MONROE - With a background as a dancer, Monroe sophomore Abby Oudinot isn't afraid of making the jumps she is required to deliver in the triple jump.
Oudinot is coming off a lifetime best 34 feet, 4 3/4 inches in the triple jump at the Viroqua sectional. She's excited for a chance to compete in the WIAA Division 2 state track meet Friday and Saturday at Veterans memorial Stadium at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
"My goal is just to PR and get as far as I can," Oudinot said. I was always a dancer and I like jumping. It's different, and there aren't many events like it."
The triple jump is a unique event that requires athletes to use a hop, step or skip and jump before landing into the sand pit. The hop requires that a jumper lands on the same foot as they used for the take off.
"It's so exciting," Oudinot said of qualifying for state. "It was so close. I just had to focus."
The best chance for the Cheesemakers to earn a medal may come from senior Tre Voegeli in the pole vault. Voegeli is the No. 2 seed in the pole vault (10-6) behind No. 1 seed Bonnie Draxler of Wrightstown (13-0). Voegeli finished seventh in the pole vault last year at state (10-0). She just missed medaling due to a miss on her first attempt at 9-0.
"My goal is to get on the medal stand after I just missed last year," she said. "I'm excited to go to state with a chance to redeem myself. I think it will take my best to medal."
Oudinot also will run on the Cheesemakers' 400-meter relay team that is seeded 13th. The top 10 teams in the preliminaries on Friday will advance to the finals Saturday.
Oudinot is confident the Cheesemakers can earn a berth in the top 10 for the finals. The Cheesemakers' 400 relay team includes Lauren Werth, Mafer Larraga, Oudinot and Josie Eberle.
"If we get our handoffs on and are on our A-game, I think we have a chance," Oudinot said of making a run to the finals. "You never know what will happen with other teams."
Werth has the fastest time in the 100 this year, but she is used as a lead-off runner and not as an anchor runner.
"You want to put them in a situation where they can run their best as a unit," Monroe girls track coach Doug Miller said. "Lauren is a great starter. That would be all wasted if she wasn't leading off. Lauren takes pride in getting us out in position and taking the lead in the race."
Miller is excited with the 400-relay team's return to state.
"They have got better and better every time out," he said. "I think it's really neat for them to run at state. We get to bring more kids and get the experience of state. I expect them to come out, run a season-best time and make it to the finals."
Monroe freshman Jordan Hirsbrunner is seeded 10th in the 300 hurdles (46.78). Miller is confident Hirsbrunner's best race is ahead of her.
"This is all new to her," he said of Hirsbrunner in the 300 hurdles. "She hasn't run her best race yet. She has a lot more in her."
Other girls with a chance to make a run at the finals include Sugar River freshman Krista Diaz, who is seeded 10th in the 100 hurdles (16.31).
"As far as making it to state, it's an accomplishment," Sugar River coach Dan Schettler said of Diaz. "By no means can we be unhappy. We would like her to make it to the finals."
Oudinot is coming off a lifetime best 34 feet, 4 3/4 inches in the triple jump at the Viroqua sectional. She's excited for a chance to compete in the WIAA Division 2 state track meet Friday and Saturday at Veterans memorial Stadium at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
"My goal is just to PR and get as far as I can," Oudinot said. I was always a dancer and I like jumping. It's different, and there aren't many events like it."
The triple jump is a unique event that requires athletes to use a hop, step or skip and jump before landing into the sand pit. The hop requires that a jumper lands on the same foot as they used for the take off.
"It's so exciting," Oudinot said of qualifying for state. "It was so close. I just had to focus."
The best chance for the Cheesemakers to earn a medal may come from senior Tre Voegeli in the pole vault. Voegeli is the No. 2 seed in the pole vault (10-6) behind No. 1 seed Bonnie Draxler of Wrightstown (13-0). Voegeli finished seventh in the pole vault last year at state (10-0). She just missed medaling due to a miss on her first attempt at 9-0.
"My goal is to get on the medal stand after I just missed last year," she said. "I'm excited to go to state with a chance to redeem myself. I think it will take my best to medal."
Oudinot also will run on the Cheesemakers' 400-meter relay team that is seeded 13th. The top 10 teams in the preliminaries on Friday will advance to the finals Saturday.
Oudinot is confident the Cheesemakers can earn a berth in the top 10 for the finals. The Cheesemakers' 400 relay team includes Lauren Werth, Mafer Larraga, Oudinot and Josie Eberle.
"If we get our handoffs on and are on our A-game, I think we have a chance," Oudinot said of making a run to the finals. "You never know what will happen with other teams."
Werth has the fastest time in the 100 this year, but she is used as a lead-off runner and not as an anchor runner.
"You want to put them in a situation where they can run their best as a unit," Monroe girls track coach Doug Miller said. "Lauren is a great starter. That would be all wasted if she wasn't leading off. Lauren takes pride in getting us out in position and taking the lead in the race."
Miller is excited with the 400-relay team's return to state.
"They have got better and better every time out," he said. "I think it's really neat for them to run at state. We get to bring more kids and get the experience of state. I expect them to come out, run a season-best time and make it to the finals."
Monroe freshman Jordan Hirsbrunner is seeded 10th in the 300 hurdles (46.78). Miller is confident Hirsbrunner's best race is ahead of her.
"This is all new to her," he said of Hirsbrunner in the 300 hurdles. "She hasn't run her best race yet. She has a lot more in her."
Other girls with a chance to make a run at the finals include Sugar River freshman Krista Diaz, who is seeded 10th in the 100 hurdles (16.31).
"As far as making it to state, it's an accomplishment," Sugar River coach Dan Schettler said of Diaz. "By no means can we be unhappy. We would like her to make it to the finals."
