CUBA CITY - For Darlington junior Christa Wamsley, Monday's WIAA Division 3 Cuba City regional track meet wasn't the most important race when it comes to the postseason, but it was a starting point.
Wamsley won the 3,200-meter run (12 minutes, 44.29 seconds) and anchored the Redbirds' 3,200 relay team to a regional championship.
Wamsley teamed with Tatum Evenstad, Amy Jorgenson and Hannah Robiolio to win the 3,200 relay with a time of 10 minutes, 29.30 seconds, which was 24 seconds ahead of Monticello (10:53.19). The Redbirds won every relay en route to winning the regional title 130-104 over Cuba City.
"We went out for it," Wamsley said of the title. "Even though we weren't pushed we wanted to run a good time to get in the fast heat. At sectionals there will be a lot of really good competition. Hopefully, we can get back to state."
Black Hawk sophomore Jen Wellnitz won four individual regional championships - in the 100 (13.19), 200 (27.11) long jump (16 feet, 10 inches) and triple jump (33-1). Monticello senior Becky Nelson took fourth in the triple jump (31-10) to advance. Wellnitz has worked on her approach and technique in the long jump.
"I picked a good day to do it," Wellnitz said of her season-best long jump. "I wanted to try to do better in the long and triple jumps. I have been working on the runway. It's still not the best, but it's getting better."
Albany sophomore Bailey Hlavachek won regional titles in both the 800 (2:24.14) and in the 1,600 (5:33.35). All four sectional qualifiers in the 800 were from area schools. Darlington junior Cheyenne Wolfe finished second in the 800 (2:26.50) followed by Pecatonica-Argyle senior Kendra Sigg (2:33.03) and Darlington junior Tatum Evenstad (2:37.80).
Sigg took second in the 1,600 (5:39.65) and Darlington junior Harley Douglas was third (5:46.13). Robiolio added a second place finish in the 3,200 (12:44.29).
"One of my goals is to get back to state," said Hlavachek who took sixth at state last year in the 1,600. "I want to get back to state and get on the podium again higher than I got last year."
She couldn't help but look forward to the Bangor sectional on Thursday.
"I know it will be one of the tougher races at the sectional," she said. "It's good competition for all of us."
Albany's Jessica Mauerman finished second in the pole vault (7-3) and third in the 400 (1:06.99). Black Hawk's Olivia Holland took third in the 300 low hurdles (49.95).
The Redbirds had two sectional qualifiers in the shot put - senior Haily McGowan took second (34-11) and senior teammate Brianna Reichling was fourth (32-0 1/2). McGowan also took second in the discus (113-7) and Black Hawk's Kate Quinn was fourth (96-6).
Darlington's Abigail Merriam took third in the high jump (4-8) and teammate Shannon McDaniel was third in the pole vault (7-3).
The Redbirds' 400 relay team of Carly Reilly, Claire Scott, Hannah Huffman and Alison Wedig won (52.38) and Pecatonica-Argyle took fourth (54.26) to also advance to the sectional. In the 800 relay, Huffman and Scott teamed with Rebecca Mathias and Wedig to win (1:49.82) by 0.4 seconds ahead of Cuba City. Pecatonica-Argyle finished third (1:55.39) to also qualify for the sectional.
Jorgenson teamed with Scott, Huffman and Wedig to take first in the 1,600 relay (4:12.85. The Vikings took third (4:20.98) and Black Hawk was fourth (4:31.74). The Warriors also took third in the 3,200 relay (11:22.91).
"You are trying to get as many people through as you can especially in the events you think you have a shot at advancing at the next level," Darlington coach Todd Bastian said.
Wamsley won the 3,200-meter run (12 minutes, 44.29 seconds) and anchored the Redbirds' 3,200 relay team to a regional championship.
Wamsley teamed with Tatum Evenstad, Amy Jorgenson and Hannah Robiolio to win the 3,200 relay with a time of 10 minutes, 29.30 seconds, which was 24 seconds ahead of Monticello (10:53.19). The Redbirds won every relay en route to winning the regional title 130-104 over Cuba City.
"We went out for it," Wamsley said of the title. "Even though we weren't pushed we wanted to run a good time to get in the fast heat. At sectionals there will be a lot of really good competition. Hopefully, we can get back to state."
Black Hawk sophomore Jen Wellnitz won four individual regional championships - in the 100 (13.19), 200 (27.11) long jump (16 feet, 10 inches) and triple jump (33-1). Monticello senior Becky Nelson took fourth in the triple jump (31-10) to advance. Wellnitz has worked on her approach and technique in the long jump.
"I picked a good day to do it," Wellnitz said of her season-best long jump. "I wanted to try to do better in the long and triple jumps. I have been working on the runway. It's still not the best, but it's getting better."
Albany sophomore Bailey Hlavachek won regional titles in both the 800 (2:24.14) and in the 1,600 (5:33.35). All four sectional qualifiers in the 800 were from area schools. Darlington junior Cheyenne Wolfe finished second in the 800 (2:26.50) followed by Pecatonica-Argyle senior Kendra Sigg (2:33.03) and Darlington junior Tatum Evenstad (2:37.80).
Sigg took second in the 1,600 (5:39.65) and Darlington junior Harley Douglas was third (5:46.13). Robiolio added a second place finish in the 3,200 (12:44.29).
"One of my goals is to get back to state," said Hlavachek who took sixth at state last year in the 1,600. "I want to get back to state and get on the podium again higher than I got last year."
She couldn't help but look forward to the Bangor sectional on Thursday.
"I know it will be one of the tougher races at the sectional," she said. "It's good competition for all of us."
Albany's Jessica Mauerman finished second in the pole vault (7-3) and third in the 400 (1:06.99). Black Hawk's Olivia Holland took third in the 300 low hurdles (49.95).
The Redbirds had two sectional qualifiers in the shot put - senior Haily McGowan took second (34-11) and senior teammate Brianna Reichling was fourth (32-0 1/2). McGowan also took second in the discus (113-7) and Black Hawk's Kate Quinn was fourth (96-6).
Darlington's Abigail Merriam took third in the high jump (4-8) and teammate Shannon McDaniel was third in the pole vault (7-3).
The Redbirds' 400 relay team of Carly Reilly, Claire Scott, Hannah Huffman and Alison Wedig won (52.38) and Pecatonica-Argyle took fourth (54.26) to also advance to the sectional. In the 800 relay, Huffman and Scott teamed with Rebecca Mathias and Wedig to win (1:49.82) by 0.4 seconds ahead of Cuba City. Pecatonica-Argyle finished third (1:55.39) to also qualify for the sectional.
Jorgenson teamed with Scott, Huffman and Wedig to take first in the 1,600 relay (4:12.85. The Vikings took third (4:20.98) and Black Hawk was fourth (4:31.74). The Warriors also took third in the 3,200 relay (11:22.91).
"You are trying to get as many people through as you can especially in the events you think you have a shot at advancing at the next level," Darlington coach Todd Bastian said.
