MONROE - The Monroe boys track team wanted to chase the state's elite in the 1,600-meter relay at the 43rd annual Simpson Relays Friday night.
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team of Bryan Tordoff, Cullen Sampson, Tad Christen and Brett DeNure won the race with a time of 3 minutes, 29.5 seconds, which is the fastest Division 2 time this year.
DeNure helped the Cheesemakers win the 1,600 medley and then came back and ran a (:50.3) split to set the state's top time in the 1,600 relay.
"They really wanted to break 3:30," Monroe boys track coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "That was our goal and they nailed it."
Monroe ended Sun Prairie's two-year run as Simpson Relay champions. The Cheesemakers outdistanced Sauk Prairie, 104-83, to win their first Simpson Relays since 2006. Monroe won six of the 14 events.
"We set up to win it," Hirsbrunner said. "We went after this meet hard."
The Cheesemakers won the high jump with a combined height of 17-feet-4-inches, which was one inch better than Stoughton. Monroe sophomore Michael Barrett and Sampson both cleared 6-0.
Monroe won the pole vault with a combined height of 33-0. Monroe sophomore Jeff Hill led the Cheesemakers clearing 13-0.
Monroe senior Lucas Leu threw the discus 155-5, which was a personal record by eight feet. The Cheesemakers also won the discus with a combined distance of 402-11. Monroe finished first place in the hurdle shuttle with a time of (:52.16).
Christen had a 21-3 long jump to help propel the Cheesemakers to a second place finish in the event with a combined distance of 59-3 1/4. Christen then added a triple jump of 42-5 1/4.
The Cheesemakers trio of Nick Walker, Mike Reed and Leu took second place in the shot put with a combined distance of 134-9 3/4.
The Cheesemakers' 800 relay team of Tordoff, Mason Goff, DeNure and Christen finished second with a time of 1:34.7.
Hirsbrunner said the Cheesemakers stacked their relays to compete with a swarm of Division 1 schools.
"We put some people in different events to make our relays as strong as possible," Hirsbrunner said. "We always like to think we have a chance."
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team of Bryan Tordoff, Cullen Sampson, Tad Christen and Brett DeNure won the race with a time of 3 minutes, 29.5 seconds, which is the fastest Division 2 time this year.
DeNure helped the Cheesemakers win the 1,600 medley and then came back and ran a (:50.3) split to set the state's top time in the 1,600 relay.
"They really wanted to break 3:30," Monroe boys track coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "That was our goal and they nailed it."
Monroe ended Sun Prairie's two-year run as Simpson Relay champions. The Cheesemakers outdistanced Sauk Prairie, 104-83, to win their first Simpson Relays since 2006. Monroe won six of the 14 events.
"We set up to win it," Hirsbrunner said. "We went after this meet hard."
The Cheesemakers won the high jump with a combined height of 17-feet-4-inches, which was one inch better than Stoughton. Monroe sophomore Michael Barrett and Sampson both cleared 6-0.
Monroe won the pole vault with a combined height of 33-0. Monroe sophomore Jeff Hill led the Cheesemakers clearing 13-0.
Monroe senior Lucas Leu threw the discus 155-5, which was a personal record by eight feet. The Cheesemakers also won the discus with a combined distance of 402-11. Monroe finished first place in the hurdle shuttle with a time of (:52.16).
Christen had a 21-3 long jump to help propel the Cheesemakers to a second place finish in the event with a combined distance of 59-3 1/4. Christen then added a triple jump of 42-5 1/4.
The Cheesemakers trio of Nick Walker, Mike Reed and Leu took second place in the shot put with a combined distance of 134-9 3/4.
The Cheesemakers' 800 relay team of Tordoff, Mason Goff, DeNure and Christen finished second with a time of 1:34.7.
Hirsbrunner said the Cheesemakers stacked their relays to compete with a swarm of Division 1 schools.
"We put some people in different events to make our relays as strong as possible," Hirsbrunner said. "We always like to think we have a chance."
