LA CROSSE — In his final meet as a Viking, Ridge Toay made the podium twice in the state track and field meet June 2-3 at UW-La Crosse.
The senior, who will continue his track and field career at UW-Stout, took fourth in the 300-meter hurdles and fifth in the 110-meter hurdles. He shaved time off his preliminary mark in the 110-meter, finishing in 15.24 seconds. Shiocton’s Cade Stingle, who took first, set a new state record at 14.38 seconds. In the 300-meter preliminaries, Toay broke his own school record with a time of 39.17, which was second overall in both heats. He slowed slightly in the finals for a time of 39.81 and fourth place.
“Ridge had himself a weekend,” Argyle-Pecatonica head coach Jason Klocek said. “He finished the weekend and his career with two podium finishes. I’m proud of the way he fought through the trouble in the 300 and finished fourth.”
Although she didn’t make the podium, junior Anna Tisch had a meet to remember. In her third trip to state, she made the finals for the first time, taking seventh in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 46.82. The time, a personal best, was just shy of the school record.
“For Anna, the third time at state was a charm, as she made finals for the first time,” Klocek said. “She’s the first female runner to score for us at state in six years, and that’s a huge step for our program. I can’t wait to see what she does next year.”
Black Hawk had hopes of seeing an athlete or two on the podium, but their individual performances came up short.
Raylin Peterson, who has the current school shot put record, took seventh with a throw of 37-7.50. Had she thrown her best from regionals, a 41.00, she would have taken the title. Jaliyah Collins, who PRed in regionals with a 118-8, also took seventh with a 112-2.
“It’s disappointing,” Black Hawk head coach Eric Erickson said. “Both girls are capable of throwing much better than they did, and they’ve shown that all season. I feel bad for them, but they are good people and will dust this off and find future successes.”
Despite performing well, Albany’s numbers didn’t match up well against the rest of the pack. The 4x400 relay team of Gage Roth, Ethan Koss, Jayden O’Bel and Bryce Hughes ran a season best but did not make finals. Hughes leapt 19-11.25 in the long jump, but shorted himself a couple inches as he took off well before the board. In the high jump, the starting height was above what Hughes normally starts at, throwing him off.
“We hoped for better results,” Albany head coach Tony Brewer said. “But we certainly didn’t have a bad day Friday. For Gage and Ethan, they finish their careers at the state meet, so they have a lot to be proud of. Bryce and Jayden got to experience competing at state, so hopefully that will motivate them next season.”
Other Division 3 participants that did not make the podium include:
● Andrew Figi, Black Hawk, 100m, 15th, 11.80
● George West, Darlington, 400m, 15th, 53.45
● Andrew Figi, Lane Marty, Lucas Milz, Jovanny Erickson, Black Hawk, 4x100 relay, 14th, 45.13
● Bryce Hughes, Albany, high jump, 13th, 5-10
● Carver Fitzsimons, Darlington, high jump, --, no height
● Bryce Hughes, Albany, long jump, 12th, 19-11.25
● Gage Roth, Ethan Koss, Jayden O’Bel, Bryce Hughes, Albany, 4x400 relay, 12th, 3:33.93
● Isaac Crist, Carver Fitzsimons, Parker Shager, George West, 4x400 relay, 16th, 3:38.83
● Adalee Berget, Darlington, 3200m, 11th, 12:01.22
● Anna Tisch, Argyle-Pecatonica, 300-meter hurdles, 7th, 46.82
● Abby Solverson, Raquel Rueter, Zoie Zuberbuhler, Alyza Johnson, Darlington, 4x200 relay, 9th, 1:48.93
● Abby Solverson, Raquel Rueter, Niasia Niedziejko, Alyza Johnson, Darlington, 4x400 relay, 8th 4:11.84
● Niasia Niedziejko, Adalee Berget, Alexis Murray, Raquel Reuter, Darlington, 4x800 relay, 8th, 9:56.97
● Raylin Peterson, Black Hawk, shot put, 7th, 37-7.50
● Jaliyah Collins, Black Hawk, discus, 7th, 112-2
