Glendenning Invitational
What: Glendenning Invitational
When: 4:30 p.m. Monday
Where: Monroe High School
Teams: Boys and girls from Monroe, Albany, Black Hawk, Darlington and Pecatonica-Argyle
In Honor of Glendenning: The Glendenning Invitational is named in honor of the late Dick Glendenning, who coached track at Monroe High School for 51 years including 24 years as head coach. Glendenning was inducted into the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2011. Glendenning also taught at Monroe High School for 32 years. He coached basketball for 17 years and was an assistant football coach for 22 years.
MONROE - Many teachers stress to students not to judge a book by its cover.
Monroe High School senior Thang Lu was living proof of that axiom as a freshman and has had to work for everything he has earned on the track.
It's early in the track and field season this spring, but Lu has won every 800-meter race he has competed in this year.
"It's tradition," Lu said of running the 800. "I have always wanted to keep the tradition going. My goal is to place at state in the 800."
Lu is one in a long line of strong long-distance runners for the Cheesemakers. Monroe boys track coach Scott Mosher has been impressed by Lu's season so far, and he has high expectations for the senior mid- and long-distance runner.
"He's at another level right now," Mosher said of Lu.
It hasn't always been roses for Lu on the track.
"He (Lu) didn't look like a runner his freshman year," Mosher said. "He was an alternate and not in the top eight to go to state in cross country. He had some failures. Some kids can't handle that and let that bother them. He just worked harder. Nothing has been given to him. He has earned everything he has got."
As a freshman, Lu was an alternate on the state-champion 3,200 relay team that featured Jake Hirsbrunner, who is running track at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Ethan Moehn, who is running track and cross country at Arkansas.
Lu credits former track coaches Dave Hirsbrunner and Howie Jubeck for giving him a training philosophy to pave his way. He has worked on a weight-lifting program with MHS physical education teacher John Ditter.
"I took little baby steps and hopefully all of the hard work pays off," Lu said. "I feel a lot stronger. My stamina and form is a lot better. I ran a lot and lifted a lot of weights in the offseason. I trained really hard in the offseason."
Besides being resilient, Mosher has noticed Lu has emerged more because of his dedication to training.
"A lot of long-distance runners tail off at the end of races, and he doesn't tail off," Mosher said. "I think it's a direct relation to the weight training."
Lu has set a goal of running the 800 in 1 minute, 55 seconds. He relies on a strong kick for overtaking many other runners down the stretch in the 800.
"I'm pretty fast in the 400," he said. "I get another chance to catch people on the second lap. I can maintain my pace in the 800 more than some others."
The Cheesemakers have made five straight trips to state in the 3,200 relay and have won three state titles in the past five years. Lu broke 2 minutes in his leg of the 800 in winning the 3,200 relay at the Madison West Relays on Saturday. Lu expects the Cheesemakers, with sophomore Jonah Tostrud, sophomore Dylan Scace and senior Dominick Curtiss, to be a contender for a medal at state in the 3,200 relay.
"If we keep improving we can break 8 minutes," he said. "It's a good goal to run under 8."
Lu plans to go to Marquette and major in biological sciences. He's not sure if he has a future in college in track.
"He has to show what he can do this year," Mosher said. "If he can get his goals to where he has them there are a lot of schools who would take a hard look at him including Marquette."
Monroe High School senior Thang Lu was living proof of that axiom as a freshman and has had to work for everything he has earned on the track.
It's early in the track and field season this spring, but Lu has won every 800-meter race he has competed in this year.
"It's tradition," Lu said of running the 800. "I have always wanted to keep the tradition going. My goal is to place at state in the 800."
Lu is one in a long line of strong long-distance runners for the Cheesemakers. Monroe boys track coach Scott Mosher has been impressed by Lu's season so far, and he has high expectations for the senior mid- and long-distance runner.
"He's at another level right now," Mosher said of Lu.
It hasn't always been roses for Lu on the track.
"He (Lu) didn't look like a runner his freshman year," Mosher said. "He was an alternate and not in the top eight to go to state in cross country. He had some failures. Some kids can't handle that and let that bother them. He just worked harder. Nothing has been given to him. He has earned everything he has got."
As a freshman, Lu was an alternate on the state-champion 3,200 relay team that featured Jake Hirsbrunner, who is running track at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Ethan Moehn, who is running track and cross country at Arkansas.
Lu credits former track coaches Dave Hirsbrunner and Howie Jubeck for giving him a training philosophy to pave his way. He has worked on a weight-lifting program with MHS physical education teacher John Ditter.
"I took little baby steps and hopefully all of the hard work pays off," Lu said. "I feel a lot stronger. My stamina and form is a lot better. I ran a lot and lifted a lot of weights in the offseason. I trained really hard in the offseason."
Besides being resilient, Mosher has noticed Lu has emerged more because of his dedication to training.
"A lot of long-distance runners tail off at the end of races, and he doesn't tail off," Mosher said. "I think it's a direct relation to the weight training."
Lu has set a goal of running the 800 in 1 minute, 55 seconds. He relies on a strong kick for overtaking many other runners down the stretch in the 800.
"I'm pretty fast in the 400," he said. "I get another chance to catch people on the second lap. I can maintain my pace in the 800 more than some others."
The Cheesemakers have made five straight trips to state in the 3,200 relay and have won three state titles in the past five years. Lu broke 2 minutes in his leg of the 800 in winning the 3,200 relay at the Madison West Relays on Saturday. Lu expects the Cheesemakers, with sophomore Jonah Tostrud, sophomore Dylan Scace and senior Dominick Curtiss, to be a contender for a medal at state in the 3,200 relay.
"If we keep improving we can break 8 minutes," he said. "It's a good goal to run under 8."
Lu plans to go to Marquette and major in biological sciences. He's not sure if he has a future in college in track.
"He has to show what he can do this year," Mosher said. "If he can get his goals to where he has them there are a lot of schools who would take a hard look at him including Marquette."
