DARLINGTON - When Monroe senior Tess Seichter attended the Camp of Champs at the University of Wisconsin this offseason, she knew it would include some of the state's elite runners.
That offseason training is paying dividends as Seichter finished fourth at the Darlington Invite, Saturday with a time of 16 minutes, 29 seconds on the 4K course, which was about 10 seconds faster than last year.
"All I hoped for this year is to get better and I did that so I'm happy," Seichter said. "We wanted to step up and try to push and run with Mineral Point, Boscobel and Mount Horeb."
Dodgeville-Mineral Point, the Division 2 state runner-up last year edged Mount Horeb-Barneveld, 35-58 for the Darlington Invite title. Darlington had six of the top 36 runners and finished fourth overall (104) and Monroe was fifth (146).
Monroe girls cross country coach Brian Jefferson said he expected a top-five finish again.
"We were hoping to break into the top four," Jefferson said. "When you are running against top teams in the state, that's a tough thing to do."
Jefferson feels that Seichter will only get better the more she is pushed.
"Running with the Dodgeville-Mineral Point girls will help get her to state," Jefferson said of Seichter. "She has to put herself in a position where she can challenge for the lead and she has done that in the first two meets."
Darlington sophomore Amy Jorgenson took 12th with a time of 17:10. Darlington junior Taryn Evenstad finished 17th (17:20) and senior Olivia Wedig took 25th (17:32).
"I didn't really have a goal. I just wanted to run our field well," Jorgenson said. "I think I did that. I'm really satisfied. We will push forward and keep going."
Two Darlington freshmen making varsity debuts were impressive. Christa Wamsley finished 31st (17:47) and Cheyenne Wolfe took 34th (17:49).
"I just wanted to see where they were," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said of the season opening meet. "I was hoping to get a solid race and hopefully a top three finish."
Monroe freshman Abby Rogerson finished 35th with a time of 17:51 and sophomore Molly Hlubek, who battled the flu, took 37th (17:57). Monroe senior Tessa Frutiger took 44th (18:14) and freshman Elizabeth Dale finished 46th (18:16).
Jefferson was elated to see the achievement by Rogerson.
"We had a hard week of practice," Jefferson said. "She was running to step up and take the No. 2 role."
Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Kendra Sigg took 16th (17:20) to help the Vikings to an 11th place finish out of 14 teams.
"I wanted to get in the top 10," Sigg said. "I'm extremely ashamed of myself."
Sigg said she wants to use the race as a reminder not to be intimidated by other top runners.
"Before this, I looked at them and I knew they were good," she said.
Albany, who ran shorthanded with only four runners, didn't place. Albany junior Rosy Bauman finished 22nd (17:29), Ingrid Kallgren took 24th (17:30), Courtney Pfeuti was 43rd (18:12) and Ciara Kubesh was 48th (18:22) to lead the Comets.
That offseason training is paying dividends as Seichter finished fourth at the Darlington Invite, Saturday with a time of 16 minutes, 29 seconds on the 4K course, which was about 10 seconds faster than last year.
"All I hoped for this year is to get better and I did that so I'm happy," Seichter said. "We wanted to step up and try to push and run with Mineral Point, Boscobel and Mount Horeb."
Dodgeville-Mineral Point, the Division 2 state runner-up last year edged Mount Horeb-Barneveld, 35-58 for the Darlington Invite title. Darlington had six of the top 36 runners and finished fourth overall (104) and Monroe was fifth (146).
Monroe girls cross country coach Brian Jefferson said he expected a top-five finish again.
"We were hoping to break into the top four," Jefferson said. "When you are running against top teams in the state, that's a tough thing to do."
Jefferson feels that Seichter will only get better the more she is pushed.
"Running with the Dodgeville-Mineral Point girls will help get her to state," Jefferson said of Seichter. "She has to put herself in a position where she can challenge for the lead and she has done that in the first two meets."
Darlington sophomore Amy Jorgenson took 12th with a time of 17:10. Darlington junior Taryn Evenstad finished 17th (17:20) and senior Olivia Wedig took 25th (17:32).
"I didn't really have a goal. I just wanted to run our field well," Jorgenson said. "I think I did that. I'm really satisfied. We will push forward and keep going."
Two Darlington freshmen making varsity debuts were impressive. Christa Wamsley finished 31st (17:47) and Cheyenne Wolfe took 34th (17:49).
"I just wanted to see where they were," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said of the season opening meet. "I was hoping to get a solid race and hopefully a top three finish."
Monroe freshman Abby Rogerson finished 35th with a time of 17:51 and sophomore Molly Hlubek, who battled the flu, took 37th (17:57). Monroe senior Tessa Frutiger took 44th (18:14) and freshman Elizabeth Dale finished 46th (18:16).
Jefferson was elated to see the achievement by Rogerson.
"We had a hard week of practice," Jefferson said. "She was running to step up and take the No. 2 role."
Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Kendra Sigg took 16th (17:20) to help the Vikings to an 11th place finish out of 14 teams.
"I wanted to get in the top 10," Sigg said. "I'm extremely ashamed of myself."
Sigg said she wants to use the race as a reminder not to be intimidated by other top runners.
"Before this, I looked at them and I knew they were good," she said.
Albany, who ran shorthanded with only four runners, didn't place. Albany junior Rosy Bauman finished 22nd (17:29), Ingrid Kallgren took 24th (17:30), Courtney Pfeuti was 43rd (18:12) and Ciara Kubesh was 48th (18:22) to lead the Comets.
