MONROE - Jordan Hirsbrunner, a 2017 Monroe graduate, was named Wisconsin Track Coaches Association All-State in the 100 and 300-meter hurdles and high jump recently.
Hirsbrunner captured three WIAA state track and field championships during her Monroe High School career. She won two straight state titles in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles and one championship in the 100 hurdles. She is a seven-time state medalist and 11-time state qualifier. She is attending the University of Wisconsin and is pursuing a degree in kinesiology and continuing her track and field career.
"It's kind of a memorable moment to celebrate my career at Monroe High School," Hirsbrunner said. "It's a good way to go out."
The top six athletes in the state meet among all divisions in each event receive the WTCA All-State honor. Hirsbrunner's time of 44.25 seconds in winning her second straight state title in the 300 hurdles was fourth best in the state among all divisions. The time she ran to win the 100 hurdles (15.28) was fifth fastest at the state meet last year and her high jump of 5 feet, 5 inches to take third at state tied for fourth best along with Altoona's Mariah Hoepner.
Hirsbrunner said being named all-state in three events along with the top athletes in Division 1, 2 and 3 made the award even more prestigious.
"It makes it even more special," she said. "It really helped competing against other Division 1 schools throughout the season. Then when I got to state with other Division 2 I had really good competition and was able to run great times."
Hirsbrunner is the only girl to medal in four events in a single year at the state track meet in the history of the Monroe program. Hirsbrunner received the Monroe Badger Foundation Scholarship during the 64th annual Badger Days in June to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The scholarship is part of the Wisconsin Athletics Endowed Scholarship Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2015, the Monroe Badger Foundation and Colony Brands pledged $1 million in scholarship money.
Hirsbrunner owns nine school records. The five outdoor school records she has are the 100 hurdles (14.8 seconds), 300 hurdles (43.6), 800 relay (1:44.8), 1,600 relay (4:00.8) and 800 medley relay (1:51.85). The four indoor school records she owns are the 55 hurdles (8.6), 200 (27.1), 800 relay (1:50.2) and high jump (5-5).
Former Monroe girls track coach Matt Davis isn't surprised by the fact that Hirsbrunner earned the all-state honors. He understands the hard work she puts in on the weekends and on the nights when no one is watching.
"It's hard to make all-state in one event let alone three," Davis who coached Hirsbrunner in her prep career. "The fact that she was able to do it in three events says a lot about her talent.
Davis has called Hirsbrunner one of the most versatile athletes the Monroe girls track program has ever had.
"She can run anything from a 100 to 4,000-meters like she did in cross country," Davis said. "She's so versatile. It's really been great watching her grow since her freshman year," he said. "It's a nice cap to her career. It just shows what kind of caliber athlete we had. Those don't come around very often."
Hirsbrunner captured the championship in the 300 hurdles in the Kansas Relays last spring. She took fourth in the heptathlon last summer at the at the New Balance National Outdoor Track and Field Championships at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro and was named a National High School All-American.
The experience in her first heptathlon gave Hirsbrunner the confidence she needed heading to Wisconsin. Heptathletes compete in seven events - long jump, high jump, shot put, javelin, 200 meters, 100 hurdles and 800.
"I thought it was a really good indicator," she said. "I feel like it really helped me get ready for Wisconsin."
Hirsbrunner has started indoor track practice with the Badgers. She and the Badgers will open the indoor season at Minnesota Jan. 14. Wisconsin will host Marquette in a dual meet Feb. 16 in Madison.
"It's been a big transition," Hirsbrunner said. "Everything is going pretty smooth."
Hirsbrunner still plans to compete in the heptathlon during the outdoor track season. She will be focusing on five events during the indoor season including the 100 hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put and 800.
In an indoor meet at Nebraska Feb. 3, Hirsbrunner is planning on competing in the pentathlon. The indoor pentathlon features five events - 60-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 800 run.
Hirsbrunner said the biggest difference in college track compared to high school are the workouts.
"It's a whole different caliber workout," she said. "The workout is more in depth and more challenging. I know it's preparing me for the future. I have the best group of athletes to run with. They are pushing me to do my best."
One of her best friends she is rooming with is Brooke Blazei, Oconomowoc, who is a high jumper who graduated from Martin Luther.
Hirsbrunner said Blazei has helped make the transition to the Wisconsin track program easier.
"I think we will see her excel in the hurdles, high jump and the distance events in college," Davis said of Hirsbrunner with the Badgers. "I think we are all rooting for her and looking forward to what she can do at the next level. I can't wait to go to a UW meet this spring to watch her."
Hirsbrunner captured three WIAA state track and field championships during her Monroe High School career. She won two straight state titles in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles and one championship in the 100 hurdles. She is a seven-time state medalist and 11-time state qualifier. She is attending the University of Wisconsin and is pursuing a degree in kinesiology and continuing her track and field career.
"It's kind of a memorable moment to celebrate my career at Monroe High School," Hirsbrunner said. "It's a good way to go out."
The top six athletes in the state meet among all divisions in each event receive the WTCA All-State honor. Hirsbrunner's time of 44.25 seconds in winning her second straight state title in the 300 hurdles was fourth best in the state among all divisions. The time she ran to win the 100 hurdles (15.28) was fifth fastest at the state meet last year and her high jump of 5 feet, 5 inches to take third at state tied for fourth best along with Altoona's Mariah Hoepner.
Hirsbrunner said being named all-state in three events along with the top athletes in Division 1, 2 and 3 made the award even more prestigious.
"It makes it even more special," she said. "It really helped competing against other Division 1 schools throughout the season. Then when I got to state with other Division 2 I had really good competition and was able to run great times."
Hirsbrunner is the only girl to medal in four events in a single year at the state track meet in the history of the Monroe program. Hirsbrunner received the Monroe Badger Foundation Scholarship during the 64th annual Badger Days in June to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The scholarship is part of the Wisconsin Athletics Endowed Scholarship Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 2015, the Monroe Badger Foundation and Colony Brands pledged $1 million in scholarship money.
Hirsbrunner owns nine school records. The five outdoor school records she has are the 100 hurdles (14.8 seconds), 300 hurdles (43.6), 800 relay (1:44.8), 1,600 relay (4:00.8) and 800 medley relay (1:51.85). The four indoor school records she owns are the 55 hurdles (8.6), 200 (27.1), 800 relay (1:50.2) and high jump (5-5).
Former Monroe girls track coach Matt Davis isn't surprised by the fact that Hirsbrunner earned the all-state honors. He understands the hard work she puts in on the weekends and on the nights when no one is watching.
"It's hard to make all-state in one event let alone three," Davis who coached Hirsbrunner in her prep career. "The fact that she was able to do it in three events says a lot about her talent.
Davis has called Hirsbrunner one of the most versatile athletes the Monroe girls track program has ever had.
"She can run anything from a 100 to 4,000-meters like she did in cross country," Davis said. "She's so versatile. It's really been great watching her grow since her freshman year," he said. "It's a nice cap to her career. It just shows what kind of caliber athlete we had. Those don't come around very often."
Hirsbrunner captured the championship in the 300 hurdles in the Kansas Relays last spring. She took fourth in the heptathlon last summer at the at the New Balance National Outdoor Track and Field Championships at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro and was named a National High School All-American.
The experience in her first heptathlon gave Hirsbrunner the confidence she needed heading to Wisconsin. Heptathletes compete in seven events - long jump, high jump, shot put, javelin, 200 meters, 100 hurdles and 800.
"I thought it was a really good indicator," she said. "I feel like it really helped me get ready for Wisconsin."
Hirsbrunner has started indoor track practice with the Badgers. She and the Badgers will open the indoor season at Minnesota Jan. 14. Wisconsin will host Marquette in a dual meet Feb. 16 in Madison.
"It's been a big transition," Hirsbrunner said. "Everything is going pretty smooth."
Hirsbrunner still plans to compete in the heptathlon during the outdoor track season. She will be focusing on five events during the indoor season including the 100 hurdles, high jump, long jump, shot put and 800.
In an indoor meet at Nebraska Feb. 3, Hirsbrunner is planning on competing in the pentathlon. The indoor pentathlon features five events - 60-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 800 run.
Hirsbrunner said the biggest difference in college track compared to high school are the workouts.
"It's a whole different caliber workout," she said. "The workout is more in depth and more challenging. I know it's preparing me for the future. I have the best group of athletes to run with. They are pushing me to do my best."
One of her best friends she is rooming with is Brooke Blazei, Oconomowoc, who is a high jumper who graduated from Martin Luther.
Hirsbrunner said Blazei has helped make the transition to the Wisconsin track program easier.
"I think we will see her excel in the hurdles, high jump and the distance events in college," Davis said of Hirsbrunner with the Badgers. "I think we are all rooting for her and looking forward to what she can do at the next level. I can't wait to go to a UW meet this spring to watch her."
