LA CROSSE - Monroe junior Ethan Moehn continues to set a high bar in the 800-meter run.
Moehn finished as the state runner-up in the 800 at the WIAA Division 2 state track and field meet Saurday, June 1 at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium. Moehn ran 1.7 seconds faster than his state title record time from last year. However, Freedom's Joseph Hinz won the state title setting a new record with a time of 1 minute, 52 seconds.
"It's bittersweet," said Moehn, who finished the race in 1:52.37. "It feels amazing to run a good time. I can't be too upset with second place. It's a little more fire to come back next year and break that record."
It was Moehn's third medal at state over the weekend. He took sixth in the 1,600 (4:24.71) and was part of the Cheesemakers' state champion 3,200 relay team.
There were three runners who broke Moehn's record mark from last year. Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner finished sixth (1:54.13) and was just 0.14 seconds away from Moehn's state record from last year.
"This is becoming one of the premier events in Wisconsin," Hirsbrunner said of the 800. "It's probably the best field that has been in this race. The best athletes and toughest runners want a challenge and they are running the 800. There were some incredible times. It's turning into one of the hardest races. It used to be a run. Now it's a sprint."
Hirsbrunner was thrilled to medal in the race.
"I would have liked to place higher," he said. "I had a good run and made the podium. I was 0.1 seconds off of Ethan's time from last year. I can't complain too much."
Moehn echoed Hirsbrunner's sentiment on the competition in the 800.
"I think it was the best race at state in my opinion," Moehn said. "It just shows you how much stock is put into this race and winning this race."
Shorewood won the Division 2 state team title 44-37 over Catholic Memorial. The Cheesemakers finished seventh (24) and Sugar River was 20th (12). Hirsbrunner took ninth in the high jump (6-2) and missed a medal. He made 6-0 and 6-2 on his first attempt, but couldn't get past 6-4.
"It's disappointing," he said. "I have been consistent making 6-4 this year. I just didn't show up when I needed to. I just didn't have the spring liked I usually do."
Monroe junior Noah Tostrud in his first state meet took 13th in the 1,600 (4:32.97).
Sugar River junior Kelvin Johnson finished third in the 300 hurdles with a PR of 39.35 seconds. Johnson is a state caliber swimmer as well as a hurdler: He qualified for YMCA swimming nationals, but has excelled in one of the most grueling races on the track - the 300 hurdles.
"I was just giving it all I had," Johnson said. "I fought to the finish. Coming into the stretch, I was like give it all you have. This is your last race as a junior. It's just a good cap to the season."
Johnson entered the finals with the fastest time from the preliminaries. Little Chute junior Tyler Zak captured the state title in the 300 hurdles (38.92) and Lakeside junior Luke Thiele was second (39.29).
"I got beat by two great athletes," Johnson said. "They just had a little more in the tank than I did."
Brodhead-Juda sophomore Logan Maurer finished seventh in the shot put (52-11 1⁄2) and was 4 1⁄2 inches away from medaling. Sugar River junior Garrison Woods after taking third in the triple jump, finished 11th in the long jump (20-3 3⁄4).
"If you look at that event, he was one of just two sophomores there," Brodhead-Juda coach Nick Jarvis said. "For him to make it there was great. For him to make finals and move up a few spots was an accomplishment. He really had great throws in the finals.
Moehn finished as the state runner-up in the 800 at the WIAA Division 2 state track and field meet Saurday, June 1 at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium. Moehn ran 1.7 seconds faster than his state title record time from last year. However, Freedom's Joseph Hinz won the state title setting a new record with a time of 1 minute, 52 seconds.
"It's bittersweet," said Moehn, who finished the race in 1:52.37. "It feels amazing to run a good time. I can't be too upset with second place. It's a little more fire to come back next year and break that record."
It was Moehn's third medal at state over the weekend. He took sixth in the 1,600 (4:24.71) and was part of the Cheesemakers' state champion 3,200 relay team.
There were three runners who broke Moehn's record mark from last year. Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner finished sixth (1:54.13) and was just 0.14 seconds away from Moehn's state record from last year.
"This is becoming one of the premier events in Wisconsin," Hirsbrunner said of the 800. "It's probably the best field that has been in this race. The best athletes and toughest runners want a challenge and they are running the 800. There were some incredible times. It's turning into one of the hardest races. It used to be a run. Now it's a sprint."
Hirsbrunner was thrilled to medal in the race.
"I would have liked to place higher," he said. "I had a good run and made the podium. I was 0.1 seconds off of Ethan's time from last year. I can't complain too much."
Moehn echoed Hirsbrunner's sentiment on the competition in the 800.
"I think it was the best race at state in my opinion," Moehn said. "It just shows you how much stock is put into this race and winning this race."
Shorewood won the Division 2 state team title 44-37 over Catholic Memorial. The Cheesemakers finished seventh (24) and Sugar River was 20th (12). Hirsbrunner took ninth in the high jump (6-2) and missed a medal. He made 6-0 and 6-2 on his first attempt, but couldn't get past 6-4.
"It's disappointing," he said. "I have been consistent making 6-4 this year. I just didn't show up when I needed to. I just didn't have the spring liked I usually do."
Monroe junior Noah Tostrud in his first state meet took 13th in the 1,600 (4:32.97).
Sugar River junior Kelvin Johnson finished third in the 300 hurdles with a PR of 39.35 seconds. Johnson is a state caliber swimmer as well as a hurdler: He qualified for YMCA swimming nationals, but has excelled in one of the most grueling races on the track - the 300 hurdles.
"I was just giving it all I had," Johnson said. "I fought to the finish. Coming into the stretch, I was like give it all you have. This is your last race as a junior. It's just a good cap to the season."
Johnson entered the finals with the fastest time from the preliminaries. Little Chute junior Tyler Zak captured the state title in the 300 hurdles (38.92) and Lakeside junior Luke Thiele was second (39.29).
"I got beat by two great athletes," Johnson said. "They just had a little more in the tank than I did."
Brodhead-Juda sophomore Logan Maurer finished seventh in the shot put (52-11 1⁄2) and was 4 1⁄2 inches away from medaling. Sugar River junior Garrison Woods after taking third in the triple jump, finished 11th in the long jump (20-3 3⁄4).
"If you look at that event, he was one of just two sophomores there," Brodhead-Juda coach Nick Jarvis said. "For him to make it there was great. For him to make finals and move up a few spots was an accomplishment. He really had great throws in the finals.
