BOSCOBEL - The Monroe boys track team qualified five individuals in seven events and two relays for state en route to winning the WIAA Division 2 Boscobel sectional Thursday, May 23.
It came down to the 1,600-meter relay, and Monroe senior Alex Barenklau had to make up some ground running anchor. Barenklau was able to hang on against several other runners to give the Cheesemakers a fourth-place finish with a time of 3 minutes, 27.57 seconds and clinch the sectional championship 66-61 over Marshall. Barenklau teamed with Payton Hoesly, Jake Hirsbrunner and Steve Christiansen to propel the Cheesemakers to state. The last time the Cheesemakers won a sectional title came in 2000.
"(Barenklau) gutted out his fastest split of the year," Monroe boys track coach Curt Miller said. "They ran with tired legs. I told him after all of his accomplishments, I think that is his best athletic accomplishment yet. We wanted to go to state and win a sectional championship."
Monroe junior Ethan Moehn won a sectional title in the 800 (1:55.3) and took second in the 1,600 (4:29.97). Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner finished second in the 800 (1:55.47) and tied for second in the high jump (6 feet, 4 inches).
"They both went out and ran really good times," Miller said of Moehn and Hirsbrunner in the 800. "It was a personal-best this season for both of them. They went out and controlled the whole race."
Christiansen teamed with A.J. Cifuentes, Barenklau and Moehn to win the 3,200 relay (8:02.17). The Cheesemakers are the two-time defending state champions in the 3,200 relay.
"I think they will be able to put out a good time next weekend," Miller said.
In addition to qualifying two for state in the 800, the Cheesemakers also had two state qualifiers in the 1,600 with junior Noah Tostrud taking fourth (4:30.70), edging Sugar River senior Alexander Yesier for the last spot by about three seconds. Monroe sophomore Seth Calaway took third place in the 100 (11.39) and was just 0.7 seconds away from a sectional championship. Barenklau finished fourth in the 400 (50.75) to also qualify for state in that event.
"He has earned his spot," Miller said. "He has worked as hard as any of the guys in the offseason. He is being rewarded for it now."
Sugar River junior Garrison Woods won the triple jump (43-0 1/2) and took second in the long jump (20-11 1/2). Junior teammate Kelvin Johnson finished first in the 300 hurdles (40.12), and he took fifth in the 110 hurdles but missed qualifying for state by 0.09 seconds. Brodhead-Juda sophomore Logan Maurer finished second in the shot put (57-3), and teammate Gavin Baade was fifth in the discus (137-8) and missed qualifying for state by three feet.
Monroe junior Tre Voegeli cleared 9-9 in the pole vault to finish fourth. After she made 9-9, Voegeli didn't make any more vault attempts.
"Once she qualified (for state), it didn't feel right to push her more," Monroe girls track coach Doug Miller said. "She just got done running the 4x100. She was disappointed they didn't qualify. She got refocused and got what she wanted."
Voegeli is the only state qualifier for the Monroe girls track team. The Cheesemakers' run of five straight appearances at state in the 400 relay was snapped. The Cheesemakers' 400 relay team of Mafer Larraga, Voegeli, Lauren Werth and Ladia Key took ninth (53.19).
"It's always disappointing when you didn't get what you want," Doug Miller said. "We ran fairly well. It wasn't our best race."
The other girls' state qualifiers include Sugar River's Alexis Hanson in the 200 (fourth, 26:40), Brodhead-Juda junior Meg Duffield in the 400 (fourth, 1:01.87), Sugar River senior Madeline Brunner in the 800 (second, 2:17.1) and Sugar River senior Emily Diaz in the 100 hurdles (third, 16.21). Sugar River's 800 relay team of Diaz, Emily DeNure, Brunner and Hanson also finished second with a time of 1:48.81, qualifying them for state.
The Cheesemakers' 3,200 relay team of Isabel Bazley, Therese Hughes, Lizzy Dale and Alyssa Dale ran their best time of the season by 13 seconds finishing sixth (10:09.73).
"They knew they ran as well as they could," Doug Miller said.
Bazley also teamed with Lizzy Dale, Hughes and Larraga to take seventh in the 1,600 relay (4:17.23).
It came down to the 1,600-meter relay, and Monroe senior Alex Barenklau had to make up some ground running anchor. Barenklau was able to hang on against several other runners to give the Cheesemakers a fourth-place finish with a time of 3 minutes, 27.57 seconds and clinch the sectional championship 66-61 over Marshall. Barenklau teamed with Payton Hoesly, Jake Hirsbrunner and Steve Christiansen to propel the Cheesemakers to state. The last time the Cheesemakers won a sectional title came in 2000.
"(Barenklau) gutted out his fastest split of the year," Monroe boys track coach Curt Miller said. "They ran with tired legs. I told him after all of his accomplishments, I think that is his best athletic accomplishment yet. We wanted to go to state and win a sectional championship."
Monroe junior Ethan Moehn won a sectional title in the 800 (1:55.3) and took second in the 1,600 (4:29.97). Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner finished second in the 800 (1:55.47) and tied for second in the high jump (6 feet, 4 inches).
"They both went out and ran really good times," Miller said of Moehn and Hirsbrunner in the 800. "It was a personal-best this season for both of them. They went out and controlled the whole race."
Christiansen teamed with A.J. Cifuentes, Barenklau and Moehn to win the 3,200 relay (8:02.17). The Cheesemakers are the two-time defending state champions in the 3,200 relay.
"I think they will be able to put out a good time next weekend," Miller said.
In addition to qualifying two for state in the 800, the Cheesemakers also had two state qualifiers in the 1,600 with junior Noah Tostrud taking fourth (4:30.70), edging Sugar River senior Alexander Yesier for the last spot by about three seconds. Monroe sophomore Seth Calaway took third place in the 100 (11.39) and was just 0.7 seconds away from a sectional championship. Barenklau finished fourth in the 400 (50.75) to also qualify for state in that event.
"He has earned his spot," Miller said. "He has worked as hard as any of the guys in the offseason. He is being rewarded for it now."
Sugar River junior Garrison Woods won the triple jump (43-0 1/2) and took second in the long jump (20-11 1/2). Junior teammate Kelvin Johnson finished first in the 300 hurdles (40.12), and he took fifth in the 110 hurdles but missed qualifying for state by 0.09 seconds. Brodhead-Juda sophomore Logan Maurer finished second in the shot put (57-3), and teammate Gavin Baade was fifth in the discus (137-8) and missed qualifying for state by three feet.
Monroe junior Tre Voegeli cleared 9-9 in the pole vault to finish fourth. After she made 9-9, Voegeli didn't make any more vault attempts.
"Once she qualified (for state), it didn't feel right to push her more," Monroe girls track coach Doug Miller said. "She just got done running the 4x100. She was disappointed they didn't qualify. She got refocused and got what she wanted."
Voegeli is the only state qualifier for the Monroe girls track team. The Cheesemakers' run of five straight appearances at state in the 400 relay was snapped. The Cheesemakers' 400 relay team of Mafer Larraga, Voegeli, Lauren Werth and Ladia Key took ninth (53.19).
"It's always disappointing when you didn't get what you want," Doug Miller said. "We ran fairly well. It wasn't our best race."
The other girls' state qualifiers include Sugar River's Alexis Hanson in the 200 (fourth, 26:40), Brodhead-Juda junior Meg Duffield in the 400 (fourth, 1:01.87), Sugar River senior Madeline Brunner in the 800 (second, 2:17.1) and Sugar River senior Emily Diaz in the 100 hurdles (third, 16.21). Sugar River's 800 relay team of Diaz, Emily DeNure, Brunner and Hanson also finished second with a time of 1:48.81, qualifying them for state.
The Cheesemakers' 3,200 relay team of Isabel Bazley, Therese Hughes, Lizzy Dale and Alyssa Dale ran their best time of the season by 13 seconds finishing sixth (10:09.73).
"They knew they ran as well as they could," Doug Miller said.
Bazley also teamed with Lizzy Dale, Hughes and Larraga to take seventh in the 1,600 relay (4:17.23).
