BRODHEAD — Four years ago, Madelynn McIntyre was playing middle school volleyball. When she reached high school, she chose to run cross country. Thus far, the move has paid off. This year marks the third straight time McIntyre has qualified for the state cross country meet.

“It means a lot to me — I like going to state and improving when I get there,” McIntyre said.

The WIAA Division 2 state cross country meet Nov. 2 at Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids will be chilly with fresh snow on the ground. Temperatures will be hovering around freezing all day; the high is expected to be 35 degrees Fahrenheit and wind chill will make it feel about 10 degrees cooler.

A petite runner, McIntyre uses her quality form and elite endurance to separate herself from others on the course. 

Leading up to state, McIntyre finished second at the River Valley Sectional Oct. 26. Her time of 19 minutes, 30.8 seconds was a full second improvement on her state time a year ago, and more than a half-minute improvement from her sectional qualifying mark in 2018. In 2017, during her freshman season, she finished with the top sectional time (20:18), then knocked off nine seconds at state.

“With all the experience, I know not to worry about it too much — there’s so many people that you’ll do good no matter what. It just means something to get there,” McIntyre said. “There are people watching the whole way so you are constantly getting pushed, even if it’s not your own teammates. It’s something special.”

Kayci Martensen, a sophomore from Southwestern-Cuba City, was the sectional champion this season, beating McIntyre by 62 seconds. Platteville’s Brittani Meis, River Valley’s Madison Krey and Prairie du Chien’s Megan Katzung all qualified for the state meet as individuals. 

Among those that qualified in the D2 field for state this fall, five finished in the top eight a year ago in either Division 2 or Division 3. Martensen was third in 2018 and is the top returner. 

Six runners ran faster at sectionals last week than McIntyre: Martensen (18:28.5); Green Bay Notre Dame junior Molly Desotell (18:44.8); Two Rivers sophomore Anna Gallagher (18:52.5); Xavier senior Annie Higgins (19:17.4); Osceola freshman Ulrich Rachel (19:23.1); Little Chute sophomore Jessica Wilson (19:24.1) and Marinette senior Katelynn Kitzinger (19:28.8).

Division 3 Preview

Darlington’s girls team returns to state for the first time since winning the team championship in 2016. It will be the program’s 16th trip to the state meet in girls cross country.

The Redbirds had four runners place in the top 21 at the Boscobel sectional Oct. 26, including three in the top 15. Sophomore Judith Meister was the first Darlington runner to cross the finish line, taking fifth overall with a time of 20:14.1.

Wisconsin Heights-Barneveld freshman Samantha Herrling was the meet champion (19:06.6), with Poynette junior Katelyn Chadwick (19:20.7), Lancaster sophomore Bridee Burks (19:58.3) and Madison Country Day sophomore Ella Whinney (20:07.2) finishing ahead of Meister.

The rest of the Darlington varsity racers from the sectional include freshman Ashlyn Norgard, sophomore Allyson Meyers, juniors Brooke Douglas and Morgan Black and seniors Gracie Douglas and Maddie Crist. Given the youthful state of the program — the top four runners at sectionals will all return next season — the team is poised to have a strong future.

Lancaster edged the Redbirds for the team title at the sectional by just five seconds and is littered with youth as well.

In the Division 3 field, six of the top 10 and 12 of the top 20 individual finishers return to state. Edgar senior Marissa Ellenbecker has won the state title in each of the last two years, setting the D3 state meet record in 2018, and is expected to compete for the crown again. In the Athens sectional, Ellenbecker lost to Loyal’s Savannah Schley by 1/10th of a second. Overall, there are 13 runners in the D3 field that cracked the 20-minute mark at sectionals.