PLATTEVILLE - Black Hawk track coach Cory Milz figured everything would have to go right if the Warriors were going to repeat as Six Rivers Conference champions Monday at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
"Going into the conference championships, we pretty much knew in the boys and girls that River Ridge was the favorite," Milz said.
River Ridge racked up 173 points and ran away with the conference championship, which was well ahead of second place Black Hawk (137). Black Hawk junior Rachel Rygh won three individual conference championships - the 100 (:13.26), 200 (:28.11) and 400 (1 minute, 4.56 seconds).
"We have been working really hard," Rygh said. "We always want to do our best at conference."
Milz was impressed with Rygh's 30-point performance.
"I can't remember the last time we had one kid score 30 points in any meet," Milz said of Rygh. "She just had a tremendous meet."
Black Hawk senior Katie Place won the long jump (15 feet, 5 1/2 inches) and the triple jump (33-6 1/2). She also ran on the winning 1,600-meter relay. Place teamed with Alyssa Piefer, Kate Quinn and Melissa Wellnitz to win the 1,600 relay with a time of 4:33.22.
Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Kendra Sigg finished first in the 800 and she anchored the Vikings' conference champion 3,200 relay team. The Vikings finished third as a team with 100 points. Sigg finished first in the 800 (2:32.33), which was 0.11 seconds faster than Wellnitz.
Monticello senior Kelsey Bernet, who is looking to qualify for state for the fourth straight year, won conference championships in the 1,600 and 3,200. Bernet, who ran the 1,600 in 5:31.45, edged Sigg (5:32.36) for first by about one second. Bernet was excited to win the conference title in her final prep track season after finishing second to Pecatonica's Elise Sigg, who is running track at UW-Milwaukee.
"It feels like I accomplished something," Bernet said. "I heard her (Sigg) behind me. I was just not going to let her pass me. I was going to keep going my fastest."
Bernet won the 3,200 with a time of 12:49.64 and Albany junior Rosy Bauman was second (13:36.21). Albany sophomore Jessica Mauerman took third in the 3,200 (13:58.42).
Albany entered the conference meet with the top time in the 3,200 relay by 17.26 seconds faster than Pecatonica-Argyle. Sigg teamed with Cortney Gilbertson, Maureen Johanna and Emma Marion to win the 1,600 relay with a time of 10:49.97, which was about 22 minutes ahead of Albany. It's just the third time the same quartet has run the 3,200 relay together.
"The first time we ran it, it was absolutely a mess," Sigg said. "The last time we ran it there was some hope for us so we figured we would give it a go. I really want to make it to state with a relay team this year."
The Vikings' 400 relay team of Holly Vlasak, Abby Flanagan, Brittany Ziller and Cassie Welch finished first with a time of 54.24 seconds. The Vikings' 800 relay team of Vlasak, Marion, Ziller and Welch took first with a time of 1:56.48.
Black Hawk junior Alyssa Piefer finished third in the 300 hurdles (:54.34) and Black Hawk senior Nicole Kloepfer was third in the high jump (4-8). Black Hawk sophomore Brittany Klemm took third in the discus (87-0).
Albany junior Kaitlyn Schulz took third in the shot put (31-0). Albany finished fourth as a team and Monticello was seventh (39).
"I'm a little disappointed," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "We were looking at the top three. Obviously, we can't make excuses."
Albany junior Hillary Best, who is one of the conference's top discus performers, missed the meet since she had her appendix out recently.
"She's done for the season unless there is some kind of miracle," Brewer said.
"Going into the conference championships, we pretty much knew in the boys and girls that River Ridge was the favorite," Milz said.
River Ridge racked up 173 points and ran away with the conference championship, which was well ahead of second place Black Hawk (137). Black Hawk junior Rachel Rygh won three individual conference championships - the 100 (:13.26), 200 (:28.11) and 400 (1 minute, 4.56 seconds).
"We have been working really hard," Rygh said. "We always want to do our best at conference."
Milz was impressed with Rygh's 30-point performance.
"I can't remember the last time we had one kid score 30 points in any meet," Milz said of Rygh. "She just had a tremendous meet."
Black Hawk senior Katie Place won the long jump (15 feet, 5 1/2 inches) and the triple jump (33-6 1/2). She also ran on the winning 1,600-meter relay. Place teamed with Alyssa Piefer, Kate Quinn and Melissa Wellnitz to win the 1,600 relay with a time of 4:33.22.
Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Kendra Sigg finished first in the 800 and she anchored the Vikings' conference champion 3,200 relay team. The Vikings finished third as a team with 100 points. Sigg finished first in the 800 (2:32.33), which was 0.11 seconds faster than Wellnitz.
Monticello senior Kelsey Bernet, who is looking to qualify for state for the fourth straight year, won conference championships in the 1,600 and 3,200. Bernet, who ran the 1,600 in 5:31.45, edged Sigg (5:32.36) for first by about one second. Bernet was excited to win the conference title in her final prep track season after finishing second to Pecatonica's Elise Sigg, who is running track at UW-Milwaukee.
"It feels like I accomplished something," Bernet said. "I heard her (Sigg) behind me. I was just not going to let her pass me. I was going to keep going my fastest."
Bernet won the 3,200 with a time of 12:49.64 and Albany junior Rosy Bauman was second (13:36.21). Albany sophomore Jessica Mauerman took third in the 3,200 (13:58.42).
Albany entered the conference meet with the top time in the 3,200 relay by 17.26 seconds faster than Pecatonica-Argyle. Sigg teamed with Cortney Gilbertson, Maureen Johanna and Emma Marion to win the 1,600 relay with a time of 10:49.97, which was about 22 minutes ahead of Albany. It's just the third time the same quartet has run the 3,200 relay together.
"The first time we ran it, it was absolutely a mess," Sigg said. "The last time we ran it there was some hope for us so we figured we would give it a go. I really want to make it to state with a relay team this year."
The Vikings' 400 relay team of Holly Vlasak, Abby Flanagan, Brittany Ziller and Cassie Welch finished first with a time of 54.24 seconds. The Vikings' 800 relay team of Vlasak, Marion, Ziller and Welch took first with a time of 1:56.48.
Black Hawk junior Alyssa Piefer finished third in the 300 hurdles (:54.34) and Black Hawk senior Nicole Kloepfer was third in the high jump (4-8). Black Hawk sophomore Brittany Klemm took third in the discus (87-0).
Albany junior Kaitlyn Schulz took third in the shot put (31-0). Albany finished fourth as a team and Monticello was seventh (39).
"I'm a little disappointed," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "We were looking at the top three. Obviously, we can't make excuses."
Albany junior Hillary Best, who is one of the conference's top discus performers, missed the meet since she had her appendix out recently.
"She's done for the season unless there is some kind of miracle," Brewer said.
