LIVINGSTON - Both the Darlington boys and girls cross country teams ran to Southwest Wisconsin Activities League championships Thursday.
The Darlington boys had the top three runners and rolled to a 25-48 win over Southwestern-Cuba City-Benton. Darlington junior Payton Heinberg was the individual conference champion in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 16 minutes, 47.2 seconds. Senior teammate Tanner Evenstad took second (17:16.8) and junior Tucker Lange was third (17:20.8). It marks the 10th straight year the Darlington boys, which have won six consecutive WIAA Division 3 state championships, have won the conference title.
"I was really proud with how they continue to come through and run," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said of the Redbird boys. "We are at a point in the season where we have to dig in and see what we can do and they did that."
Albany junior Josh Dahl finished fourth (17:32.1) followed by Darlington senior Paul King (17:41.1). Darlington sophomore Bailey Schwartz placed 14th (18:31.4) to round out the top five for the Redbirds.
Albany finished fourth (125 points) and Pecatonica-Argyle was seventh (166) out of eight teams. Albany senior Logun Parker took 22nd (19:02.4) and senior Garrett Hlavachek placed 27th (19:19.5). Freshman Luke Johnson finished 35th (20:.02.5) and freshman Clay Hubert took 37th (20:13.5).
Pecatonica-Argyle was led by sophomore Payton Flannery who finished 15th (18:34). Sophomore teammate Troy Nickels took 29th (19:36.5) and sophomore Kyle Hartley placed 30th (19:38.6). Freshman David Tisch took 45th (21:08.4) and junior Joseph Tisch placed 47th (21:31.1).
In the girls' race, Darlington senior Reghan Komprood was the individual league champion (19:57.6). Junior teammate Ilse Mendez finished second (20:13.3). Albany senior Emma Guenther took fourth (21:18.6). The Redbird girls have won the SWAL nine of the past 10 years.
"The girls' race started out fast," Miehe said. "Reghan and Ilse after the first mile took command and ran away from the field."
The Darlington girls won the SWAL championship 33-53 over Boscobel. Albany (59) took third. Darlington senior Erin Wolf finished sixth (21:39.5) and senior Emma Crist placed seventh (21:55.6). Freshman Brooke Douglas took 17th (22:58.7) to round out the top five for the Redbirds.
Albany junior Madison Peters took eighth (22:10.3) and junior Megan Anderson was ninth (22:15.3). Junior teammate Kaitlyn Trow finished 18th (23:00.3) and freshman Lily Brewer was 20th (23:07).
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Stephanie James placed 36th (24:49.7) and junior teammate Abby Loomis took 58th (28:30.7), but the Vikings didn't have enough runners to factor into the team scoring.
Now, Darlington, Albany and Pecatonica-Argyle will wait until the WIAA Division 3 Fennimore sectional Oct. 21. The top two teams advance to state.
"I think with the girls with Lancaster, Boscobel and Albany it's going to be a four-team race," Miehe said. "It will be close. I think the boys will have another chance (to make it to state). Boscobel is running well and Albany is in the mix."
The Darlington boys had the top three runners and rolled to a 25-48 win over Southwestern-Cuba City-Benton. Darlington junior Payton Heinberg was the individual conference champion in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 16 minutes, 47.2 seconds. Senior teammate Tanner Evenstad took second (17:16.8) and junior Tucker Lange was third (17:20.8). It marks the 10th straight year the Darlington boys, which have won six consecutive WIAA Division 3 state championships, have won the conference title.
"I was really proud with how they continue to come through and run," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said of the Redbird boys. "We are at a point in the season where we have to dig in and see what we can do and they did that."
Albany junior Josh Dahl finished fourth (17:32.1) followed by Darlington senior Paul King (17:41.1). Darlington sophomore Bailey Schwartz placed 14th (18:31.4) to round out the top five for the Redbirds.
Albany finished fourth (125 points) and Pecatonica-Argyle was seventh (166) out of eight teams. Albany senior Logun Parker took 22nd (19:02.4) and senior Garrett Hlavachek placed 27th (19:19.5). Freshman Luke Johnson finished 35th (20:.02.5) and freshman Clay Hubert took 37th (20:13.5).
Pecatonica-Argyle was led by sophomore Payton Flannery who finished 15th (18:34). Sophomore teammate Troy Nickels took 29th (19:36.5) and sophomore Kyle Hartley placed 30th (19:38.6). Freshman David Tisch took 45th (21:08.4) and junior Joseph Tisch placed 47th (21:31.1).
In the girls' race, Darlington senior Reghan Komprood was the individual league champion (19:57.6). Junior teammate Ilse Mendez finished second (20:13.3). Albany senior Emma Guenther took fourth (21:18.6). The Redbird girls have won the SWAL nine of the past 10 years.
"The girls' race started out fast," Miehe said. "Reghan and Ilse after the first mile took command and ran away from the field."
The Darlington girls won the SWAL championship 33-53 over Boscobel. Albany (59) took third. Darlington senior Erin Wolf finished sixth (21:39.5) and senior Emma Crist placed seventh (21:55.6). Freshman Brooke Douglas took 17th (22:58.7) to round out the top five for the Redbirds.
Albany junior Madison Peters took eighth (22:10.3) and junior Megan Anderson was ninth (22:15.3). Junior teammate Kaitlyn Trow finished 18th (23:00.3) and freshman Lily Brewer was 20th (23:07).
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Stephanie James placed 36th (24:49.7) and junior teammate Abby Loomis took 58th (28:30.7), but the Vikings didn't have enough runners to factor into the team scoring.
Now, Darlington, Albany and Pecatonica-Argyle will wait until the WIAA Division 3 Fennimore sectional Oct. 21. The top two teams advance to state.
"I think with the girls with Lancaster, Boscobel and Albany it's going to be a four-team race," Miehe said. "It will be close. I think the boys will have another chance (to make it to state). Boscobel is running well and Albany is in the mix."
