DARLINGTON - With about one week until conference track meets, Darlington coach Pat Reichling is still seeing what combinations and spots may work out best for the Redbirds to make a push at qualifying for state this season.
Benton-Scales Mound-Shullsburg outdistanced Darlington for the Redbird Invitational team title 164-129 Monday. Monroe took third (85.5) in the 11-team invitational. Pecatonica-Argyle finished fifth (64) and Black Hawk and Albany tied for eighth (35).
"We were really able to put some of our older runners with our younger runners and still were able to be competitive," Reichling said. "I'm very happy with what I have seen. Our top performers did what they needed to do.
"Looking ahead we have conference to get ready for and then the regional. I think we have some relays that will be really good. We as coaches will have to take a look and see what events we want as a team and individuals to do and see what the best way is to go."
The Cheesemakers swept the top two spots in the 800-meter run. Monroe senior Jason Koller won the 800 (1:59.54) and sophomore Dylan Fahrney took second (2:05.90). Monroe senior Brayden Zettle finished first the 200 (23.47) and won the long jump (21 feet, 1 inch). Albany junior Josh Dahl finished second (23.65).
Darlington senior Grady Rielly won the 110 high hurdles (15.66) and the 300 hurdles (41.06). Darlington senior Paul King won the 1,600 (4:46.67) and junior teammate Payton Heinberg won the 3,200 (10:08.90).
"It's not too bad of a race considering there is a bit of a head wind," Rielly said. "It's always good to win."
Rielly finished fourth in the 300 hurdles and fifth in the 110 hurdles at the WIAA Division 3 state meet last year.
"I'm running a lot better times than I was last year at this time," Rielly said. "I put in a lot of work over the winter. Hopefully, it pays off."
The Redbirds had two of the top three in the discus. Senior Connor McGowan finished first in the discus (143-2) and sophomore teammate Ross Stauffacher was third (121-5).
Darlington senior Kameron Blosch took second in the 100 (11.94) and Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Mamadou Demba placed third (12.21).
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Joseph Tisch finished first in the 400 (54.80). Albany senior Garrett Hlavachek won the triple jump (40-8) and Black Hawk junior Colby Argall placed third (39-6).
Albany's 1,600 relay team of senior Hunter Overland, Josh Dahl, Logun Parker and Hlavachek took second (3:43.61). Pecatonica-Argyle's 3,200 relay team of sophomore Chevy Hughes, sophomore Payton Flannery, sophomore Troy Nickels and Tisch finished second (8:58.71).
Darlington senior Curtis Blosch finished second in the pole vault (12-0) and Monroe sophomore Patrick Rielly placed third (10-0). Darlington junior Blake Whalen placed third in the 200 (24.06). The Redbirds' throwers 400 relay team of sophomore Lief Bredeson, junior Matthew Douglas, senior Jacob Riechers and senior Connor McGowan took second (54.63).
Black Hawk sophomore Jaylen Rufenacht took second in the long jump (20-2) and senior teammate Jett Rufenacht was third in the long jump (19-3). Jaylen Rufenacht also took fourth in the high jump (5-8).
"I just like showing off my hops," Rufenacht said. "It's something that is not easy and I like the challenge. Six-foot is my goal."
The Redbirds' 400 relay team (47.58), 800 relay team (1:37.42), 1,600 relay team (3:44.99) and 3,200 relay team (9:00.11) each finished third.
Benton-Scales Mound-Shullsburg outdistanced Darlington for the Redbird Invitational team title 164-129 Monday. Monroe took third (85.5) in the 11-team invitational. Pecatonica-Argyle finished fifth (64) and Black Hawk and Albany tied for eighth (35).
"We were really able to put some of our older runners with our younger runners and still were able to be competitive," Reichling said. "I'm very happy with what I have seen. Our top performers did what they needed to do.
"Looking ahead we have conference to get ready for and then the regional. I think we have some relays that will be really good. We as coaches will have to take a look and see what events we want as a team and individuals to do and see what the best way is to go."
The Cheesemakers swept the top two spots in the 800-meter run. Monroe senior Jason Koller won the 800 (1:59.54) and sophomore Dylan Fahrney took second (2:05.90). Monroe senior Brayden Zettle finished first the 200 (23.47) and won the long jump (21 feet, 1 inch). Albany junior Josh Dahl finished second (23.65).
Darlington senior Grady Rielly won the 110 high hurdles (15.66) and the 300 hurdles (41.06). Darlington senior Paul King won the 1,600 (4:46.67) and junior teammate Payton Heinberg won the 3,200 (10:08.90).
"It's not too bad of a race considering there is a bit of a head wind," Rielly said. "It's always good to win."
Rielly finished fourth in the 300 hurdles and fifth in the 110 hurdles at the WIAA Division 3 state meet last year.
"I'm running a lot better times than I was last year at this time," Rielly said. "I put in a lot of work over the winter. Hopefully, it pays off."
The Redbirds had two of the top three in the discus. Senior Connor McGowan finished first in the discus (143-2) and sophomore teammate Ross Stauffacher was third (121-5).
Darlington senior Kameron Blosch took second in the 100 (11.94) and Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Mamadou Demba placed third (12.21).
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Joseph Tisch finished first in the 400 (54.80). Albany senior Garrett Hlavachek won the triple jump (40-8) and Black Hawk junior Colby Argall placed third (39-6).
Albany's 1,600 relay team of senior Hunter Overland, Josh Dahl, Logun Parker and Hlavachek took second (3:43.61). Pecatonica-Argyle's 3,200 relay team of sophomore Chevy Hughes, sophomore Payton Flannery, sophomore Troy Nickels and Tisch finished second (8:58.71).
Darlington senior Curtis Blosch finished second in the pole vault (12-0) and Monroe sophomore Patrick Rielly placed third (10-0). Darlington junior Blake Whalen placed third in the 200 (24.06). The Redbirds' throwers 400 relay team of sophomore Lief Bredeson, junior Matthew Douglas, senior Jacob Riechers and senior Connor McGowan took second (54.63).
Black Hawk sophomore Jaylen Rufenacht took second in the long jump (20-2) and senior teammate Jett Rufenacht was third in the long jump (19-3). Jaylen Rufenacht also took fourth in the high jump (5-8).
"I just like showing off my hops," Rufenacht said. "It's something that is not easy and I like the challenge. Six-foot is my goal."
The Redbirds' 400 relay team (47.58), 800 relay team (1:37.42), 1,600 relay team (3:44.99) and 3,200 relay team (9:00.11) each finished third.
