DARLINGTON - After the WIAA Division 3 sectional race, Darlington coach Arnie Miehe paced nervously and wanted to check the video to see if the Redbirds or Boscobel won the team title: It was too close to call.
After a one-hour delay in the results, Darlington was announced as the sectional champion 60-67 over Boscobel Saturday in the Division 3 Darlington sectional. Darlington's depth proved to be the difference as the Redbirds had six runners finish ahead of the Bulldogs' No. 4 runner.
"To not run a very good race, but to still come out on top says something about them," Miehe said. "We didn't get out the way we needed to. We needed at the mile mark to make a move and we didn't do that like we did at the conference meet."
The Redbirds still have a shot to win a fifth straight Division 3 state championship. Darlington senior Jaden Komprood finished second with a time of 16 minutes, 55.8 seconds. Komprood ran with Boscobel senior Dakota Kauffman most of the race. Kauffman pulled away over the final 1,000 meters to win the individual sectional title (16:32).
"To lose to Dakota and get second doesn't mean I'm not good," Komprood said. "He's an incredible and amazing runner. Team-wise is the whole thing for Darlington cross country. We run for the team and not the individual. We knew at the beginning of the season we would have a pretty good chance to win a fifth (state title) in a row. Now, we have to show that we can win it."
Darlington senior Sean Barbee finished 11th (17:45) and freshman Payton Heinberg took 14th (17:50.3) followed by sophomore Tanner Evenstad, who was 16th (18:01). Senior teammate Blake Cwynar took 17th (18:19.6) to round out the top five for the Redbirds.
Albany senior Josh Little finished 10th (17:43.6) and was just eight seconds away from earning an individual state berth. The Comets finished a distant third place as a team (111) in the race for state as one of the top two teams. Senior teammate Tyler Dahl took 13th (17:48.6) and freshman Josh Dahl was 20th (18:30.1).
Albany junior Isaac Halverson took 29th (18:57.5) and sophomore Logun Parker was 39th (19:27).
"We needed a great race out of everyone," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "We have had some great performances at certain meets. We just couldn't have a great performance from everyone on the same day."
Pecatonica-Argyle took last in the 16-team sectional and had two runners in the top 100.
The Vikings were led by junior Caleb Carr who finished 94th (22:02). Senior teammate Login Swearingen took 100th (22:29.5) for the Vikings.
After a one-hour delay in the results, Darlington was announced as the sectional champion 60-67 over Boscobel Saturday in the Division 3 Darlington sectional. Darlington's depth proved to be the difference as the Redbirds had six runners finish ahead of the Bulldogs' No. 4 runner.
"To not run a very good race, but to still come out on top says something about them," Miehe said. "We didn't get out the way we needed to. We needed at the mile mark to make a move and we didn't do that like we did at the conference meet."
The Redbirds still have a shot to win a fifth straight Division 3 state championship. Darlington senior Jaden Komprood finished second with a time of 16 minutes, 55.8 seconds. Komprood ran with Boscobel senior Dakota Kauffman most of the race. Kauffman pulled away over the final 1,000 meters to win the individual sectional title (16:32).
"To lose to Dakota and get second doesn't mean I'm not good," Komprood said. "He's an incredible and amazing runner. Team-wise is the whole thing for Darlington cross country. We run for the team and not the individual. We knew at the beginning of the season we would have a pretty good chance to win a fifth (state title) in a row. Now, we have to show that we can win it."
Darlington senior Sean Barbee finished 11th (17:45) and freshman Payton Heinberg took 14th (17:50.3) followed by sophomore Tanner Evenstad, who was 16th (18:01). Senior teammate Blake Cwynar took 17th (18:19.6) to round out the top five for the Redbirds.
Albany senior Josh Little finished 10th (17:43.6) and was just eight seconds away from earning an individual state berth. The Comets finished a distant third place as a team (111) in the race for state as one of the top two teams. Senior teammate Tyler Dahl took 13th (17:48.6) and freshman Josh Dahl was 20th (18:30.1).
Albany junior Isaac Halverson took 29th (18:57.5) and sophomore Logun Parker was 39th (19:27).
"We needed a great race out of everyone," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "We have had some great performances at certain meets. We just couldn't have a great performance from everyone on the same day."
Pecatonica-Argyle took last in the 16-team sectional and had two runners in the top 100.
The Vikings were led by junior Caleb Carr who finished 94th (22:02). Senior teammate Login Swearingen took 100th (22:29.5) for the Vikings.
