MADISON - The Monroe boys track team had nine top five event finishes and finished third as a team at the Madison West Relays Saturday.
La Crosse Logan racked up 69 points to edge East Troy (60.25) for the team title. The Cheesemakers finished third (57.5), well ahead of Badger South Conference rival Monona Grove (33), which finished 10th.
"We just had an all-around solid team effort," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "Third place in a meet of this caliber is a very respectable finish."
Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner won the high jump clearing 6 feet, 4 inches. Hirsbrunner only attempted four jumps.
"We limited his jumps," Miller said of Hirsbrunner. "We always try to be careful to limit his jumps so we don't overwork him. Those higher heights will come as the year goes on."
Monroe senior Steve Christiansen finished second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 3.36 seconds, which was about four seconds away from champion Alec Miller of West Bend West. It was the first meet this year for Christiansen, who has battled knee tendonitis.
"The middle and distance coaches knew what to do right for Steve and that was shutting him down for a couple of meets," Miller said. "We want him healthy for the important part of the year. He ran a great race. He had no soreness at all."
Monroe junior Ethan Moehn took second in the 400 (:52.50), which was about one second away from champion Connor Drexler of Baraboo (:51.72).
"He's an outstanding 400 meter runner," Miller said. "Because he has invested time in the 400, he has become an even better 800 runner."
Junior Grant Keith took third place in the pole vault (12-0). Fellow junior Blake Bast finished seventh in the event.
"Leave it to coach Glendenning to make sure we have a pole vaulting power going on here," Miller said. "Those two kids will be important as we get into the conference season."
The Cheesemakers' 3,200 relay team of Payton Hoesly, Noah Tostrud, A.J. Cifuentes and David Kelly finished third with a time of 8 minutes, 38.57 seconds.
The Cheesemakers' top four runners for the 3,200 relay haven't run in a meet yet and Miller isn't concerned about them getting a race in before competing at the Kansas Relays. Three-fourths of the state record-setting 3,200 relay including Moehn, Christiansen and Alex Barenklau return. Hirsbrunner, the conference champion in cross country who finished 11th at state, is expected to be the other runner.
"We have no doubts," Miller said. "It's an easy relay from a handoff perspective to put together. We have been fortunate in Monroe the last few years to have our depth in the middle distances. We were running against a lot of A relays with our second guys and we took third. They ran a great time. It's just good competition we have for our middle distances. A lot of guys know they will have a chance to run on the A relays and be an alternate for the Kansas Relays."
Sophomore Seth Calaway finished fourth in the 55 (:6.76) and Cifuentes took fifth in the 3,200 (10:42.19). The Cheesemakers took fifth in the 400 relay (:47.0) and sixth in the 800 relay (1:38.43).
"(Calaway) has come into the season very strong and in shape," Miller said. "He's doing things from a technical standpoint much better. He will only get better."
La Crosse Logan racked up 69 points to edge East Troy (60.25) for the team title. The Cheesemakers finished third (57.5), well ahead of Badger South Conference rival Monona Grove (33), which finished 10th.
"We just had an all-around solid team effort," Monroe coach Curt Miller said. "Third place in a meet of this caliber is a very respectable finish."
Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner won the high jump clearing 6 feet, 4 inches. Hirsbrunner only attempted four jumps.
"We limited his jumps," Miller said of Hirsbrunner. "We always try to be careful to limit his jumps so we don't overwork him. Those higher heights will come as the year goes on."
Monroe senior Steve Christiansen finished second in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 3.36 seconds, which was about four seconds away from champion Alec Miller of West Bend West. It was the first meet this year for Christiansen, who has battled knee tendonitis.
"The middle and distance coaches knew what to do right for Steve and that was shutting him down for a couple of meets," Miller said. "We want him healthy for the important part of the year. He ran a great race. He had no soreness at all."
Monroe junior Ethan Moehn took second in the 400 (:52.50), which was about one second away from champion Connor Drexler of Baraboo (:51.72).
"He's an outstanding 400 meter runner," Miller said. "Because he has invested time in the 400, he has become an even better 800 runner."
Junior Grant Keith took third place in the pole vault (12-0). Fellow junior Blake Bast finished seventh in the event.
"Leave it to coach Glendenning to make sure we have a pole vaulting power going on here," Miller said. "Those two kids will be important as we get into the conference season."
The Cheesemakers' 3,200 relay team of Payton Hoesly, Noah Tostrud, A.J. Cifuentes and David Kelly finished third with a time of 8 minutes, 38.57 seconds.
The Cheesemakers' top four runners for the 3,200 relay haven't run in a meet yet and Miller isn't concerned about them getting a race in before competing at the Kansas Relays. Three-fourths of the state record-setting 3,200 relay including Moehn, Christiansen and Alex Barenklau return. Hirsbrunner, the conference champion in cross country who finished 11th at state, is expected to be the other runner.
"We have no doubts," Miller said. "It's an easy relay from a handoff perspective to put together. We have been fortunate in Monroe the last few years to have our depth in the middle distances. We were running against a lot of A relays with our second guys and we took third. They ran a great time. It's just good competition we have for our middle distances. A lot of guys know they will have a chance to run on the A relays and be an alternate for the Kansas Relays."
Sophomore Seth Calaway finished fourth in the 55 (:6.76) and Cifuentes took fifth in the 3,200 (10:42.19). The Cheesemakers took fifth in the 400 relay (:47.0) and sixth in the 800 relay (1:38.43).
"(Calaway) has come into the season very strong and in shape," Miller said. "He's doing things from a technical standpoint much better. He will only get better."
