MONROE - It's going to be a busy weekend for Monroe High School senior Jordan Hirsbrunner at the WIAA Division 2 state track and field meet at Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse.
Hirsbrunner, a University of Wisconsin-Madison recruit, is the defending state champion in the 300 hurdles. She will compete in four events Friday and Saturday.
Monroe girls track coach Matt Davis calls Hirsbrunner "a jack-of-all-trades" and one of the most versatile track athletes in the history of Monroe athletics.
Hirsbrunner became the first Monroe girls athlete to win four medals at state in a single year last season.
The following event-by-event breakdown includes her thoughts on each of her four events at the state meet this year - the high jump, 100-meter hurdles, 300 intermediate hurdles and 1,600-meter relay.
High jump
Hirsbrunner finished tied for sixth at state last year in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 2 inches. Hirsbrunner is tied for the second seed this year at 5-4. Her personal best is 5-5. The top contenders in the high jump in addition to Hirsbrunner are Martin Luther senior Brooke Blazei, who is looking to win the state title in the high jump for the third time and qualified at 5-3, and East Troy senior Hope Schneider, who has the top qualifying height of 5-6. There is also Dodgeville-Mineral Point's Sydney Staver (5-4), Richland Center junior Madison Rizner (5-4) and Platteville freshman Makayla Rooney (5-4). Blazei was the state runner-up in the high jump last year.
Hirsbrunner says: I think it can fluctuate so easily. Every meet you don't know who can jump the highest. You can have an off day or a good day. You never know what it will take to win the high jump. It's unlike any other race. Making 5-2 on my first jump is a big must. I want to place as high as I can. Four of the top five in the high jump were in our sectional (McFarland). There is a big group at state who have made 5-4. Making 5-4 would be a really big jump at state. It's really a toss-up. You never know when someone will jump their best.
100 hurdles
This is the first time Hirsbrunner has competed in the 100 hurdles at the state meet. She has the top-seeded time (15.08) entering the state meet. The top time for Hirsbrunner in the 100 hurdles this year is 14.99 seconds. Another top challenger is Black River Falls junior Stephanie Brauner, who has the fastest Division 2 time in the event this season (14.94).
Hirsbrunner says: I enjoy how quick of a race that it is. It's a really quick race, and there are a lot of good competitors around the state. It makes it fun going up against them. Out of the blocks, the first hurdle is the most important because there is the most space before the first hurdle. Staying low on the hurdles is very important. I have the tendency to go kind of high. Being low over the hurdles is best. The girl from Black River Falls has the top Division 2 time this year. I ran against her in the sectional and beat her. It was good to have a race against her before the state meet. There are usually a lot of PRs set at the state meet. Anything can happen at the state meet. Whoever has a good day and is on that day will end up at the top. I'm hoping it turns out for the best.
300 hurdles
Hirsbrunner is the defending state champion in the 300 hurdles. She won in 43.94 seconds last season. This year, she has the top-seeded team of 44.52, which is about 2 seconds faster than Adams-Friendship sophomore Brooke Livingston (46.47), Kewaunee senior Abby Baumgartner (46.49) and Omro senior Sadie Huth (46.58). Hirsbrunner's best time in the 300 hurdles this year is 43.6.
Hirsbrunner says: I think I still have to get out fast. I tend to go out slow and build it up. If I can get out faster that will really help me. A lot of girls are the opposite. They go out fast and then slow down. I like how it's a longer race. Since, cross country, I have the endurance. I have always clicked with the 300 hurdles. I've always been a fan of it. It's always fit me. Brooke Livingston of Adams-Friendship is one of the top competitors. There is a little bit of pressure. It's not anything that will make or break my day. I will go out that day and run my best race. I'm not worried about the expectations from last year.
1,600 relay
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team is seeded sixth heading into the state meet. The best time for Monroe in the 1,600 relay is 4 minutes, 4.1 seconds. The Cheesemakers have two runners - Hirsbrunner and Cammi Ganshert - who are back after running on the 1,600 relay team that finished sixth at state last year. Hirsbrunner runs the anchor leg.
Hirsbrunner says: I really like how we are as a team, and we are in this together. I really like the 400. It's one of my favorite events in track. It's great I get to run at state with my teammates. When I get the baton, my main goal in the prelims will be to make the finals. The second day if we make it the next goal is to get on the podium and medal. It would be a really great way to end my senior year. If we run our PR we will be in a good position to make the finals. I'm really excited I get to run with my teammates at state. We will soak up the last time at state before we all go our separate ways.
Hirsbrunner, a University of Wisconsin-Madison recruit, is the defending state champion in the 300 hurdles. She will compete in four events Friday and Saturday.
Monroe girls track coach Matt Davis calls Hirsbrunner "a jack-of-all-trades" and one of the most versatile track athletes in the history of Monroe athletics.
Hirsbrunner became the first Monroe girls athlete to win four medals at state in a single year last season.
The following event-by-event breakdown includes her thoughts on each of her four events at the state meet this year - the high jump, 100-meter hurdles, 300 intermediate hurdles and 1,600-meter relay.
High jump
Hirsbrunner finished tied for sixth at state last year in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 2 inches. Hirsbrunner is tied for the second seed this year at 5-4. Her personal best is 5-5. The top contenders in the high jump in addition to Hirsbrunner are Martin Luther senior Brooke Blazei, who is looking to win the state title in the high jump for the third time and qualified at 5-3, and East Troy senior Hope Schneider, who has the top qualifying height of 5-6. There is also Dodgeville-Mineral Point's Sydney Staver (5-4), Richland Center junior Madison Rizner (5-4) and Platteville freshman Makayla Rooney (5-4). Blazei was the state runner-up in the high jump last year.
Hirsbrunner says: I think it can fluctuate so easily. Every meet you don't know who can jump the highest. You can have an off day or a good day. You never know what it will take to win the high jump. It's unlike any other race. Making 5-2 on my first jump is a big must. I want to place as high as I can. Four of the top five in the high jump were in our sectional (McFarland). There is a big group at state who have made 5-4. Making 5-4 would be a really big jump at state. It's really a toss-up. You never know when someone will jump their best.
100 hurdles
This is the first time Hirsbrunner has competed in the 100 hurdles at the state meet. She has the top-seeded time (15.08) entering the state meet. The top time for Hirsbrunner in the 100 hurdles this year is 14.99 seconds. Another top challenger is Black River Falls junior Stephanie Brauner, who has the fastest Division 2 time in the event this season (14.94).
Hirsbrunner says: I enjoy how quick of a race that it is. It's a really quick race, and there are a lot of good competitors around the state. It makes it fun going up against them. Out of the blocks, the first hurdle is the most important because there is the most space before the first hurdle. Staying low on the hurdles is very important. I have the tendency to go kind of high. Being low over the hurdles is best. The girl from Black River Falls has the top Division 2 time this year. I ran against her in the sectional and beat her. It was good to have a race against her before the state meet. There are usually a lot of PRs set at the state meet. Anything can happen at the state meet. Whoever has a good day and is on that day will end up at the top. I'm hoping it turns out for the best.
300 hurdles
Hirsbrunner is the defending state champion in the 300 hurdles. She won in 43.94 seconds last season. This year, she has the top-seeded team of 44.52, which is about 2 seconds faster than Adams-Friendship sophomore Brooke Livingston (46.47), Kewaunee senior Abby Baumgartner (46.49) and Omro senior Sadie Huth (46.58). Hirsbrunner's best time in the 300 hurdles this year is 43.6.
Hirsbrunner says: I think I still have to get out fast. I tend to go out slow and build it up. If I can get out faster that will really help me. A lot of girls are the opposite. They go out fast and then slow down. I like how it's a longer race. Since, cross country, I have the endurance. I have always clicked with the 300 hurdles. I've always been a fan of it. It's always fit me. Brooke Livingston of Adams-Friendship is one of the top competitors. There is a little bit of pressure. It's not anything that will make or break my day. I will go out that day and run my best race. I'm not worried about the expectations from last year.
1,600 relay
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team is seeded sixth heading into the state meet. The best time for Monroe in the 1,600 relay is 4 minutes, 4.1 seconds. The Cheesemakers have two runners - Hirsbrunner and Cammi Ganshert - who are back after running on the 1,600 relay team that finished sixth at state last year. Hirsbrunner runs the anchor leg.
Hirsbrunner says: I really like how we are as a team, and we are in this together. I really like the 400. It's one of my favorite events in track. It's great I get to run at state with my teammates. When I get the baton, my main goal in the prelims will be to make the finals. The second day if we make it the next goal is to get on the podium and medal. It would be a really great way to end my senior year. If we run our PR we will be in a good position to make the finals. I'm really excited I get to run with my teammates at state. We will soak up the last time at state before we all go our separate ways.
