. However, the Vikings had two of the top 45 runners. Pecatonica-Argyle junior Josie Penniston finished 41st (23:43.5) and senior teammate Hannah James took 43rd (23:51).
Darlington coach Arnie Miehe was impressed by Wolf's perseverance to come back from a pinched nerve and get in position to qualify for state.
"She went one and a half weeks without running. Four weeks ago she was running JV. For her to come back shows a lot of character. She came back with a workman-like attitude. You could see a sense of purpose in her eyes."
