MONROE - It didn't take Monroe senior Jake Hirsbrunner long to eclipse the high jump school record.
Hirsbrunner cleared 6 feet, 8 1/4 inches to win the high jump at the UD boys Indoor Classic at the University of Dubuque Saturday, March 22. Hirsbrunner, a University of Wisconsin-Madison track recruit, cleared 6-8 1/4 on his final attempt. With that jump he set a new school record in the high jump and set a Dubuque facility record. Hirsbrunner's jump broke the previous school high jump record (6-8) set by Steve Silvis in 1978 and matched by Mike Gratz in 1998.
"He had the whole building clapping and watching him," Monroe boys track coach Curt Miller said. "It was a goal he had for this year to be our school record-holder in the high jump. It would have lingered all year if it didn't happen. It will only help Jake this year. He won't have to worry about the record now. It was a perfect day for him in the high jump. He had a couple of good jumps at 6-10."
It was also a banner day for the Cheesemakers, as Hirsbrunner wasn't the only athlete to turn in a record-breaking performance. Monroe senior Ethan Moehn, a University of Arkansas recruit, won the 1,600-meter run with a facility record of 4 minutes, 21.17 seconds.
"It was a great spot to be in for the first meet of the year," Miller said of Moehn. "He ran great and looked great. He ran a smooth 4:21."
Dubuque Hempstead edged Dubuque Senior for the team title 106-98. The Cheesemakers finished eighth (51) out of 16 teams.
The Cheesemakers dominated the pole vault, sweeping the top three spots. Monroe senior Grant Keith won the pole vault with a vault of 11-6. Senior Blake Bast finished second (11-0) and Hirsbrunner took third (10-6).
The Cheesemakers also had the top two in the 800-meter run. Senior Noah Tostrud won the 800 with a time of 2:02.99 and Hirsbrunner took second (2:04.78). Several of the Cheesemakers' top runners ran in just one event.
"We don't need to put them in multiple events to get them ready for the season," Miller said. "They have worked hard in the offseason to get ready for the season. People take for granted how good a 2:02 is indoors. I'm thrilled to see where Noah is this early in the year."
Miller wasn't surprised by the Cheesemakers' success in the pole vault.
"Iowa doesn't pole vault," Miller said. "It was a perfect to start without having a whole lot of other kids there."
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team of Forrest Klug-Hanson, Dakota Phillips, Cody Faust and Alex Koller took seventh (3:42.78). Faust finished sixth in the high jump (5-6) and senior Charlie Kind took eighth in the long jump (18-10).
"We have really solid depth in the middle distance races," Miller said. "We will have a lot more depth in the sprints than last year."
Hirsbrunner cleared 6 feet, 8 1/4 inches to win the high jump at the UD boys Indoor Classic at the University of Dubuque Saturday, March 22. Hirsbrunner, a University of Wisconsin-Madison track recruit, cleared 6-8 1/4 on his final attempt. With that jump he set a new school record in the high jump and set a Dubuque facility record. Hirsbrunner's jump broke the previous school high jump record (6-8) set by Steve Silvis in 1978 and matched by Mike Gratz in 1998.
"He had the whole building clapping and watching him," Monroe boys track coach Curt Miller said. "It was a goal he had for this year to be our school record-holder in the high jump. It would have lingered all year if it didn't happen. It will only help Jake this year. He won't have to worry about the record now. It was a perfect day for him in the high jump. He had a couple of good jumps at 6-10."
It was also a banner day for the Cheesemakers, as Hirsbrunner wasn't the only athlete to turn in a record-breaking performance. Monroe senior Ethan Moehn, a University of Arkansas recruit, won the 1,600-meter run with a facility record of 4 minutes, 21.17 seconds.
"It was a great spot to be in for the first meet of the year," Miller said of Moehn. "He ran great and looked great. He ran a smooth 4:21."
Dubuque Hempstead edged Dubuque Senior for the team title 106-98. The Cheesemakers finished eighth (51) out of 16 teams.
The Cheesemakers dominated the pole vault, sweeping the top three spots. Monroe senior Grant Keith won the pole vault with a vault of 11-6. Senior Blake Bast finished second (11-0) and Hirsbrunner took third (10-6).
The Cheesemakers also had the top two in the 800-meter run. Senior Noah Tostrud won the 800 with a time of 2:02.99 and Hirsbrunner took second (2:04.78). Several of the Cheesemakers' top runners ran in just one event.
"We don't need to put them in multiple events to get them ready for the season," Miller said. "They have worked hard in the offseason to get ready for the season. People take for granted how good a 2:02 is indoors. I'm thrilled to see where Noah is this early in the year."
Miller wasn't surprised by the Cheesemakers' success in the pole vault.
"Iowa doesn't pole vault," Miller said. "It was a perfect to start without having a whole lot of other kids there."
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team of Forrest Klug-Hanson, Dakota Phillips, Cody Faust and Alex Koller took seventh (3:42.78). Faust finished sixth in the high jump (5-6) and senior Charlie Kind took eighth in the long jump (18-10).
"We have really solid depth in the middle distance races," Miller said. "We will have a lot more depth in the sprints than last year."
