LA CROSSE - It did not take long for Monroe's boys track team to get on the board Friday at the WIAA Division 2 state track meet.
The Cheesemakers' 3,200-meter relay team finished second in the first finals race on the new track at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
"The track is amazing," said Joe Pecora, who ran the relay's third leg. "It's even better than the state cross country meet."
Cullen Sampson, Skyler Stingly, Pecora and Brett DeNure finished in 8 minutes, 0.6 seconds. That time was less than three seconds behind state champion Dodgeville-Mineral Point, and sixth fastest in Monroe history.
"We knew we had a legitimate shot to win it," Sampson said. "We would have liked to won, but second place isn't bad."
Sampson switched to the leadoff spot to help Monroe get off to a faster start in the race. Freshman Skyler Stingley, who took the baton from Sampson, didn't want to let the team down.
"There was a lot of pressure," Stingley said. "I knew I had to go out fast and contribute to the team."
Monroe finished the first day of the meet in a second-place tie with Nekoosa and Arcadia, and is in contention for a team state championship, trailing Catholic Memorial, 13-12.
"The first-day scores don't mean a whole lot," Monroe boys track coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "All of the finals are tomorrow (Saturday). It's still nice to score some points."
Monroe sophomore Jeff Hill vaulted to a fifth-place finish in the pole vault after clearing 13 feet, 6 inches. Hill, who cleared 14 feet to win the Division 2 Boscobel sectional, was just honored to be at state.
"I'm glad to be here," Hill said. "Unfortunately, I didn't have the best day. I came in and jumped the best I could. It just wasn't quite enough today."
Sugar River junior Travis Beutler finished fourth in the 3,200 with a time of 9:42.86. Sugar River senior Jeremy McDermott took 15th in the preliminaries of the 110 high hurdles (:15.87), but didn't qualify for today's finals.
Monroe senior Lucas Leu capped his prep track career with a 10th-place finish in the discus (139-2).
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team of Bryan Tordoff, Tad Christen, Sampson and DeNure took fifth place in the prelims (3:26.19) to advance to the finals.
"I just wanted to qualify for tomorrow," DeNure said.
Monroe entered the state meet with the third best time in the 1,600 relay.
"We will see what happens," DeNure said. "We have a couple of guys who are used to busting their butt off before the 1,600. Now they know what it's like to run one with no work before it."
Hirsbrunner said the Cheesemakers were not satisfied with how they ran in the 1,600 relay and can run even faster today.
DeNure also will run in the 800 today.
"He's in the best shape of his life," Hirsbrunner said of DeNure. "I would love to see him go out and lay it all out on the track."
Brodhead senior Ryan Miller finished 13th in the prelims of the 300 hurdles, but didn't qualify for the finals.
The Cheesemakers' 3,200-meter relay team finished second in the first finals race on the new track at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
"The track is amazing," said Joe Pecora, who ran the relay's third leg. "It's even better than the state cross country meet."
Cullen Sampson, Skyler Stingly, Pecora and Brett DeNure finished in 8 minutes, 0.6 seconds. That time was less than three seconds behind state champion Dodgeville-Mineral Point, and sixth fastest in Monroe history.
"We knew we had a legitimate shot to win it," Sampson said. "We would have liked to won, but second place isn't bad."
Sampson switched to the leadoff spot to help Monroe get off to a faster start in the race. Freshman Skyler Stingley, who took the baton from Sampson, didn't want to let the team down.
"There was a lot of pressure," Stingley said. "I knew I had to go out fast and contribute to the team."
Monroe finished the first day of the meet in a second-place tie with Nekoosa and Arcadia, and is in contention for a team state championship, trailing Catholic Memorial, 13-12.
"The first-day scores don't mean a whole lot," Monroe boys track coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "All of the finals are tomorrow (Saturday). It's still nice to score some points."
Monroe sophomore Jeff Hill vaulted to a fifth-place finish in the pole vault after clearing 13 feet, 6 inches. Hill, who cleared 14 feet to win the Division 2 Boscobel sectional, was just honored to be at state.
"I'm glad to be here," Hill said. "Unfortunately, I didn't have the best day. I came in and jumped the best I could. It just wasn't quite enough today."
Sugar River junior Travis Beutler finished fourth in the 3,200 with a time of 9:42.86. Sugar River senior Jeremy McDermott took 15th in the preliminaries of the 110 high hurdles (:15.87), but didn't qualify for today's finals.
Monroe senior Lucas Leu capped his prep track career with a 10th-place finish in the discus (139-2).
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team of Bryan Tordoff, Tad Christen, Sampson and DeNure took fifth place in the prelims (3:26.19) to advance to the finals.
"I just wanted to qualify for tomorrow," DeNure said.
Monroe entered the state meet with the third best time in the 1,600 relay.
"We will see what happens," DeNure said. "We have a couple of guys who are used to busting their butt off before the 1,600. Now they know what it's like to run one with no work before it."
Hirsbrunner said the Cheesemakers were not satisfied with how they ran in the 1,600 relay and can run even faster today.
DeNure also will run in the 800 today.
"He's in the best shape of his life," Hirsbrunner said of DeNure. "I would love to see him go out and lay it all out on the track."
Brodhead senior Ryan Miller finished 13th in the prelims of the 300 hurdles, but didn't qualify for the finals.
