DARLINGTON - Tyson Miehe of Darlington won't forget last year's state track meet when he made a move early in the 1,600-meter run.
Miehe, a junior, entered state last year as the No. 2 seed in the 1,600, but finished sixth. Now, a year later, Miehe is focused on having a better race at the WIAA Division 3 state track and field championships at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1.
"I'm keeping the motivation from last year because I want to do better," Miehe said. "My goal is to go up there and win."
Miehe is the No. 1 seed in the 1,600 (4 minutes, 28.78) and the top seed in the 3,200 (9:35.12). He has the fastest qualifying time in the 1,600 by about two seconds over St. Mary's Central junior Greg Greif. In the 3,200, Miehe has the fastest 3,200 qualifying time by about nine seconds over Immanuel Lutheran junior Darin Lau (9:44.25).
Darlington senior teammate Garth Garrison is seeded fifth (10:02.15) in the 3,200 and Albany sophomore Brennan Bloedel is seeded seventh (10:05.01). McDonell Central's Nick Zander has ran a 4:23 in the 1,600 this year and could be the main contender along with Miehe for the state title. Miehe's best time in the 1,600 this year is 4:24.
"His strength is speed where mine is endurance," Miehe said. "It will be a good battle."
Miehe learned a lot from running at state last year with high expectations.
"I ran stupid in the 1,600," he said of last year. "I think a lot of it is being confident in your training and going up there with confidence," he said. "You have to run a smart race. You have to be more confident knowing when you have to make a move and when the time is right."
The Darlington boys track team has six events that qualified for state; the girls will compete in seven events tat state.
"We never go up there with the pressure of trying to win a team award or to score the most points," Darlington coach Todd Bastian said. "Our goal is to go up there and run well and let the chips fall where they may."
The Rosholt boys track team is looking to win a third straight title in the 3,200 relay. The Redbirds, the state runner-up last year, head into the state meet as the No. 1 seed (8:19:83). The Redbirds' 3,200 relay team of Dane Siegenthaler, Miehe, Garrison and Quinn Cullen are vying to end Rosholt's run.
"If we run well we should have a chance to win it," Bastian said. "We feel like all six (events) could get on the medal stand."
Albany senior Jose Ramirez has the second-fastest qualifying time in the 800 (2:00.66) and Cullen is seeded fifth (2:01.59). Albany is the eighth seed in the 3,200 relay (8:25.78).
"I think he (Ramirez) has a shot to win it," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "I think he is confident that he can beat anyone in the race."
Tri-County senior Tyler Schartzman will look to repeat as the state champion in the 300 hurdles. Darlington junior Kyle Johnson is the fourth seed in the 110 high hurdles (15.34) and the 10th seed in the 300 hurdles (42.14).
"If he can knock some of his stutters out of the 300 hurdles, he can knock off some time," Bastian said. "If you hit a hurdle you could go from being in the finals to watching the finals."
Black Hawk junior Jen Wellnitz qualified for state in four individual events for the second straight year including the 100, 200, long jump and triple jump. Wellnitz was the state runner-up in the 100 last year. She is seeded No. 1 in the 100 (12.51) this year and is the No. 2 seed in the 200 (26.17) and long jump (16-9).
Darlington senior Cassidy Chambers is the No. 2 seed in the high jump (5-1) and tied for the fourth seed in the pole vault (9-0). Chambers is one of a few athletes who have the best Division 3 high jump in the state this year (5-2). Darlington senior Abigail Merriam whose best high jump (5-0) also is competing at state.
"I think the high jump is wide open," Bastian said. "We could go 1-2 or 12-13. It will come down to misses."
Three-time defending champion Edgar has athletes competing in 11 events. Edgar has won the 1,600 relay the last seven years. St. Mary's Springs looks to repeat its title in the 3,200 relay.
The Redbirds' 1,600 relay team of Carly Reilly, Carly Langkamp, Claire Scott and Alison Wedig are the fifth seed (4;13.14). Scott and Wedig are part of the Redbirds' 1,600 relay team that broke the school record last year and finished as the state runner-up.
The Redbirds qualified all four relays for state with the 800 relay team of Langkamp, Scott, Wedig and Reilly seeded fifth, the 3,200 relay team seeded eighth (10:09.99) and the 400 relay team seeded 10th (52.59).
Albany junior Bailey Hlavachek is the eighth seed in the 800 (2;27.59) and the 14th seed in the 1,600 (5:35.21). Black Hawk junior Olivia Holland is the ninth seed in the 300 hurdles (48.75). Hlavachek finished fifth in the 800 at state last year and took sixth in the 1,600 as a freshman.
"I know she has had a problem with shin splints," Brewer said of Hlavachek. "Her best time is 2:21. It depends on how she is feeling that day. Hopefully, she can get on the podium."
Miehe, a junior, entered state last year as the No. 2 seed in the 1,600, but finished sixth. Now, a year later, Miehe is focused on having a better race at the WIAA Division 3 state track and field championships at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1.
"I'm keeping the motivation from last year because I want to do better," Miehe said. "My goal is to go up there and win."
Miehe is the No. 1 seed in the 1,600 (4 minutes, 28.78) and the top seed in the 3,200 (9:35.12). He has the fastest qualifying time in the 1,600 by about two seconds over St. Mary's Central junior Greg Greif. In the 3,200, Miehe has the fastest 3,200 qualifying time by about nine seconds over Immanuel Lutheran junior Darin Lau (9:44.25).
Darlington senior teammate Garth Garrison is seeded fifth (10:02.15) in the 3,200 and Albany sophomore Brennan Bloedel is seeded seventh (10:05.01). McDonell Central's Nick Zander has ran a 4:23 in the 1,600 this year and could be the main contender along with Miehe for the state title. Miehe's best time in the 1,600 this year is 4:24.
"His strength is speed where mine is endurance," Miehe said. "It will be a good battle."
Miehe learned a lot from running at state last year with high expectations.
"I ran stupid in the 1,600," he said of last year. "I think a lot of it is being confident in your training and going up there with confidence," he said. "You have to run a smart race. You have to be more confident knowing when you have to make a move and when the time is right."
The Darlington boys track team has six events that qualified for state; the girls will compete in seven events tat state.
"We never go up there with the pressure of trying to win a team award or to score the most points," Darlington coach Todd Bastian said. "Our goal is to go up there and run well and let the chips fall where they may."
The Rosholt boys track team is looking to win a third straight title in the 3,200 relay. The Redbirds, the state runner-up last year, head into the state meet as the No. 1 seed (8:19:83). The Redbirds' 3,200 relay team of Dane Siegenthaler, Miehe, Garrison and Quinn Cullen are vying to end Rosholt's run.
"If we run well we should have a chance to win it," Bastian said. "We feel like all six (events) could get on the medal stand."
Albany senior Jose Ramirez has the second-fastest qualifying time in the 800 (2:00.66) and Cullen is seeded fifth (2:01.59). Albany is the eighth seed in the 3,200 relay (8:25.78).
"I think he (Ramirez) has a shot to win it," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "I think he is confident that he can beat anyone in the race."
Tri-County senior Tyler Schartzman will look to repeat as the state champion in the 300 hurdles. Darlington junior Kyle Johnson is the fourth seed in the 110 high hurdles (15.34) and the 10th seed in the 300 hurdles (42.14).
"If he can knock some of his stutters out of the 300 hurdles, he can knock off some time," Bastian said. "If you hit a hurdle you could go from being in the finals to watching the finals."
Black Hawk junior Jen Wellnitz qualified for state in four individual events for the second straight year including the 100, 200, long jump and triple jump. Wellnitz was the state runner-up in the 100 last year. She is seeded No. 1 in the 100 (12.51) this year and is the No. 2 seed in the 200 (26.17) and long jump (16-9).
Darlington senior Cassidy Chambers is the No. 2 seed in the high jump (5-1) and tied for the fourth seed in the pole vault (9-0). Chambers is one of a few athletes who have the best Division 3 high jump in the state this year (5-2). Darlington senior Abigail Merriam whose best high jump (5-0) also is competing at state.
"I think the high jump is wide open," Bastian said. "We could go 1-2 or 12-13. It will come down to misses."
Three-time defending champion Edgar has athletes competing in 11 events. Edgar has won the 1,600 relay the last seven years. St. Mary's Springs looks to repeat its title in the 3,200 relay.
The Redbirds' 1,600 relay team of Carly Reilly, Carly Langkamp, Claire Scott and Alison Wedig are the fifth seed (4;13.14). Scott and Wedig are part of the Redbirds' 1,600 relay team that broke the school record last year and finished as the state runner-up.
The Redbirds qualified all four relays for state with the 800 relay team of Langkamp, Scott, Wedig and Reilly seeded fifth, the 3,200 relay team seeded eighth (10:09.99) and the 400 relay team seeded 10th (52.59).
Albany junior Bailey Hlavachek is the eighth seed in the 800 (2;27.59) and the 14th seed in the 1,600 (5:35.21). Black Hawk junior Olivia Holland is the ninth seed in the 300 hurdles (48.75). Hlavachek finished fifth in the 800 at state last year and took sixth in the 1,600 as a freshman.
"I know she has had a problem with shin splints," Brewer said of Hlavachek. "Her best time is 2:21. It depends on how she is feeling that day. Hopefully, she can get on the podium."
