DARLINGTON - Jordan Heinberg admits the Darlington boys cross country team is aware of the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association rankings, but he contends the Redbirds won't get carried away with their press clippings.
The Redbirds, ranked No. 1 in Division 3, placed six runners in the top 21 to outdistance Albany, 46-58, for the WIAA Division 3 Darlington sectional title Friday and a second straight trip to state, Oct. 31 in Wisconsin Rapids.
"Last year it (the rankings) got in our head a little bit," said Heinberg, who was the sectional runner-up with a time of 18 minutes, 22 seconds behind champion Derek Johnsrud of Rio. "We look at the rankings. We try to keep them on the down low so no one gets a big head. I think it was a little bit of a disappointing race. We made it in."
Albany, as the sectional runner-up, also qualified for state for the second consecutive year. Sophomore Reece Whitehead, who paced the Comets with a fifth-place finish (18:47), was excited to make a return trip to state.
"We were always aiming for it," Whitehead said. "That has been our goal the entire season. The seniors last year thought we wouldn't do it. It feels great to prove them wrong."
The Comets placed three runners in the top 10, including junior Drew Mather, seventh (18:54), and senior Tyler Conley, 10th (19:08).
"It will be an unbelievable feeling for those kids," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "They made a pact they wanted to get back to state and do better. They know they had to finish ahead of Boscobel's No. 1 and 2 runners. It was on their shoulders."
The Comets also received a 23rd-place finish from freshman Johnny Kallgren (19:34) and junior Trent Kuebli was 25th (19:49).
Pecatonica-Argyle finished eighth out of 11 teams with 187 points. The Vikings were led by junior Chris James, who finished 16th (19:14), and sophomore Wyatt Massey was 27th (19:56).
Darlington's Kent Miehe and Connor Roche have been battling illness this week. The Redbirds had several runners step up. Darlington sophomore Michael Sinclair finished sixth (18:54) and freshman Garth Garrison was 13th (19:10). Fellow freshman Quinn Cullen took 18th (19:16). Miehe finished 19th (19:20) and Roche was 21st (19:24).
"With the kids being sick it made it a little more challenging," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "We just had a job to do. I was hoping they would hold it together and they did. We got it done and will live for another day."
The Redbirds, ranked No. 1 in Division 3, placed six runners in the top 21 to outdistance Albany, 46-58, for the WIAA Division 3 Darlington sectional title Friday and a second straight trip to state, Oct. 31 in Wisconsin Rapids.
"Last year it (the rankings) got in our head a little bit," said Heinberg, who was the sectional runner-up with a time of 18 minutes, 22 seconds behind champion Derek Johnsrud of Rio. "We look at the rankings. We try to keep them on the down low so no one gets a big head. I think it was a little bit of a disappointing race. We made it in."
Albany, as the sectional runner-up, also qualified for state for the second consecutive year. Sophomore Reece Whitehead, who paced the Comets with a fifth-place finish (18:47), was excited to make a return trip to state.
"We were always aiming for it," Whitehead said. "That has been our goal the entire season. The seniors last year thought we wouldn't do it. It feels great to prove them wrong."
The Comets placed three runners in the top 10, including junior Drew Mather, seventh (18:54), and senior Tyler Conley, 10th (19:08).
"It will be an unbelievable feeling for those kids," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "They made a pact they wanted to get back to state and do better. They know they had to finish ahead of Boscobel's No. 1 and 2 runners. It was on their shoulders."
The Comets also received a 23rd-place finish from freshman Johnny Kallgren (19:34) and junior Trent Kuebli was 25th (19:49).
Pecatonica-Argyle finished eighth out of 11 teams with 187 points. The Vikings were led by junior Chris James, who finished 16th (19:14), and sophomore Wyatt Massey was 27th (19:56).
Darlington's Kent Miehe and Connor Roche have been battling illness this week. The Redbirds had several runners step up. Darlington sophomore Michael Sinclair finished sixth (18:54) and freshman Garth Garrison was 13th (19:10). Fellow freshman Quinn Cullen took 18th (19:16). Miehe finished 19th (19:20) and Roche was 21st (19:24).
"With the kids being sick it made it a little more challenging," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "We just had a job to do. I was hoping they would hold it together and they did. We got it done and will live for another day."
