MONONA - Monroe senior Dylan Starck played a prominent role in leading the boys track team to a third straight Badger South Conference championship Tuesday.
Starck had a hand in winning three conference championships, including the 800-meter run (1 minute, 59.20 seconds) and the 1,600 (4:26.58), which was about three seconds ahead of Madison Edgewood's Joe McKenna. Starck also was on the winning 1,600 relay team. In that effort, Starck teamed with Ethan Moehn, Skyler Stingley and Matt Bush to win the 1,600 with a time of 3:29.98, which was less than a second ahead of Milton.
Monroe shared the conference championship with Monona Grove last year. The Cheesemakers outdistanced the Silver Eagles 178-153 for the outright title this year, following an unbeaten dual meet season.
"We just had a great meet today," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "They performed above expectations. We talked to them about starting to take things to another level. We saw that across the board today."
Monroe junior Luke Peterson won the 3,200 (9:58.66). Peterson teamed with Alex Barenklau, Steve Christiansen and Bush to take first in the 3,200 relay (8:39.27). Senior Michael Barrett finished first in the high jump (6-4) and Jeffrey Hill won the pole vault (13-6). Senior Caleb Ahrens won the 110 hurdles (:15.73)
Monroe freshman Jake Hirsbrunner took second in the high jump (6-2) and Moehn was second in the 800 (2:01.07).
The Monroe girls track team finished third at the conference meet and tied for second in the final Badger South Conference standings with Fort Atkinson. The Cheesemakers had a chance to share a conference title with Stoughton if they finished ahead of the Vikings. But Stoughton won the Badger South outright.
The Cheesemaker girls turned in several solid performances. Monroe senior Jaclyn Ditter won the 100 hurdles (:15.62) and senior Jess Leu won the shot put (35-5 1/2).
The Cheesemakers' 400 relay team including Lauren Werth, Maria Eberle, Brenna Bazley and Jess Jackson finished first with a time of 51.64 seconds, which was less than one second ahead of Fort Atkinson. In the 800 relay, Werth, Bazley, Eberle and Cheyenne Foster took first with a time of 1:49.49, which was less than one second ahead of Milton.
Ditter was second in the 200 (:26.71) and the 300 hurdles (:48.30), which was about two seconds behind Stoughton's Brianna Bower. Werth added a second place in the 100 (:13.37).
"We tried to compete with Stoughton for the conference title," Miller said. "Unfortunately it didn't work out. Not winning a conference championship doesn't take away from a lot of the great performances the kids had. Our relays ran some state caliber times without Jaclyn Ditter."
Starck had a hand in winning three conference championships, including the 800-meter run (1 minute, 59.20 seconds) and the 1,600 (4:26.58), which was about three seconds ahead of Madison Edgewood's Joe McKenna. Starck also was on the winning 1,600 relay team. In that effort, Starck teamed with Ethan Moehn, Skyler Stingley and Matt Bush to win the 1,600 with a time of 3:29.98, which was less than a second ahead of Milton.
Monroe shared the conference championship with Monona Grove last year. The Cheesemakers outdistanced the Silver Eagles 178-153 for the outright title this year, following an unbeaten dual meet season.
"We just had a great meet today," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "They performed above expectations. We talked to them about starting to take things to another level. We saw that across the board today."
Monroe junior Luke Peterson won the 3,200 (9:58.66). Peterson teamed with Alex Barenklau, Steve Christiansen and Bush to take first in the 3,200 relay (8:39.27). Senior Michael Barrett finished first in the high jump (6-4) and Jeffrey Hill won the pole vault (13-6). Senior Caleb Ahrens won the 110 hurdles (:15.73)
Monroe freshman Jake Hirsbrunner took second in the high jump (6-2) and Moehn was second in the 800 (2:01.07).
The Monroe girls track team finished third at the conference meet and tied for second in the final Badger South Conference standings with Fort Atkinson. The Cheesemakers had a chance to share a conference title with Stoughton if they finished ahead of the Vikings. But Stoughton won the Badger South outright.
The Cheesemaker girls turned in several solid performances. Monroe senior Jaclyn Ditter won the 100 hurdles (:15.62) and senior Jess Leu won the shot put (35-5 1/2).
The Cheesemakers' 400 relay team including Lauren Werth, Maria Eberle, Brenna Bazley and Jess Jackson finished first with a time of 51.64 seconds, which was less than one second ahead of Fort Atkinson. In the 800 relay, Werth, Bazley, Eberle and Cheyenne Foster took first with a time of 1:49.49, which was less than one second ahead of Milton.
Ditter was second in the 200 (:26.71) and the 300 hurdles (:48.30), which was about two seconds behind Stoughton's Brianna Bower. Werth added a second place in the 100 (:13.37).
"We tried to compete with Stoughton for the conference title," Miller said. "Unfortunately it didn't work out. Not winning a conference championship doesn't take away from a lot of the great performances the kids had. Our relays ran some state caliber times without Jaclyn Ditter."
