MCFARLAND - The Monroe High School boys 3,200-meter relay team ran its fastest time of the year to outduel Dodgeville-Mineral Point for a WIAA Division 2 sectional title.
Juniors Jason Koller, Drake Ingold, Jonah Tostrud and Dylan Scace won the sectional title with a time of 8 minutes, 4.65 seconds, which was 1.23 seconds ahead of runner-up Dodgeville-Mineral Point (8:05.88). Last year at the state meet, Dodgeville-Mineral Point edged the Cheesemakers for the state title in the event by less than half a second.
"It was the same as last year," Monroe boys track and field coach Scott Mosher said of the 3,200 relay in the sectional where the Cheesemakers defeated the Dodgeville-Mineral Point team. "We led the entire race. I think this gives them confidence."
Mosher said he wasn't concerned the Pointers would catch the Cheesemakers.
"With Dylan (Scace) running the anchor leg, I knew we could out-kick them if we needed to," Mosher said. "They know they can run a lot faster."
Lodi edged River Valley for the sectional team championship 54-51. Monroe finished third (44) in the 34-team meet. Brodhead-Juda finished seventh (33) and Sugar River was 14th (21).
"I think it's an example of our depth," Mosher said of the third-place team finish. "We don't have that one stud who can win four events and score 40 points. It's a step in the right direction. We want to build up our depth and program so we can go to these meets and score well."
Two local runners qualified for state in the 400. Sugar River junior Dalton Fahey won a sectional title (51.56), and Koller finished third (51.93).
Monroe junior Brayden Zettle took second in the triple jump (43 feet, 63⁄4 inches) and was fourth in the long jump (20-111⁄4).
"For him to take so many jumps and runs down the runway it was impressive he made it," Mosher said of Zettle. "I think it would be neat for him to make it on the podium in the triple jump."
Mosher said Zettle's best jump in the final round was 10 inches farther than his best in the preliminaries to move ahead of several other athletes to qualify for state.
Monroe senior Trevor Aebly took fourth in the 110 high hurdles (15.36).
"It was well-earned," Mosher said of Aebly's state berth. "He's worked really hard on a lot of form and technique and really earned it. He's been improving every year he's been out for track."
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team of Zettle, Josh Smith, Tostrud and Koller finished fifth (3:30.57) and missed a trip to state by 0.74 seconds. Scace dropped out of the 1,600 relay after pulling up and struggling to finish the 800 with about 150 meters to go, Mosher said.
Brodhead-Juda junior Brekan Day won a sectional championship in the high jump, clearing 6-5. Day's teammate, senior Jeff Moss, also qualified for state in the high jump taking fourth (6-2).
Brodhead-Juda senior Reuben Larson finished second in the 300 hurdles (39.93). Senior Joe Stout placed third in the discus (148-4).
Sugar River senior Cash Hoffman placed fifth in the shot put (47-63⁄4) and was less than 2 feet from qualifying for state.
Juniors Jason Koller, Drake Ingold, Jonah Tostrud and Dylan Scace won the sectional title with a time of 8 minutes, 4.65 seconds, which was 1.23 seconds ahead of runner-up Dodgeville-Mineral Point (8:05.88). Last year at the state meet, Dodgeville-Mineral Point edged the Cheesemakers for the state title in the event by less than half a second.
"It was the same as last year," Monroe boys track and field coach Scott Mosher said of the 3,200 relay in the sectional where the Cheesemakers defeated the Dodgeville-Mineral Point team. "We led the entire race. I think this gives them confidence."
Mosher said he wasn't concerned the Pointers would catch the Cheesemakers.
"With Dylan (Scace) running the anchor leg, I knew we could out-kick them if we needed to," Mosher said. "They know they can run a lot faster."
Lodi edged River Valley for the sectional team championship 54-51. Monroe finished third (44) in the 34-team meet. Brodhead-Juda finished seventh (33) and Sugar River was 14th (21).
"I think it's an example of our depth," Mosher said of the third-place team finish. "We don't have that one stud who can win four events and score 40 points. It's a step in the right direction. We want to build up our depth and program so we can go to these meets and score well."
Two local runners qualified for state in the 400. Sugar River junior Dalton Fahey won a sectional title (51.56), and Koller finished third (51.93).
Monroe junior Brayden Zettle took second in the triple jump (43 feet, 63⁄4 inches) and was fourth in the long jump (20-111⁄4).
"For him to take so many jumps and runs down the runway it was impressive he made it," Mosher said of Zettle. "I think it would be neat for him to make it on the podium in the triple jump."
Mosher said Zettle's best jump in the final round was 10 inches farther than his best in the preliminaries to move ahead of several other athletes to qualify for state.
Monroe senior Trevor Aebly took fourth in the 110 high hurdles (15.36).
"It was well-earned," Mosher said of Aebly's state berth. "He's worked really hard on a lot of form and technique and really earned it. He's been improving every year he's been out for track."
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team of Zettle, Josh Smith, Tostrud and Koller finished fifth (3:30.57) and missed a trip to state by 0.74 seconds. Scace dropped out of the 1,600 relay after pulling up and struggling to finish the 800 with about 150 meters to go, Mosher said.
Brodhead-Juda junior Brekan Day won a sectional championship in the high jump, clearing 6-5. Day's teammate, senior Jeff Moss, also qualified for state in the high jump taking fourth (6-2).
Brodhead-Juda senior Reuben Larson finished second in the 300 hurdles (39.93). Senior Joe Stout placed third in the discus (148-4).
Sugar River senior Cash Hoffman placed fifth in the shot put (47-63⁄4) and was less than 2 feet from qualifying for state.
