LA CROSSE - Monroe senior Thang Lu was in the driver's seat for about 650 of the final 800 meters of the 3,200-meter relay at the WIAA Division 2 state meet on Saturday at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium.
But Dodgeville-Mineral Point junior Nate Erck passed Lu over the final 150 meters to give the Pointers the state championship with a time of 7 minutes, 43 seconds.
The Monroe 3,200 relay team of sophomores Dylan Scace, Drake Ingold, Jonah Tostrud and Lu took second (7:56.84).
"The 3,200 relay team ran its best time of the year by seven or eight seconds," Monroe boys track coach Scott Mosher said. "That is what you want to do at the end of the year. Saturday was just Dodgeville-Mineral Point's day."
Dodgeville-Mineral Point had all four runners back from a 3,200 relay team, which took seventh at state last year. The Pointers along with Monroe, Omro and Wisconsin Lutheran were considered gold-medal contenders; the Cheesemakers entered the state meet with the fastest qualifying time from sectionals.
"We knew they (Dodgeville-Mineral Point) were good and experienced," Mosher said. "We ran our best at the state meet and that is what you want to do."
In the boys Division 2 state meet, Monroe finished 15th with 15.5 points. Wisconsin Lutheran edged Little Chute for the title 43-42. Freedom took third with 41 points.
The future looks bright for the distance events for the Cheesemakers with four sophomores, including relay team alternate Jason Koller, coming back next year.
"We have four sophomores who are excited and they are ready to work hard," Mosher said.
But Dodgeville-Mineral Point junior Nate Erck passed Lu over the final 150 meters to give the Pointers the state championship with a time of 7 minutes, 43 seconds.
The Monroe 3,200 relay team of sophomores Dylan Scace, Drake Ingold, Jonah Tostrud and Lu took second (7:56.84).
"The 3,200 relay team ran its best time of the year by seven or eight seconds," Monroe boys track coach Scott Mosher said. "That is what you want to do at the end of the year. Saturday was just Dodgeville-Mineral Point's day."
Dodgeville-Mineral Point had all four runners back from a 3,200 relay team, which took seventh at state last year. The Pointers along with Monroe, Omro and Wisconsin Lutheran were considered gold-medal contenders; the Cheesemakers entered the state meet with the fastest qualifying time from sectionals.
"We knew they (Dodgeville-Mineral Point) were good and experienced," Mosher said. "We ran our best at the state meet and that is what you want to do."
In the boys Division 2 state meet, Monroe finished 15th with 15.5 points. Wisconsin Lutheran edged Little Chute for the title 43-42. Freedom took third with 41 points.
The future looks bright for the distance events for the Cheesemakers with four sophomores, including relay team alternate Jason Koller, coming back next year.
"We have four sophomores who are excited and they are ready to work hard," Mosher said.
