If you go...
- WHEN: Friday, June 3-Saturday, June 4, 2011
- WHERE: Veterans Memorial Stadium, La Crosse
- COST: Friday's Session 1 or 2, $8; All Day Pass $12. Saturday's Championships, $8.
- TIME: Friday's opening ceremonies, 9:25 a.m.; events start at 9:30 a.m. Saturday field events start at 9:30 a.m., running at 10:30 a.m.
MONROE - Expectations at the WIAA state Division 2 state track meet are nothing new for Monroe senior Jeffrey Hill.
For the third straight year, Hill enters the state track and field championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse Friday as the No. 1 seed in the pole vault. Hill along with Richland Center's Austin Kenefick enter the state meet tied with the top height (13 feet, 9 inches).
"I'm going in with the expectation to win it," Hill said. "Anything less than a top three finish is unacceptable."
Hill will compete on the University of Wisconsin La Crosse's track team next year. He's looking at his opportunity at state to make a good first impression. As a sophomore, Hill took fifth at state in the pole vault. He's still searching for that elusive gold medal.
"Since I graduated I consider myself a freshman in college," Hill said. "I don't want to lose a meet on my home track."
One of the best races at state could come in the 3,200-meter relay, which is the first event Friday. Sugar River is the No. 1 seed in the 3,200 relay and the Cheesemakers' team of Ethan Moehn, Matt Bush, Alex Barenklau and Dylan Starck are the No. 2 seed. Sugar River won a Boscobel sectional title in the race with a time of 7 minutes, 58.7 seconds, which was just ahead of Monroe (7:58.37). Starck, who qualified for state in the 800 and 1,600, is expected to run on the 3,200 relay after sitting out and focusing on his individual events at the sectional.
Monroe coach Curt Miller downplayed the notion that it's a two team race between the Cheesemakers and Raiders.
"There are a few teams who have not run their best race yet," Miller said. "Putting in a kid the caliber of Dylan Starck will make us that much better. It should be a good race."
Sugar River senior Dennis Haak, who was the runner-up in the Division 3 state cross country meet in the fall, is the No. 2 seed in the 800 (1:58.12). Starck is the No. 6 seed in the 800 (1:58.5) and the 1,600 (4:24.15). Sugar River sophomore Ryan McCoy is the No. 4 seed in the 1,600. Monroe senior Michael Barrett qualified for state in the high jump for the second straight year. Barrett is tied for the No. 3 seed. Rice Lake junior Wally Ellenson, who is the top seed in the high jump (6-11), was the state runner-up last season.
"Michael is a great competitor," Miller said. "It's our goal for him to make it to the medal stand."
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team - including Moehn, Skyler Stingley, Barenklau and Bush - is seeded fourth. Monroe senior Nick Walker is seeded 10th in the discus and 12th in the shot put.
"It only takes one big throw and it can put you in contention for a medal," Miller said. "Our goal for Nick is for him to get his best performance of the year. If he can do that in one or both events he could medal."
In the girls competition, Brodhead-Juda junior Heather Clankie is the No. 1 seed in the discus (128-9). This marks the second straight year that Clankie has qualified for state in the discus.
Monroe's 400 relay team including Maria Eberle, Brenna Bazley, Lauren Werth and Jaclyn Ditter enters the state meet as the No. 2 seed (:50.62 seconds).
Rice Lake is the No. 1 seed (:50.57) and Catholic Memorial is third (:50.66).
"It will come down to handoffs," Miller said. "Throughout the season their handoffs have been excellent. We put a lot of time and effort into that. If the girls can hit their sticks we can be up there and run with anybody."
Ditter is the No. 6 seed in the 300 hurdles (:46.95) and 10th seed in the 100 hurdles (:15.84). Brodhead-Juda senior Shannon Klein, who finished fifth in the 400 at state last year, is seeded No. 6 in the event this year (:58.75) and 12th in the 200.
"Her seed doesn't mean anything," Miller said. "She has the ability to run with anyone. Our goal for Jaclyn is for her to medal in one or both events. I think it's possible."
Sugar River senior Ashley Brusveen is one of six high jumpers at state who cleared 5-2 at the sectional. The Cheesemakers' 800 relay team including Eberle, Rachel Rogerson, Bazley and Werth is seeded 15th out of 16 teams.
Miller said the Cheesemakers are just happy to qualify for state after some relay exchange struggles in the Boscobel sectional.
"I think it would be great if we could get in the top 10 and make the finals. If you get in the finals anything can happen."
Division 3
Darlington freshman Tyson Miehe enters the WIAA Division 3 state track championships as the No. 1 seed in the 3,200-meter run. Miehe's time of 9:45.48 in the Bangor sectional is about three seconds ahead of Blair-Taylor's Kyle Riesmann. Albany senior Drew Mather is the No. 4 seed in the 3,200.
Three area teams will be showcased in the 3,200 relay. Albany's 3,200 relay team including Chad Helland, Mather, Jose Ramirez and Reece Whitehead is the No. 1 seed heading into Friday's race. Darlington, seeded fifth and Pecatonica-Argyle, seeded seventh, will also be in contention for medals.
"Our main goal is to improve on the 8:18," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "Does that mean we can win a state championship? We definitely see the podium as a shot. If a team doesn't break 8:10 and if we have four guys run great races we can possibly do that (win a state title)."
Monticello senior Reid Zanoya is the No. 3 seed in the 400 (:50.69) and Pecatonica Argyle's Lucas Stoehr is seeded fifth (:51.03).
Darlington could also contend for medals in the 1,600 relay where the Redbirds are seeded No. 4 and the 800 relay where they are seeded No. 9.
Pecatonica-Argyle is seeded seventh in the 1,600 relay. Pecatonica junior Wyatt Massey is seeded No. 6 in the 800 and 12th in the 1,600. Whitehead is also seeded 10th in the 800.
Black Hawk senior Jake Meier is the No. 7 seed in the long jump and the Warriors' 400 relay team is seeded seventh. Black Hawk senior Michael Wolff is seeded 11th in the triple jump.
In the girls state meet, the Albany 3,200 relay team including Rosy Bauman, Jessica Mauerman, Ciara Kubesh and Bailey Hlavachek is seeded No. 3 (9:57.05) and Darlington is seeded No. 9. Darlington in the 1,600 relay team is seeded No. 3 (4:12.37).
Darlington senior Chelsea Fortin is seeded No. 6 in the pole vault (9-3) and Albany senior Hillary Best is seeded No. 7 in the discus (119-2).
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Kendra Sigg, who finished sixth at state last year in the 1,600, enters the state meet this year as the No. 7 seed and Hlavachek is the 10th seed.
Black Hawk senior Rachel Rygh is seeded No. 7 in the 200. In the 100, Black Hawk freshman Jen Wellnitz is seeded 10th and Rygh is 12th. The Warriors' 400 relay team is seeded 10th. Bauman is also seeded 10th in the 3,200 for the Comets. Darlington sophomore Cassidy Chambers is in the top half of the 19 high jumpers at state. She is one of nine who cleared 5-0 at the sectional.
For the third straight year, Hill enters the state track and field championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse Friday as the No. 1 seed in the pole vault. Hill along with Richland Center's Austin Kenefick enter the state meet tied with the top height (13 feet, 9 inches).
"I'm going in with the expectation to win it," Hill said. "Anything less than a top three finish is unacceptable."
Hill will compete on the University of Wisconsin La Crosse's track team next year. He's looking at his opportunity at state to make a good first impression. As a sophomore, Hill took fifth at state in the pole vault. He's still searching for that elusive gold medal.
"Since I graduated I consider myself a freshman in college," Hill said. "I don't want to lose a meet on my home track."
One of the best races at state could come in the 3,200-meter relay, which is the first event Friday. Sugar River is the No. 1 seed in the 3,200 relay and the Cheesemakers' team of Ethan Moehn, Matt Bush, Alex Barenklau and Dylan Starck are the No. 2 seed. Sugar River won a Boscobel sectional title in the race with a time of 7 minutes, 58.7 seconds, which was just ahead of Monroe (7:58.37). Starck, who qualified for state in the 800 and 1,600, is expected to run on the 3,200 relay after sitting out and focusing on his individual events at the sectional.
Monroe coach Curt Miller downplayed the notion that it's a two team race between the Cheesemakers and Raiders.
"There are a few teams who have not run their best race yet," Miller said. "Putting in a kid the caliber of Dylan Starck will make us that much better. It should be a good race."
Sugar River senior Dennis Haak, who was the runner-up in the Division 3 state cross country meet in the fall, is the No. 2 seed in the 800 (1:58.12). Starck is the No. 6 seed in the 800 (1:58.5) and the 1,600 (4:24.15). Sugar River sophomore Ryan McCoy is the No. 4 seed in the 1,600. Monroe senior Michael Barrett qualified for state in the high jump for the second straight year. Barrett is tied for the No. 3 seed. Rice Lake junior Wally Ellenson, who is the top seed in the high jump (6-11), was the state runner-up last season.
"Michael is a great competitor," Miller said. "It's our goal for him to make it to the medal stand."
The Cheesemakers' 1,600 relay team - including Moehn, Skyler Stingley, Barenklau and Bush - is seeded fourth. Monroe senior Nick Walker is seeded 10th in the discus and 12th in the shot put.
"It only takes one big throw and it can put you in contention for a medal," Miller said. "Our goal for Nick is for him to get his best performance of the year. If he can do that in one or both events he could medal."
In the girls competition, Brodhead-Juda junior Heather Clankie is the No. 1 seed in the discus (128-9). This marks the second straight year that Clankie has qualified for state in the discus.
Monroe's 400 relay team including Maria Eberle, Brenna Bazley, Lauren Werth and Jaclyn Ditter enters the state meet as the No. 2 seed (:50.62 seconds).
Rice Lake is the No. 1 seed (:50.57) and Catholic Memorial is third (:50.66).
"It will come down to handoffs," Miller said. "Throughout the season their handoffs have been excellent. We put a lot of time and effort into that. If the girls can hit their sticks we can be up there and run with anybody."
Ditter is the No. 6 seed in the 300 hurdles (:46.95) and 10th seed in the 100 hurdles (:15.84). Brodhead-Juda senior Shannon Klein, who finished fifth in the 400 at state last year, is seeded No. 6 in the event this year (:58.75) and 12th in the 200.
"Her seed doesn't mean anything," Miller said. "She has the ability to run with anyone. Our goal for Jaclyn is for her to medal in one or both events. I think it's possible."
Sugar River senior Ashley Brusveen is one of six high jumpers at state who cleared 5-2 at the sectional. The Cheesemakers' 800 relay team including Eberle, Rachel Rogerson, Bazley and Werth is seeded 15th out of 16 teams.
Miller said the Cheesemakers are just happy to qualify for state after some relay exchange struggles in the Boscobel sectional.
"I think it would be great if we could get in the top 10 and make the finals. If you get in the finals anything can happen."
Division 3
Darlington freshman Tyson Miehe enters the WIAA Division 3 state track championships as the No. 1 seed in the 3,200-meter run. Miehe's time of 9:45.48 in the Bangor sectional is about three seconds ahead of Blair-Taylor's Kyle Riesmann. Albany senior Drew Mather is the No. 4 seed in the 3,200.
Three area teams will be showcased in the 3,200 relay. Albany's 3,200 relay team including Chad Helland, Mather, Jose Ramirez and Reece Whitehead is the No. 1 seed heading into Friday's race. Darlington, seeded fifth and Pecatonica-Argyle, seeded seventh, will also be in contention for medals.
"Our main goal is to improve on the 8:18," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "Does that mean we can win a state championship? We definitely see the podium as a shot. If a team doesn't break 8:10 and if we have four guys run great races we can possibly do that (win a state title)."
Monticello senior Reid Zanoya is the No. 3 seed in the 400 (:50.69) and Pecatonica Argyle's Lucas Stoehr is seeded fifth (:51.03).
Darlington could also contend for medals in the 1,600 relay where the Redbirds are seeded No. 4 and the 800 relay where they are seeded No. 9.
Pecatonica-Argyle is seeded seventh in the 1,600 relay. Pecatonica junior Wyatt Massey is seeded No. 6 in the 800 and 12th in the 1,600. Whitehead is also seeded 10th in the 800.
Black Hawk senior Jake Meier is the No. 7 seed in the long jump and the Warriors' 400 relay team is seeded seventh. Black Hawk senior Michael Wolff is seeded 11th in the triple jump.
In the girls state meet, the Albany 3,200 relay team including Rosy Bauman, Jessica Mauerman, Ciara Kubesh and Bailey Hlavachek is seeded No. 3 (9:57.05) and Darlington is seeded No. 9. Darlington in the 1,600 relay team is seeded No. 3 (4:12.37).
Darlington senior Chelsea Fortin is seeded No. 6 in the pole vault (9-3) and Albany senior Hillary Best is seeded No. 7 in the discus (119-2).
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Kendra Sigg, who finished sixth at state last year in the 1,600, enters the state meet this year as the No. 7 seed and Hlavachek is the 10th seed.
Black Hawk senior Rachel Rygh is seeded No. 7 in the 200. In the 100, Black Hawk freshman Jen Wellnitz is seeded 10th and Rygh is 12th. The Warriors' 400 relay team is seeded 10th. Bauman is also seeded 10th in the 3,200 for the Comets. Darlington sophomore Cassidy Chambers is in the top half of the 19 high jumpers at state. She is one of nine who cleared 5-0 at the sectional.
