MONROE - Monroe High School junior Rachel Meier always does a handshake with her father and hugs teammates before she runs.
"I always like giving my teammates hugs because it calms me down," Meier said.
Meier has been one of the top runners in the Badger South Conference the past two years. Still she didn't expect her rise to the WIAA Division 2 state cross country championships this year.
"It feels good," Meier said. "It was a surprise."
Meier is looking forward to her first state meet Saturday at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
"I just want to go out and compete," Meier said. "My goal is top 30. I want to find some girls I know and stick with them."
Five of the top-10 finishers from last season's state meet return this year, led by Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau sophomore Dana Feyen, who finished second. Luxemburg-Casco senior Jacie Legois finished third ,and senior Audrey Janik of Wisconsin Lutheran was fourth last year after placing fifth in 2014 and seventh in 2013.
Other top-10 finishers last year back to challenge for the title include junior Erin Sorg of Delavan-Darien, who placed fifth, and sophomore Lindsey Grams of Little Chute, who was ninth. In addition, junior Elena Schmidt of Westby moves into Division 2 after placing second in Division 3 in 2015.
Meier is the first runner for the Monroe girls to break 20 minutes in a 5,000-meter race.
"I have been working the whole season to break 20 minutes," she said. "I was striving for that."
She's not sure if she can improve on her sectional time of 19:56, but she likes to see the results of her hard working pay off.
"Hopefully, I can stay right below 20 minutes," Meier said. "I think it will be close."
Monroe co-coach Scott Mosher was excited to see Meier qualify out of one of the top sectionals in the state. Meier's time at the sectional would have placed her as the No. 1 runner on both the sectional championship McFarland and runner-up Dodgeville-Mineral Point teams.
"She had a fantastic race," Monroe co-coach Scott Mosher said. "She's a gutty runner. She put herself in position by running with the top group. She earned it."
Mosher said his only advice to Meier will be not to get too overwhelmed at the state meet.
"Breaking 20 minutes really put her in a good position," Mosher said. "She can go out and just run with anybody."
"I always like giving my teammates hugs because it calms me down," Meier said.
Meier has been one of the top runners in the Badger South Conference the past two years. Still she didn't expect her rise to the WIAA Division 2 state cross country championships this year.
"It feels good," Meier said. "It was a surprise."
Meier is looking forward to her first state meet Saturday at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.
"I just want to go out and compete," Meier said. "My goal is top 30. I want to find some girls I know and stick with them."
Five of the top-10 finishers from last season's state meet return this year, led by Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau sophomore Dana Feyen, who finished second. Luxemburg-Casco senior Jacie Legois finished third ,and senior Audrey Janik of Wisconsin Lutheran was fourth last year after placing fifth in 2014 and seventh in 2013.
Other top-10 finishers last year back to challenge for the title include junior Erin Sorg of Delavan-Darien, who placed fifth, and sophomore Lindsey Grams of Little Chute, who was ninth. In addition, junior Elena Schmidt of Westby moves into Division 2 after placing second in Division 3 in 2015.
Meier is the first runner for the Monroe girls to break 20 minutes in a 5,000-meter race.
"I have been working the whole season to break 20 minutes," she said. "I was striving for that."
She's not sure if she can improve on her sectional time of 19:56, but she likes to see the results of her hard working pay off.
"Hopefully, I can stay right below 20 minutes," Meier said. "I think it will be close."
Monroe co-coach Scott Mosher was excited to see Meier qualify out of one of the top sectionals in the state. Meier's time at the sectional would have placed her as the No. 1 runner on both the sectional championship McFarland and runner-up Dodgeville-Mineral Point teams.
"She had a fantastic race," Monroe co-coach Scott Mosher said. "She's a gutty runner. She put herself in position by running with the top group. She earned it."
Mosher said his only advice to Meier will be not to get too overwhelmed at the state meet.
"Breaking 20 minutes really put her in a good position," Mosher said. "She can go out and just run with anybody."
