PHILADELPHIA - Monroe mid and long distance coach Dave Hirsbrunner said the 117th Penn Relays will not be the defining moment for the Monroe boys 3,200-meter relay team.
Junior Alex Barenklau, senior Matt Bush, senior Skyler Stingley and sophomore Ethan Moehn finished with a time of 8 minutes, 18.04 seconds and didn't qualify for today's finals in the prestigious meet at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field.
"We obviously didn't run as fast of a time as we wanted to run," Hirsbrunner said. "This is not the defining moment of our season. All four guys looked flat and never looked comfortable.
"Each one of the kids ran their hearts out. When you have four guys who didn't run the way they wanted to, it's a reflection of something we did in the coaching and training. Coach (Howie) Jubeck and I are responsible for that. We are searching for the reasons."
Barenklau, the leadoff runner, had to muscle his way into position during the first 200 meters, as 19 teams used five lanes. He handed off to Bush who worked hard to maintain pace. By the time Stingley and Moehn ran their legs, the Cheesemakers were well back.
The Cheesemakers qualified for the Penn Relays by running an 8:12.72 at the Madison West relays earlier this season. The last time Monroe qualified for this meet, in 2007, the squad finished 11th.
Hirsbrunner was proud of the relay team and the 20 supporters who made the trip. Monroe was the only state team among the 74 to run the event.
"The coaches and all of the parents were proud of what they did to get here," he said. "It's a lot more about the journey than the race."
Barenklau, Bush, Stingley and Moehn still have much to run for this season.
"Our focus once we get back to Monroe will be to try to win a (Badger) conference championship and keep advancing from regionals to sectionals and back to state," Hirsbrunner said.
Junior Alex Barenklau, senior Matt Bush, senior Skyler Stingley and sophomore Ethan Moehn finished with a time of 8 minutes, 18.04 seconds and didn't qualify for today's finals in the prestigious meet at the University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field.
"We obviously didn't run as fast of a time as we wanted to run," Hirsbrunner said. "This is not the defining moment of our season. All four guys looked flat and never looked comfortable.
"Each one of the kids ran their hearts out. When you have four guys who didn't run the way they wanted to, it's a reflection of something we did in the coaching and training. Coach (Howie) Jubeck and I are responsible for that. We are searching for the reasons."
Barenklau, the leadoff runner, had to muscle his way into position during the first 200 meters, as 19 teams used five lanes. He handed off to Bush who worked hard to maintain pace. By the time Stingley and Moehn ran their legs, the Cheesemakers were well back.
The Cheesemakers qualified for the Penn Relays by running an 8:12.72 at the Madison West relays earlier this season. The last time Monroe qualified for this meet, in 2007, the squad finished 11th.
Hirsbrunner was proud of the relay team and the 20 supporters who made the trip. Monroe was the only state team among the 74 to run the event.
"The coaches and all of the parents were proud of what they did to get here," he said. "It's a lot more about the journey than the race."
Barenklau, Bush, Stingley and Moehn still have much to run for this season.
"Our focus once we get back to Monroe will be to try to win a (Badger) conference championship and keep advancing from regionals to sectionals and back to state," Hirsbrunner said.
