PLATTEVILLE - Monroe High School junior Jordan Hirsbrunner had a hand in winning three track and field events at the Pioneer Invitational Tuesday held indoors at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Hirsbrunner won the high jump by clearing 5 feet, 2 inches. She finished first in the 55-meter hurdles in 9.13 seconds and was on the Cheesemakers' winning 800 relay team. Hirsbrunner teamed with senior Isabel Bazley, senior Abby Oudinot and freshman Cammi Ganshert to win the 800 relay with a time of 1 minute, 51.21 seconds, which broke a school indoor record that was set in 1985.
"We knew going in Jordan would have a great night, and she didn't disappoint," Monroe girls track coach Matt Davis said. "They ran a great relay. Once we get outside our times will only get better. I think the coaches' hope is that they break that outdoor record and get their name on the big board."
The Cheesemakers had a slew of top finishes.
"I think we would have won the meet easily if it had been scored," Davis said.
The Cheesemakers had three make the finals in the 55-meter dash. Ganshert took second (7.60), junior Josie Eberle took fourth (7.85) and Oudinot was sixth (7.86).
"Three of the eight in the finals had red Monroe jerseys on, and that was pretty cool," Davis said.
The Cheesemakers' 3,200 relay team of sophomore Mya Waterman, sophomore Kati Symons, sophomore Rachel Meier and Bazley finished second (10:39.42). Meier added a third-place finish in the 800 (2:40.30).
Eberle added a second-place finish in the pole vault (8-0). Monroe junior Alicia Kuester took third in the triple jump (30-2), and Oudinot was fourth in the long jump (14-10 3/4).
Monroe sophomore Sydney Mathiason took fourth in the high jump (4-8), and freshman Faith Koester was fifth (4-8).
"The thing I was the most impressed by is the camaraderie and the way the girls supported each other," Davis said. "This is going to be a great year for us, and I really can't wait to see what comes next."
Pecatonica junior Josie Penniston won the 400 (1:01.91) and the 200 (27.35). Penniston took fifth in the 55 (7.85).
Darlington's Hunter Weber finished fourth in the pole vault (7-6), and sophomore teammate Meghan Douglas was fourth in the triple jump (30-1 1/2). The Redbirds' 3,200 relay also took third (11:19.50).
In the boys events, the Cheesemakers swept the top three spots in the 400. Monroe senior Thang Lu won (54.01), sophomore Jonah Tostrud took second (57.15), and senior Dominick Curtiss was third (57.66).
"We knew we would be tough in that event," Monroe boys coach Scott Mosher said. "Thang Lu is in great shape. He hasn't lost a race he has run in yet."
The Cheesemakers took three of the top spots in the 800. Sophomore Dylan Scace won (2:08.95), Tostrud took third (2:13.32), and sophomore Jake Meier finished fifth (2:16.52).
"In just about every event we ran we placed," Mosher said. "From the 400 on up those guys are really strong."
Sophomore teammate Drake Ingold won the 1,600 (4:54.08), and his brother Parker Ingold finished fourth (5:01.18).
"They both ran great tactical races," Mosher said. "With one-and-a-half laps left, Drake said he was going to win it and outkicked everybody."
Monroe sophomore Brayden Zettle won the triple jump (39-5 1/2) after only taking two jumps.
"We wanted to save his legs," Mosher said. "It was his first time jumping this year and to go 39-5 was impressive."
Senior Mitch Keith finished first in the pole vault, clearing 11-6.
"It was tough for him to get his footing because they don't allow spikes," Mosher said. "To get 11-6 was impressive because they don't allow spikes in the infield."
Monroe senior Tyler Sobacki had the fastest qualifying time in the 55 hurdles, but pulled out of the final due to a quadriceps injury.
Darlington sophomore Grady Rielly won the 55 hurdles (8.56), and Monroe junior Trevor Aebly took fourth (8.93).
Monroe freshman Jordan Montgomery finished fourth in the 55 (7.08).
"It's rare to get a freshman boy to compete at that level," Mosher said. "He's really fast."
Darlington senior Conrad Blosch took third in the pole vault (10-0), and sophomore Curtis Blosch was fourth (10-0). Darlington junior Trevor Johnson finished fourth in the high jump (5-8). Darlington senior Sean Barbee took fifth in the 1,600 (5:04.38). The Redbirds took third in the 3,200 relay (9:41.66).
Pecatonica-Argyle senior Owen Aerts finished fourth in the long jump (18-8 1/4). Junior teammate Joey Boland was fifth in the 400 (59.42).
Hirsbrunner won the high jump by clearing 5 feet, 2 inches. She finished first in the 55-meter hurdles in 9.13 seconds and was on the Cheesemakers' winning 800 relay team. Hirsbrunner teamed with senior Isabel Bazley, senior Abby Oudinot and freshman Cammi Ganshert to win the 800 relay with a time of 1 minute, 51.21 seconds, which broke a school indoor record that was set in 1985.
"We knew going in Jordan would have a great night, and she didn't disappoint," Monroe girls track coach Matt Davis said. "They ran a great relay. Once we get outside our times will only get better. I think the coaches' hope is that they break that outdoor record and get their name on the big board."
The Cheesemakers had a slew of top finishes.
"I think we would have won the meet easily if it had been scored," Davis said.
The Cheesemakers had three make the finals in the 55-meter dash. Ganshert took second (7.60), junior Josie Eberle took fourth (7.85) and Oudinot was sixth (7.86).
"Three of the eight in the finals had red Monroe jerseys on, and that was pretty cool," Davis said.
The Cheesemakers' 3,200 relay team of sophomore Mya Waterman, sophomore Kati Symons, sophomore Rachel Meier and Bazley finished second (10:39.42). Meier added a third-place finish in the 800 (2:40.30).
Eberle added a second-place finish in the pole vault (8-0). Monroe junior Alicia Kuester took third in the triple jump (30-2), and Oudinot was fourth in the long jump (14-10 3/4).
Monroe sophomore Sydney Mathiason took fourth in the high jump (4-8), and freshman Faith Koester was fifth (4-8).
"The thing I was the most impressed by is the camaraderie and the way the girls supported each other," Davis said. "This is going to be a great year for us, and I really can't wait to see what comes next."
Pecatonica junior Josie Penniston won the 400 (1:01.91) and the 200 (27.35). Penniston took fifth in the 55 (7.85).
Darlington's Hunter Weber finished fourth in the pole vault (7-6), and sophomore teammate Meghan Douglas was fourth in the triple jump (30-1 1/2). The Redbirds' 3,200 relay also took third (11:19.50).
In the boys events, the Cheesemakers swept the top three spots in the 400. Monroe senior Thang Lu won (54.01), sophomore Jonah Tostrud took second (57.15), and senior Dominick Curtiss was third (57.66).
"We knew we would be tough in that event," Monroe boys coach Scott Mosher said. "Thang Lu is in great shape. He hasn't lost a race he has run in yet."
The Cheesemakers took three of the top spots in the 800. Sophomore Dylan Scace won (2:08.95), Tostrud took third (2:13.32), and sophomore Jake Meier finished fifth (2:16.52).
"In just about every event we ran we placed," Mosher said. "From the 400 on up those guys are really strong."
Sophomore teammate Drake Ingold won the 1,600 (4:54.08), and his brother Parker Ingold finished fourth (5:01.18).
"They both ran great tactical races," Mosher said. "With one-and-a-half laps left, Drake said he was going to win it and outkicked everybody."
Monroe sophomore Brayden Zettle won the triple jump (39-5 1/2) after only taking two jumps.
"We wanted to save his legs," Mosher said. "It was his first time jumping this year and to go 39-5 was impressive."
Senior Mitch Keith finished first in the pole vault, clearing 11-6.
"It was tough for him to get his footing because they don't allow spikes," Mosher said. "To get 11-6 was impressive because they don't allow spikes in the infield."
Monroe senior Tyler Sobacki had the fastest qualifying time in the 55 hurdles, but pulled out of the final due to a quadriceps injury.
Darlington sophomore Grady Rielly won the 55 hurdles (8.56), and Monroe junior Trevor Aebly took fourth (8.93).
Monroe freshman Jordan Montgomery finished fourth in the 55 (7.08).
"It's rare to get a freshman boy to compete at that level," Mosher said. "He's really fast."
Darlington senior Conrad Blosch took third in the pole vault (10-0), and sophomore Curtis Blosch was fourth (10-0). Darlington junior Trevor Johnson finished fourth in the high jump (5-8). Darlington senior Sean Barbee took fifth in the 1,600 (5:04.38). The Redbirds took third in the 3,200 relay (9:41.66).
Pecatonica-Argyle senior Owen Aerts finished fourth in the long jump (18-8 1/4). Junior teammate Joey Boland was fifth in the 400 (59.42).
