MONROE - Jordan Hirsbrunner may not want to be a history teacher when she graduates, but she has a sense for history when it comes to the historic track program at Monroe High School.
The junior knows the history when it comes to the hurdle events for the Cheesemakers. The last state champion in the hurdles for Monroe was Jaclyn Ditter in the100 hurdles in 2011. Hirsbrunner wants to add her name to the list of state champions.
Hirsbrunner enters the WIAA Division 2 state track and field championships at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday with the second-best sectional qualifying time (45.23 seconds) in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles.
She qualified for state in four events - the 300 hurdles and high jump and 800- and 1,600-meter relays. Despite being the No. 2 seed in the 300 hurdles, Hirsbrunner has the top Division 2 time in the state in the 300 hurdles (44.51 in the regional meet) this year. She has defeated two-time defending Division 2 state champion and state record-holder Mikaela Grant of Jefferson three times this season. Ripon's Addy Baker is the top seed after running a 45.2 at a sectional meet. Baker and Grant are both in the same preliminary heat.
"The No. 1 goal is to make it to the finals," Hirsbrunner said. "When finals comes, whatever happens, happens. I just hope for the best."
Her older brother, Jake, who is running track at the University of Wisconsin, is three years older than she is, but he serves as a mentor and coach just like her father, Dave.
"It's not much of a rivalry," Jordan said about her relationship with her brother and their interest in track and field. "He wants me to do the best I can. He and my dad work with me so much, so that I can do my best and accomplish my goals. I look up to him, and he knows I will listen to any advice he gives me."
Hirsbrunner started running at an early age. She followed her father and brother to track and cross country meets. She started competing in track in seventh grade.
"With my dad and brother, I have always been running and around track," she said.
She first started running the 300 hurdles as a freshman. She has got better every year and has a shot to contend for a gold medal this year in the 300 hurdles and high jump as well as the relays.
The three times she has defeated Grant this year has served as a motivation.
"I know she (Grant) is a really good athlete," Hirsbrunner said. "It gives me a little more confidence than before. Coming into the state meet the skill level is so much higher and there are a lot of very good athletes."
Hirsbrunner has been working on her start of the blocks and attacking the first three hurdles to get up to top speed sooner at the state meet.
"It usually takes me a couple of hurdles to build my speed up," she said.
She is seeded sixth in the high jump. She has cleared a 5 feet, 4 inches earlier this year and her personal best of 5-5 is within range of top seeds Hope Schneider, a junior from East Troy, and Lakeland sophomore Emily Scott, who both cleared 5-6 at the sectional. Martin Luther junior Brooke Blazei looks to win a state title for the third straight year.
"Making 5-2 on my first jump will be my main goal," Hirsbrunner said. "I have to spend my time on four events. It will be more hectic, but I just have to focus on all four."
She is fielding offers from colleges to run track at the next level.
"With my brother at Wisconsin and how he has been doing, Wisconsin is probably the top choice now," she said. "Anything can happen in the next year and a half. I hope to keep my options open."
The junior knows the history when it comes to the hurdle events for the Cheesemakers. The last state champion in the hurdles for Monroe was Jaclyn Ditter in the100 hurdles in 2011. Hirsbrunner wants to add her name to the list of state champions.
Hirsbrunner enters the WIAA Division 2 state track and field championships at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium on Friday with the second-best sectional qualifying time (45.23 seconds) in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles.
She qualified for state in four events - the 300 hurdles and high jump and 800- and 1,600-meter relays. Despite being the No. 2 seed in the 300 hurdles, Hirsbrunner has the top Division 2 time in the state in the 300 hurdles (44.51 in the regional meet) this year. She has defeated two-time defending Division 2 state champion and state record-holder Mikaela Grant of Jefferson three times this season. Ripon's Addy Baker is the top seed after running a 45.2 at a sectional meet. Baker and Grant are both in the same preliminary heat.
"The No. 1 goal is to make it to the finals," Hirsbrunner said. "When finals comes, whatever happens, happens. I just hope for the best."
Her older brother, Jake, who is running track at the University of Wisconsin, is three years older than she is, but he serves as a mentor and coach just like her father, Dave.
"It's not much of a rivalry," Jordan said about her relationship with her brother and their interest in track and field. "He wants me to do the best I can. He and my dad work with me so much, so that I can do my best and accomplish my goals. I look up to him, and he knows I will listen to any advice he gives me."
Hirsbrunner started running at an early age. She followed her father and brother to track and cross country meets. She started competing in track in seventh grade.
"With my dad and brother, I have always been running and around track," she said.
She first started running the 300 hurdles as a freshman. She has got better every year and has a shot to contend for a gold medal this year in the 300 hurdles and high jump as well as the relays.
The three times she has defeated Grant this year has served as a motivation.
"I know she (Grant) is a really good athlete," Hirsbrunner said. "It gives me a little more confidence than before. Coming into the state meet the skill level is so much higher and there are a lot of very good athletes."
Hirsbrunner has been working on her start of the blocks and attacking the first three hurdles to get up to top speed sooner at the state meet.
"It usually takes me a couple of hurdles to build my speed up," she said.
She is seeded sixth in the high jump. She has cleared a 5 feet, 4 inches earlier this year and her personal best of 5-5 is within range of top seeds Hope Schneider, a junior from East Troy, and Lakeland sophomore Emily Scott, who both cleared 5-6 at the sectional. Martin Luther junior Brooke Blazei looks to win a state title for the third straight year.
"Making 5-2 on my first jump will be my main goal," Hirsbrunner said. "I have to spend my time on four events. It will be more hectic, but I just have to focus on all four."
She is fielding offers from colleges to run track at the next level.
"With my brother at Wisconsin and how he has been doing, Wisconsin is probably the top choice now," she said. "Anything can happen in the next year and a half. I hope to keep my options open."
