DARLINGTON - The Redbird Invitational provided an opportunity for Darlington track coach Todd Bastian to experiment with his team.
Darlington's girls won three of the four relays Monday en route to winning the team title, 160-113, over Dodgeville-Mineral Point. The Redbirds' 400-meter relay team of Kelsi Blosch, Kara Krahenbuhl, Taryn Evenstad and Chayse Hermanson won with a time of 54.20 seconds, ahead of Pecatonica-Argyle. The Vikings' 400 relay team of Holly Vlasak, Alisha Esselstein, Brittany Ziller and Cassie Welch finished in 56 seconds.
"By no means are we loading this up for points," Bastian said. "We are just trying to find some things out about what we can do as a team. We were not going in with the intention to win it."
Bastian has to be thrilled with the performances and results on the track from last year's state runner-up.
Krahenbuhl won the pole vault by clearing 8 feet, 6 inches, and finished second in the 100 in 13.93 seconds. Monroe junior Laura Chopp cleared 8-6 to take second in the pole vault. She made the finals in the long jump.
The Monroe junior-varsity team finished last out of six teams with 40 points.
"It's just another chance to compete," Monroe girls track coach Curt Miller said. "A lot of our kids are varsity caliber, but don't get a chance to compete at the varsity level because we have kids in front of them."
Pecatonica-Argyle won the 800 relay with Vlasak, Esselstein, Tanna Crull and Welch clocking a 1:56.31, about one second ahead of Darlington. Pecatonica senior Elise Sigg won the 1,600 (5:24.61) and her freshman cousin Kendra Sigg finished first in the 800 (2:29.76). Welch added a second-place finish in the 200 (:28.71).
The Redbirds' 800 relay team of Blosch, Alix Brandt, Amy Jorgenson and Chayse Hermanson took second with a time of 1:57.38.
Blosch teamed up with Hana Miehe, Ciara Wiegel and Kayla Lange to win the 1,600 relay with a time of 4:18.20. The Redbirds' 3,200 relay team of Jorgenson, Olivia Wedig, Wiegel and Miehe won the event with a time of 10:23.79. Lange won the 400 with a time of 1:04.55.
Bastian knows a handoff in a relay can make or break a winning time.
"We obviously have to get better," Bastian said. "I'm somewhat happy."
Darlington's Hailey McGowan won the discus (95-9) and McKenzie Pickett took second in the shot put (31-2 1/4). Brandt took second in both the high jump (4-6) and the triple jump (29-2 1/2).
The Cheesemakers received a boost from both Liz Siedchlag and freshman Tashia Christen, who turned in a big performance in the triple jump. Siedchlag jumped 26-3 to take third place and set a new personal record by two feet.
"When (Siedchlag) found out that she could have a varsity spot in the triple jump, she has worked really hard," Miller said.
Albany senior Devan Brugger has overcome a strained right quad and a strained left hamstring. Brugger showed no ill effects in winning the 100 hurdles (:17.40) ahead of Darlinton's Lisa Kreidler (:18.38). Brugger also took second in the 300 hurdles (:51.33).
"Today was very slow compared to most days," Brugger said. "It's a different track and a different feel. We just had prom and we are all still tired. It's good to have these kinds of competitions to keep us going when we are tired."
Albany's 3,200 relay team of Nicolette Blumer, Ciara Kubesh, Jessica Mauerman and Courtney Pfeuti took second with a time of 10:35.71.
Darlington's girls won three of the four relays Monday en route to winning the team title, 160-113, over Dodgeville-Mineral Point. The Redbirds' 400-meter relay team of Kelsi Blosch, Kara Krahenbuhl, Taryn Evenstad and Chayse Hermanson won with a time of 54.20 seconds, ahead of Pecatonica-Argyle. The Vikings' 400 relay team of Holly Vlasak, Alisha Esselstein, Brittany Ziller and Cassie Welch finished in 56 seconds.
"By no means are we loading this up for points," Bastian said. "We are just trying to find some things out about what we can do as a team. We were not going in with the intention to win it."
Bastian has to be thrilled with the performances and results on the track from last year's state runner-up.
Krahenbuhl won the pole vault by clearing 8 feet, 6 inches, and finished second in the 100 in 13.93 seconds. Monroe junior Laura Chopp cleared 8-6 to take second in the pole vault. She made the finals in the long jump.
The Monroe junior-varsity team finished last out of six teams with 40 points.
"It's just another chance to compete," Monroe girls track coach Curt Miller said. "A lot of our kids are varsity caliber, but don't get a chance to compete at the varsity level because we have kids in front of them."
Pecatonica-Argyle won the 800 relay with Vlasak, Esselstein, Tanna Crull and Welch clocking a 1:56.31, about one second ahead of Darlington. Pecatonica senior Elise Sigg won the 1,600 (5:24.61) and her freshman cousin Kendra Sigg finished first in the 800 (2:29.76). Welch added a second-place finish in the 200 (:28.71).
The Redbirds' 800 relay team of Blosch, Alix Brandt, Amy Jorgenson and Chayse Hermanson took second with a time of 1:57.38.
Blosch teamed up with Hana Miehe, Ciara Wiegel and Kayla Lange to win the 1,600 relay with a time of 4:18.20. The Redbirds' 3,200 relay team of Jorgenson, Olivia Wedig, Wiegel and Miehe won the event with a time of 10:23.79. Lange won the 400 with a time of 1:04.55.
Bastian knows a handoff in a relay can make or break a winning time.
"We obviously have to get better," Bastian said. "I'm somewhat happy."
Darlington's Hailey McGowan won the discus (95-9) and McKenzie Pickett took second in the shot put (31-2 1/4). Brandt took second in both the high jump (4-6) and the triple jump (29-2 1/2).
The Cheesemakers received a boost from both Liz Siedchlag and freshman Tashia Christen, who turned in a big performance in the triple jump. Siedchlag jumped 26-3 to take third place and set a new personal record by two feet.
"When (Siedchlag) found out that she could have a varsity spot in the triple jump, she has worked really hard," Miller said.
Albany senior Devan Brugger has overcome a strained right quad and a strained left hamstring. Brugger showed no ill effects in winning the 100 hurdles (:17.40) ahead of Darlinton's Lisa Kreidler (:18.38). Brugger also took second in the 300 hurdles (:51.33).
"Today was very slow compared to most days," Brugger said. "It's a different track and a different feel. We just had prom and we are all still tired. It's good to have these kinds of competitions to keep us going when we are tired."
Albany's 3,200 relay team of Nicolette Blumer, Ciara Kubesh, Jessica Mauerman and Courtney Pfeuti took second with a time of 10:35.71.
