MONROE - A quintet of Monroe boys track runners descended on Lawrence, Kan. Thursday, April 18 for the 86th Kansas Relays.
Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner will compete in the high jump today. Hirsbrunner is the No. 11 seed in the high jump. The top eight finishers medal.
"It feels cool to be with high level jumpers and get invited to come to this meet," Hirsbrunner said. "It's cool to do something out of state. One of my goals is to get in the top eight and medal. I would love to do another 6-4 or pop off another 6-6. It all depends on the weather."
Monroe junior Ethan Moehn will run in the Jim Ryun mile and the Cheesemakers' 3,200 relay team of senior Steve Christiansen, Hirsbrunner, senior Alex Barenklau and Moehn will also run on Saturday. The Cheesemakers' 3,200-meter relay team is the No. 1 seed based on their WIAA Division 2 state record last year en route to winning their second straight state championship. Senior Payton Hoesly is an alternate for the 3,200 relay team.
"By no means are we focusing our season on this meet," Monroe distance coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "I don't think we are prepared to run a 7:50. We just want to run a hard race. Our ultimate goal is to run our best race at the state championships at the end of the year in La Crosse."
The 3,200 may be the Cheesemakers' best chance to medal. Monroe's 3,200 relay team ran at the Penn Relays last year, but didn't medal and they were disappointed with their time and finish. Matt Bush has since graduated from that team.
"I think we learned last year the Penn Relays is just another meet," Monroe senior Alex Barenklau said. "You want to go out and run your best. The Penn Relays and the Kansas Relays are just another meet."
Barenklau expects the Cheesemakers to contend for a top three medal.
"I think our guys have ran great inside," Barenklau said. "We are ready for it. We are not afraid of any challenge."
The Cheesemakers are one of 20 teams in the second and fastest heat of the 3,200 relay. The race is set up as a 4x880.
"Each kid will have to run 13 feet further," Dave Hirsbrunner. "The time will be a little slower. We have some physical guys. If it's a physical bumping race, I like our chances. We want to run somewhere in the (8 minute mark)."
Moehn is the No. 10 seed in the 1,600. He will have 5 1⁄2 hours to recover for the 3,200 relay.
"It's an awesome feeling," Moehn said. "There are a lot of top caliber athletes in my race. I just want to get out there, stick my nose in there and help them pull me to a fast time."
Dave Hirsbrunner looks forward to seeing Moehn run in a challenging 1,600 field.
"(Moehn) hasn't been in a race this year where he has been pushed," Hirsbrunner said. "It will be fun to see."
Moehn likes the chances of the 3,200 relay team earning a medal, but he knows it won't be easy.
"I think we have a chance to compete to win it," he said. "The goal, like with any race, is to win it. It all comes down to if we can execute."
Moehn said the 3,200 relay team struggled at the Penn Relays last year.
"This year we have to keep focused and keep the mindset when we get there we have to get something done and we have a goal to accomplish."
Christiansen didn't get a chance to run in the Penn Relays last year. He came on late in the season and earned a spot on the state championship and state record-breaking 3,200 relay.
"We have been fortunate to run in the Kansas Relays and Penn Relays," Christiansen said. "The state championship and the state record is really the greatest accomplishment. The ultimate goal is to win the state championship. With the guys we have in the race, I think we will be in the mix to win it."
Monroe junior Jake Hirsbrunner will compete in the high jump today. Hirsbrunner is the No. 11 seed in the high jump. The top eight finishers medal.
"It feels cool to be with high level jumpers and get invited to come to this meet," Hirsbrunner said. "It's cool to do something out of state. One of my goals is to get in the top eight and medal. I would love to do another 6-4 or pop off another 6-6. It all depends on the weather."
Monroe junior Ethan Moehn will run in the Jim Ryun mile and the Cheesemakers' 3,200 relay team of senior Steve Christiansen, Hirsbrunner, senior Alex Barenklau and Moehn will also run on Saturday. The Cheesemakers' 3,200-meter relay team is the No. 1 seed based on their WIAA Division 2 state record last year en route to winning their second straight state championship. Senior Payton Hoesly is an alternate for the 3,200 relay team.
"By no means are we focusing our season on this meet," Monroe distance coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "I don't think we are prepared to run a 7:50. We just want to run a hard race. Our ultimate goal is to run our best race at the state championships at the end of the year in La Crosse."
The 3,200 may be the Cheesemakers' best chance to medal. Monroe's 3,200 relay team ran at the Penn Relays last year, but didn't medal and they were disappointed with their time and finish. Matt Bush has since graduated from that team.
"I think we learned last year the Penn Relays is just another meet," Monroe senior Alex Barenklau said. "You want to go out and run your best. The Penn Relays and the Kansas Relays are just another meet."
Barenklau expects the Cheesemakers to contend for a top three medal.
"I think our guys have ran great inside," Barenklau said. "We are ready for it. We are not afraid of any challenge."
The Cheesemakers are one of 20 teams in the second and fastest heat of the 3,200 relay. The race is set up as a 4x880.
"Each kid will have to run 13 feet further," Dave Hirsbrunner. "The time will be a little slower. We have some physical guys. If it's a physical bumping race, I like our chances. We want to run somewhere in the (8 minute mark)."
Moehn is the No. 10 seed in the 1,600. He will have 5 1⁄2 hours to recover for the 3,200 relay.
"It's an awesome feeling," Moehn said. "There are a lot of top caliber athletes in my race. I just want to get out there, stick my nose in there and help them pull me to a fast time."
Dave Hirsbrunner looks forward to seeing Moehn run in a challenging 1,600 field.
"(Moehn) hasn't been in a race this year where he has been pushed," Hirsbrunner said. "It will be fun to see."
Moehn likes the chances of the 3,200 relay team earning a medal, but he knows it won't be easy.
"I think we have a chance to compete to win it," he said. "The goal, like with any race, is to win it. It all comes down to if we can execute."
Moehn said the 3,200 relay team struggled at the Penn Relays last year.
"This year we have to keep focused and keep the mindset when we get there we have to get something done and we have a goal to accomplish."
Christiansen didn't get a chance to run in the Penn Relays last year. He came on late in the season and earned a spot on the state championship and state record-breaking 3,200 relay.
"We have been fortunate to run in the Kansas Relays and Penn Relays," Christiansen said. "The state championship and the state record is really the greatest accomplishment. The ultimate goal is to win the state championship. With the guys we have in the race, I think we will be in the mix to win it."
