LAWRENCE, KAN. - With about 30-meters to go, Monroe junior Ethan Moehn ran down Blue Springs to catapult the Cheesemakers to the championship in the 4x880 relay at the Kansas Relays Saturday, April 20.
"I knew when I got the baton I had work to do," Moehn said. "I knew he would either run a really fast time like a 1:55 or be one of their slower guys on their team running at the end with the lead. I knew I was one of the fastest in the field. I just tried to stay relaxed the first part of the race and he came back to me. To walk out on top with our goal is a great feeling."
The 4x880 relay team of Steve Christiansen, junior Jake Hirsbrunner, senior Alex Barenklau and Moehn won the race with a time of 8 minutes, 2.05 seconds. The Cheesemakers finished about three seconds ahead of Blue Springs (8:05.83).
"It felt absolutely amazing," Hirsbrunner said. "Words can't describe how awesome it felt to win the Kansas Relays. Everyone ran a good time on the same day. We all put it together. It's something I will never forget - the high jump and running the 4x880 with my friends."
The Cheesemakers, the two-time defending WIAA Division 2 state champions in the 3,200 relay, also set the state record last year (7:50.13).
The Cheesemakers didn't break 8 minutes until the state meet last year. Hirsbrunner said they are ahead of last year's pace at this point in the season.
"It's awesome to have this competition and be able to pull out the win," Christiansen said. "All of us are much further ahead than last year. I am running times now I didn't run last year until the final two weeks."
Christiansen was excited about the chance to run lead off in a race where he would have to battle for position in a physical race where there is some bumping at the start. In many of the conference races in the 3,200 relay, the Cheesemakers take a big lead from the start.
"It was really beneficial running lead off," Christiansen said. "To be able to lead out with some great competition, I just wanted to improve on my race strategy because it will be the same way at state."
Barenklau said winning the 4x880 at the Kansas Relays will give the team confidence on the road to state at the end of the season.
"Not many people are able to go to a big meet out of state," Barenklau said. "To win it is even better. It's a big accomplishment. We are a year older and a year better. We are definitely ahead of the game compared to last year."
Moehn finished 25th in the 1,600 with a time of 4:26.57. Darlington junior Tyson Miehe finished 32nd (4:31.51).
"Most of them were elite runners from Kansas and Missouri," Moehn said. "I didn't run as well as I would have liked to. It was a great experience."
The goal for the Cheesemakers is to win a third straight state championship in the 3,200 relay.
"It gives us confidence that we can run faster," Moehn said. "We also need to know it's not the end of the season and there is room for improvement and a lot of work to be done."
"I knew when I got the baton I had work to do," Moehn said. "I knew he would either run a really fast time like a 1:55 or be one of their slower guys on their team running at the end with the lead. I knew I was one of the fastest in the field. I just tried to stay relaxed the first part of the race and he came back to me. To walk out on top with our goal is a great feeling."
The 4x880 relay team of Steve Christiansen, junior Jake Hirsbrunner, senior Alex Barenklau and Moehn won the race with a time of 8 minutes, 2.05 seconds. The Cheesemakers finished about three seconds ahead of Blue Springs (8:05.83).
"It felt absolutely amazing," Hirsbrunner said. "Words can't describe how awesome it felt to win the Kansas Relays. Everyone ran a good time on the same day. We all put it together. It's something I will never forget - the high jump and running the 4x880 with my friends."
The Cheesemakers, the two-time defending WIAA Division 2 state champions in the 3,200 relay, also set the state record last year (7:50.13).
The Cheesemakers didn't break 8 minutes until the state meet last year. Hirsbrunner said they are ahead of last year's pace at this point in the season.
"It's awesome to have this competition and be able to pull out the win," Christiansen said. "All of us are much further ahead than last year. I am running times now I didn't run last year until the final two weeks."
Christiansen was excited about the chance to run lead off in a race where he would have to battle for position in a physical race where there is some bumping at the start. In many of the conference races in the 3,200 relay, the Cheesemakers take a big lead from the start.
"It was really beneficial running lead off," Christiansen said. "To be able to lead out with some great competition, I just wanted to improve on my race strategy because it will be the same way at state."
Barenklau said winning the 4x880 at the Kansas Relays will give the team confidence on the road to state at the end of the season.
"Not many people are able to go to a big meet out of state," Barenklau said. "To win it is even better. It's a big accomplishment. We are a year older and a year better. We are definitely ahead of the game compared to last year."
Moehn finished 25th in the 1,600 with a time of 4:26.57. Darlington junior Tyson Miehe finished 32nd (4:31.51).
"Most of them were elite runners from Kansas and Missouri," Moehn said. "I didn't run as well as I would have liked to. It was a great experience."
The goal for the Cheesemakers is to win a third straight state championship in the 3,200 relay.
"It gives us confidence that we can run faster," Moehn said. "We also need to know it's not the end of the season and there is room for improvement and a lot of work to be done."
