BOSCOBEL - Both the Darlington boys and girls ran to their seventh straight Southwest Wisconsin Activities League championship Thursday.
The Darlington girls cross country team edged Boscobel 35-37 for the team title. Albany took third place (81) and Pecatonica-Argyle took fifth (123).
The Redbirds had five of the top 10 runners and each earned all-conference honors. Darlington senior Johanna Meister finished fourth (20:42.7) overall and freshman teammate Reghan Komprood took sixth (21:10.7). Darlington freshman Emma Crist took ninth and sophomore Paige Schilling was 10th (22:02.2). Freshman teammate Erin Wolf finished 11th (22:05.7).
"It says a lot for the kids as far as a whole program," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "We have had older kids show them the way. For the young girls to come through with a lot on the line shows their maturity and savvy. They put in a lot of summer miles. We knew it was going to be one of those classic conference battles."
The top overall finisher was Albany freshman Emma Guenther, who finished third place overall and second in the team standings with a time of 20:39. Albany junior Sydnee Woyak took seventh place (21:18.1) and Albany sophomore Lauren Blumer took 12th (22:109). Guenther, Woyak and Blumer each earned all-conference. The top 15 runners in both the girls and boys races received all-SWAL recognition.
"Everything went kind of as expected," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "Our goal was a top three finish. We knew going in that third place was probably the best we could do with just five runners. A few of the girls may have wanted to run a quicker time or placed a little bit higher, but I thought it was great."
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Samantha Erickson finished 18th (23:05.2) and just missed earning all-conference. Albany freshman Madeline Halverson took 38th (25:32.4) and junior teammate Kylee Blumer was 56th (28:09).
Pecatonica sophomore Josie Penniston took 23rd place (23:43) and junior teammate Hannah James was 27th (24:44.5). Sophomore Adriana Johnson finished 29th (25:11.7) and senior Claire Ueltzen was 40th (28:37.9).
In the boys' race, Darlington's depth proved to be the difference. The Redbirds had five of the top 10 runners led by junior Jaden Komprood, who finished second place overall (16:19), which was just two seconds behind Boscobel junior Dakota Kauffman, the conference champion with a time of (16:17.3). Darlington senior Thomas Schultz finished fourth (17:02.5). Darlington junior Sean Barbee took eighth (17:28.6), junior Blake Cwynar finished ninth (17:34.7) and sophomore Conner Hackett was 10th (17:37.5). All five of the Redbirds' top five runners were named all-conference.
"Jaden and Thomas have run solid races all year," Miehe said. "Our No. 3, 4, and 5 runners got together and pulled each other through. To have them come through down the stretch has helped us."
Darlington ran away with the team title, outdistancing Boscobel 33-50. Albany finished third (59) and the Comets were led by junior Josh Little, who had a breakout performance finishing sixth place overall (17:19.9). Junior teammate Tyler Dahl took seventh (17:21.4). Albany senior Brennan Bloedel took 11th (17:47.7) and senior Aaron Johnson was 15th (18:15.3). Sophomore teammate Isaac Halverson finished 20th place (18:48.3) to round out the top five for the Comets. The top four runners for the Comets earned all-conference honors.
"I think it was huge," Brewer said of Little's finish. "It was a breakout race and Tyler had another great race."
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Login Swearingen took 44th place (21:57.3) and was the top runner for the Vikings, which didn't have enough runners to place as a team. Sophomore teammate Caleb Carr took 49th (23:36.4) and sophomore Dakota Hoffman was 51st (24:16.5). Fellow sophomore Marcel Timm finished 53rd (25:46.3).
Bloedel is still battling a knee injury and Johnson is trying to overcome an illness. Brewer is looking forward to both of them getting healthy for the Comets.
"Brennan was hurting," Brewer said. "Brennan's knee still isn't 100 percent. Aaron is still sick. He had no energy all week. We didn't know what we were going to get out of him. If we can get Brennan and Aaron healthy we have four guys at the top."
The Darlington girls cross country team edged Boscobel 35-37 for the team title. Albany took third place (81) and Pecatonica-Argyle took fifth (123).
The Redbirds had five of the top 10 runners and each earned all-conference honors. Darlington senior Johanna Meister finished fourth (20:42.7) overall and freshman teammate Reghan Komprood took sixth (21:10.7). Darlington freshman Emma Crist took ninth and sophomore Paige Schilling was 10th (22:02.2). Freshman teammate Erin Wolf finished 11th (22:05.7).
"It says a lot for the kids as far as a whole program," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "We have had older kids show them the way. For the young girls to come through with a lot on the line shows their maturity and savvy. They put in a lot of summer miles. We knew it was going to be one of those classic conference battles."
The top overall finisher was Albany freshman Emma Guenther, who finished third place overall and second in the team standings with a time of 20:39. Albany junior Sydnee Woyak took seventh place (21:18.1) and Albany sophomore Lauren Blumer took 12th (22:109). Guenther, Woyak and Blumer each earned all-conference. The top 15 runners in both the girls and boys races received all-SWAL recognition.
"Everything went kind of as expected," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "Our goal was a top three finish. We knew going in that third place was probably the best we could do with just five runners. A few of the girls may have wanted to run a quicker time or placed a little bit higher, but I thought it was great."
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Samantha Erickson finished 18th (23:05.2) and just missed earning all-conference. Albany freshman Madeline Halverson took 38th (25:32.4) and junior teammate Kylee Blumer was 56th (28:09).
Pecatonica sophomore Josie Penniston took 23rd place (23:43) and junior teammate Hannah James was 27th (24:44.5). Sophomore Adriana Johnson finished 29th (25:11.7) and senior Claire Ueltzen was 40th (28:37.9).
In the boys' race, Darlington's depth proved to be the difference. The Redbirds had five of the top 10 runners led by junior Jaden Komprood, who finished second place overall (16:19), which was just two seconds behind Boscobel junior Dakota Kauffman, the conference champion with a time of (16:17.3). Darlington senior Thomas Schultz finished fourth (17:02.5). Darlington junior Sean Barbee took eighth (17:28.6), junior Blake Cwynar finished ninth (17:34.7) and sophomore Conner Hackett was 10th (17:37.5). All five of the Redbirds' top five runners were named all-conference.
"Jaden and Thomas have run solid races all year," Miehe said. "Our No. 3, 4, and 5 runners got together and pulled each other through. To have them come through down the stretch has helped us."
Darlington ran away with the team title, outdistancing Boscobel 33-50. Albany finished third (59) and the Comets were led by junior Josh Little, who had a breakout performance finishing sixth place overall (17:19.9). Junior teammate Tyler Dahl took seventh (17:21.4). Albany senior Brennan Bloedel took 11th (17:47.7) and senior Aaron Johnson was 15th (18:15.3). Sophomore teammate Isaac Halverson finished 20th place (18:48.3) to round out the top five for the Comets. The top four runners for the Comets earned all-conference honors.
"I think it was huge," Brewer said of Little's finish. "It was a breakout race and Tyler had another great race."
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Login Swearingen took 44th place (21:57.3) and was the top runner for the Vikings, which didn't have enough runners to place as a team. Sophomore teammate Caleb Carr took 49th (23:36.4) and sophomore Dakota Hoffman was 51st (24:16.5). Fellow sophomore Marcel Timm finished 53rd (25:46.3).
Bloedel is still battling a knee injury and Johnson is trying to overcome an illness. Brewer is looking forward to both of them getting healthy for the Comets.
"Brennan was hurting," Brewer said. "Brennan's knee still isn't 100 percent. Aaron is still sick. He had no energy all week. We didn't know what we were going to get out of him. If we can get Brennan and Aaron healthy we have four guys at the top."
