MONROE - Senior Skyler Stingley didn't always view himself as a long-distance runner.
"I have always kind of been that mid-distance guy," Stingley said.
Stingley and the Cheesemakers proved that they have some of the top mid-distance runners in the state in winning the 1,600-meter relay at the Simpson Relays on Friday.
As many accolades as the 3,200 relay team has received this season, it's the 1,600 relay that might surprise the state's best competition this year.
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 unit of Ethan Moehn, Matt Bush, Alex Barenklau and Stingley finished first with a time of 3 minutes, 26.7 seconds - the second-fastest time in the state this year among all divisions, according to the Track and Field Honor Roll.
Monroe's 1,600 relay qualified for state last year and appeared to finish third, but was disqualified when an official ruled a Cheesemakers runner made contact with another runner in a relay exchange zone.
"A lot of us have been saying that as good as our 4x800 relay team is, our 4x400 relay may be just as good," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "This is a great time at this point in the season. We have a lot of quality 400 runners. This just shows our potential in a high-caliber relay."
Monona Grove edged Sun Prairie 86-84 to win the team title. Monroe finished third (55.5). The Sun Prairie girls won the Simpson Relays for the fifth straight year by outdistancing Stoughton 101-79. The Monroe girls were eighth with 15 points.
Monroe freshman Riley Buol won the triathlon, setting a points record with 1,606. He went 18 feet in the long jump, 35-11 in the shot put and he ran the 400 in 57.5 seconds. Buol broke Dale Meinert's record (1,564) set in 2002.
"It's quite an accomplishment to break a 10-year old record," Miller said.
Monroe sophomore Jake Hirsbrunner ran the anchor 400 to lead the Cheesemakers to first in the 800 medley relay. Hirsbrunner teamed with Bryce Messerli, Bryan Schroeder and Dakota Phillips to win the 800 medley relay with a time of 1:40.6. Hirsbrunner has not high jumped in the last three meets due to tendinitis, but he had no problems running the 400.
"You get tendinitis from overuse," he said. "I have played three sports and it's bound to happen. It just kills me to see other guys high jump because that is my favorite event. I think it's a good time to rest. I just want to be better at the end of the year instead of winning invitationals now."
The Cheesemakers' distance medley relay team of Steve Christiansen, David Kelly, Cody Oudinot and Luke Peterson took first in 11:00.2.
"This is impressive," Miller said. "Our depth in the long distances is awfully strong."
Stingley teamed with Seth Calaway, Barenklau and Jon Becker to take second in the 800 relay in 1:34.3.
"It's a little different running in the sprint relays than the distance relays," Stingley said. "I've been training all year for the 4x800 relay for the Penn Relays. I haven't run many sprint relays this year. The 200 is not unusual to me. Any meet is a workout. It's just as important if I come out and run the 800."
The long jumping trio of Forrest Klug-Hanson, Blake Duffy and Messerli took third with a combined distance of 56-0 3/4. Messerli had the top long jump (20-0).
Monroe sophomore Grant Keith cleared a season-best 11-6 in the pole vault.
"We are starting to develop some field athletes," Miller said. "It (pole vault) is an event we are getting someone to step up. His individual effort was very good. It's two feet better than he did last year."
In the girls meet, Monroe's 400 relay team of Jess Jackson, Maria Eberle, Tre Voegeli and Mafer Larraga finished third (54.2). The Cheesemakers' hurdle shuttle relay team of Nicole Witt, Kira Briggs and Corlissa Robertson was fourth (1:00.6).
"We held a lot of our kids back today," Miller said. "We have some injuries and we were probably being overcautious. When that happens, it doesn't equate to a lot of points."
Monroe sophomore Taylor Barrett had the best high jump (5-0) even though the Cheesemakers didn't place in the top three as a team.
"She has been pretty consistent getting 4-10," Miller said of Barrett. "This is the first time she has got 5-0 outdoors.
"I have always kind of been that mid-distance guy," Stingley said.
Stingley and the Cheesemakers proved that they have some of the top mid-distance runners in the state in winning the 1,600-meter relay at the Simpson Relays on Friday.
As many accolades as the 3,200 relay team has received this season, it's the 1,600 relay that might surprise the state's best competition this year.
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 unit of Ethan Moehn, Matt Bush, Alex Barenklau and Stingley finished first with a time of 3 minutes, 26.7 seconds - the second-fastest time in the state this year among all divisions, according to the Track and Field Honor Roll.
Monroe's 1,600 relay qualified for state last year and appeared to finish third, but was disqualified when an official ruled a Cheesemakers runner made contact with another runner in a relay exchange zone.
"A lot of us have been saying that as good as our 4x800 relay team is, our 4x400 relay may be just as good," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "This is a great time at this point in the season. We have a lot of quality 400 runners. This just shows our potential in a high-caliber relay."
Monona Grove edged Sun Prairie 86-84 to win the team title. Monroe finished third (55.5). The Sun Prairie girls won the Simpson Relays for the fifth straight year by outdistancing Stoughton 101-79. The Monroe girls were eighth with 15 points.
Monroe freshman Riley Buol won the triathlon, setting a points record with 1,606. He went 18 feet in the long jump, 35-11 in the shot put and he ran the 400 in 57.5 seconds. Buol broke Dale Meinert's record (1,564) set in 2002.
"It's quite an accomplishment to break a 10-year old record," Miller said.
Monroe sophomore Jake Hirsbrunner ran the anchor 400 to lead the Cheesemakers to first in the 800 medley relay. Hirsbrunner teamed with Bryce Messerli, Bryan Schroeder and Dakota Phillips to win the 800 medley relay with a time of 1:40.6. Hirsbrunner has not high jumped in the last three meets due to tendinitis, but he had no problems running the 400.
"You get tendinitis from overuse," he said. "I have played three sports and it's bound to happen. It just kills me to see other guys high jump because that is my favorite event. I think it's a good time to rest. I just want to be better at the end of the year instead of winning invitationals now."
The Cheesemakers' distance medley relay team of Steve Christiansen, David Kelly, Cody Oudinot and Luke Peterson took first in 11:00.2.
"This is impressive," Miller said. "Our depth in the long distances is awfully strong."
Stingley teamed with Seth Calaway, Barenklau and Jon Becker to take second in the 800 relay in 1:34.3.
"It's a little different running in the sprint relays than the distance relays," Stingley said. "I've been training all year for the 4x800 relay for the Penn Relays. I haven't run many sprint relays this year. The 200 is not unusual to me. Any meet is a workout. It's just as important if I come out and run the 800."
The long jumping trio of Forrest Klug-Hanson, Blake Duffy and Messerli took third with a combined distance of 56-0 3/4. Messerli had the top long jump (20-0).
Monroe sophomore Grant Keith cleared a season-best 11-6 in the pole vault.
"We are starting to develop some field athletes," Miller said. "It (pole vault) is an event we are getting someone to step up. His individual effort was very good. It's two feet better than he did last year."
In the girls meet, Monroe's 400 relay team of Jess Jackson, Maria Eberle, Tre Voegeli and Mafer Larraga finished third (54.2). The Cheesemakers' hurdle shuttle relay team of Nicole Witt, Kira Briggs and Corlissa Robertson was fourth (1:00.6).
"We held a lot of our kids back today," Miller said. "We have some injuries and we were probably being overcautious. When that happens, it doesn't equate to a lot of points."
Monroe sophomore Taylor Barrett had the best high jump (5-0) even though the Cheesemakers didn't place in the top three as a team.
"She has been pretty consistent getting 4-10," Miller said of Barrett. "This is the first time she has got 5-0 outdoors.
