LA CROSSE - The only problem for Monroe senior Jordan Hirsbrunner at the WIAA Division 2 state track meet on Friday was adjusting an umbrella to shield her face from the sweltering sun.
Hirsbrunner heated up with the weather at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium on the first day of the state track meet. Hirsbrunner matched a lifetime best clearing 5 feet, 5 inches to finish third place in the high jump.
"I tried to keep the umbrella out so I could stop the sun from beating down on me," Hirsbrunner said. "It was still hot. I drank a lot of water. It's really a memorable experience for me. My first goal was to make 5-2 on my first attempt and I did that. My second goal was to make 5-4. I made 5-5 and that was icing on the cake."
Hirsbrunner, a University of Wisconsin-Madison recruit, has competed in the high jump since she was as elementary school student in summer school with her father Dave Hirsbrunner, who taught a track and field course.
It marks the second year she has medaled at state in the high jump. Last year, Hirsbrunner took sixth in the high jump.
"It's something I have done since I was a baby when I could walk," Hirsbrunner said of competing in several track events. "The high jump is something my dad has worked on me with since elementary school."
Hirsbrunner had to juggle two events during the high jump. After making 5-0 in the high jump, she checked out to run the preliminaries of the 100-meter hurdles. Hirsbrunner finished first in the preliminaries of the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.19 seconds.
"It's tough doing both, but it's what I was prepared for," she said. "I tied my PR (in the high jump) and couldn't have asked for more."
Hirsbrunner has the fastest time in both the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles (44.55) entering the finals today. Six of the seven events the Cheesemakers qualified for state advanced to today's finals. She is looking to repeat as the state champion in the 300 hurdles.
"It's a good position to be in," Hirsbrunner said. "I'm definitely very happy, but anything can happen at state. The seeding doesn't matter. Someone could run faster that day."
The Cheesemakers' 400 relay team of senior Josie Eberle, freshman Cassi Gersbach, senior Casey Rielly and sophomore Cammi Ganshert took sixth in the preliminaries (50.05) to qualify for the finals.
Ganshert took eighth in the preliminaries of the 100 (12.94) to make today's finals.
"It's cool," Ganshert said. "I wasn't sure how I would do. I'm happy I made it."
Ganshert has high expectations in the finals of the 100 today. She entered the state meet seeded sixth in the 100 and the top six medal.
"I'm just happy I made it," she said. "I just want to run as hard as I can. Being on the podium would be great and ideal."
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team of junior Sydney Mathiason, Ganshert, junior Rachel Meier and Hirsbrunner took 12th in the preliminaries and didn't qualify for the finals.
The Cheesemakers entered the state meet seeded sixth in the 1,600 relay, but their time in the prelims on Friday was 5.5 seconds slower than their sectional time.
"We usually run it (the 1,600 relay) at night when it's 60 degrees or a lot cooler," Ganshert said. "I'm not trying to make excuses, but I think that (hot weather and waiting for the relay in the day's final event) was a factor."
Hirsbrunner heated up with the weather at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium on the first day of the state track meet. Hirsbrunner matched a lifetime best clearing 5 feet, 5 inches to finish third place in the high jump.
"I tried to keep the umbrella out so I could stop the sun from beating down on me," Hirsbrunner said. "It was still hot. I drank a lot of water. It's really a memorable experience for me. My first goal was to make 5-2 on my first attempt and I did that. My second goal was to make 5-4. I made 5-5 and that was icing on the cake."
Hirsbrunner, a University of Wisconsin-Madison recruit, has competed in the high jump since she was as elementary school student in summer school with her father Dave Hirsbrunner, who taught a track and field course.
It marks the second year she has medaled at state in the high jump. Last year, Hirsbrunner took sixth in the high jump.
"It's something I have done since I was a baby when I could walk," Hirsbrunner said of competing in several track events. "The high jump is something my dad has worked on me with since elementary school."
Hirsbrunner had to juggle two events during the high jump. After making 5-0 in the high jump, she checked out to run the preliminaries of the 100-meter hurdles. Hirsbrunner finished first in the preliminaries of the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.19 seconds.
"It's tough doing both, but it's what I was prepared for," she said. "I tied my PR (in the high jump) and couldn't have asked for more."
Hirsbrunner has the fastest time in both the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles (44.55) entering the finals today. Six of the seven events the Cheesemakers qualified for state advanced to today's finals. She is looking to repeat as the state champion in the 300 hurdles.
"It's a good position to be in," Hirsbrunner said. "I'm definitely very happy, but anything can happen at state. The seeding doesn't matter. Someone could run faster that day."
The Cheesemakers' 400 relay team of senior Josie Eberle, freshman Cassi Gersbach, senior Casey Rielly and sophomore Cammi Ganshert took sixth in the preliminaries (50.05) to qualify for the finals.
Ganshert took eighth in the preliminaries of the 100 (12.94) to make today's finals.
"It's cool," Ganshert said. "I wasn't sure how I would do. I'm happy I made it."
Ganshert has high expectations in the finals of the 100 today. She entered the state meet seeded sixth in the 100 and the top six medal.
"I'm just happy I made it," she said. "I just want to run as hard as I can. Being on the podium would be great and ideal."
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team of junior Sydney Mathiason, Ganshert, junior Rachel Meier and Hirsbrunner took 12th in the preliminaries and didn't qualify for the finals.
The Cheesemakers entered the state meet seeded sixth in the 1,600 relay, but their time in the prelims on Friday was 5.5 seconds slower than their sectional time.
"We usually run it (the 1,600 relay) at night when it's 60 degrees or a lot cooler," Ganshert said. "I'm not trying to make excuses, but I think that (hot weather and waiting for the relay in the day's final event) was a factor."
