FENNIMORE - Darlington sophomore Payton Heinberg ran to the boys individual championship in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League meet on Thursday.
Heinberg was one of six Darlington runners in the top 10 as the Redbirds dominated the field. They won with 21 points, which is just six points away from a perfect score.
Albany finished second with 78 points, and Pecatonica-Argyle (221) took last out of eight teams.
"I was really pleased with how we went out and ran with a business-like manner," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said of the Redbirds, who are ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Division 3 state poll. "We went in as the favorite and sometimes you have a letdown or let up, and we didn't do that. We executed our race plan."
It marks the ninth straight SWAL title for the Redbird boys.
The Darlington girls cross country team, ranked second, edged Albany for the SWAL title 28-36. It's the eighth league title in nine years for the Darlington girls.
"We knew if we ran great it would probably be a two-team race," Albany coach Tony Brewer said of the SWAL girls meet. "That is what it ended up to be. They (Darlington) have been running great all year. They were the better team today."
Darlington's other top finishes in the boys race were junior Tanner Evenstad, who finished second (17:18.1), and senior Conner Hackett, who took third (17:22.3). Sophomore Tucker Lange placed sixth (17:43.6), and sophomore Trae Schilling took ninth (18:04). Junior Paul King took 10th to earn first-team all-conference but didn't factor into the team scoring. The top 15 runners earned all-conference honors.
"We have a couple of guys who can step in and be our fifth guy," Miehe said. "That is a nice luxury to have."
Albany sophomore Josh Dahl led the Comets with an eighth-place finish (18:00.3). Senior Trevor Mueller placed 11th (18:16.6), senior Isaac Halverson finished 18th (18:59), junior Logun Parker took 20th (19:18.1), and senior Connor Trow placed 21st (19:20.2).
"We were hoping to get three or four all-conference runners, and we got two," Brewer said. "We have to do a better job of running together. If this would have been the day of the sectional we probably would have lost to Wisconsin Heights-Barneveld and our season would be over. The good thing is this was only conference."
Pecatonica-Argyle freshman Troy Nickels led the Vikings by taking 32nd (20:13.6). The other top performance by the Vikings came from freshman Payton Flannery, who placed 42nd (21:28.9).
In the SWAL girls meet, Albany senior Ciara Kaderly was the individual conference champion, running the 5,000-meter course in 20:05.3. Junior teammate Emma Guenther took second (20:37.2).
Although the Comets captured the top two spots, the Redbirds used depth to claim the team title.
"That (the 1-2 combination of Kaderly and Guenther) is the strength of our team," Brewer said. "We ran well. They (Darlington) just ran better."
Darlington had its top five runners all finish in the top nine to earn all-conference honors. Darlington sophomore Ilse Mendez finished third (20:39.3), senior Paige Schilling fourth (20:49.9), junior Reghan Komprood fifth (21:34) and junior Emma Crist seventh (21:34). Junior Erin Wolf was ninth (21:39.1).
"We have made a big jump and step as a team this year," Miehe said. "We have always had close races with Albany this year. We beat them twice and they beat us at River Valley coming into this. We knew it would be a dogfight and probably come down to a couple of points."
Pecatonica-Argyle finished last out of five teams (152). The Vikings had all five of their runners finish in the top half of the race. Sophomore Stephanie James finished 26th (25:02.4), senior Adriana Johnson took 30th (27:38.6), senior Jessica Erickson placed 31st (27:39.1), and sophomore Abby Loomis was 32nd (29:04.7). Senior Sarah Swenson placed 33rd (33:46.1).
Heinberg was one of six Darlington runners in the top 10 as the Redbirds dominated the field. They won with 21 points, which is just six points away from a perfect score.
Albany finished second with 78 points, and Pecatonica-Argyle (221) took last out of eight teams.
"I was really pleased with how we went out and ran with a business-like manner," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said of the Redbirds, who are ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Division 3 state poll. "We went in as the favorite and sometimes you have a letdown or let up, and we didn't do that. We executed our race plan."
It marks the ninth straight SWAL title for the Redbird boys.
The Darlington girls cross country team, ranked second, edged Albany for the SWAL title 28-36. It's the eighth league title in nine years for the Darlington girls.
"We knew if we ran great it would probably be a two-team race," Albany coach Tony Brewer said of the SWAL girls meet. "That is what it ended up to be. They (Darlington) have been running great all year. They were the better team today."
Darlington's other top finishes in the boys race were junior Tanner Evenstad, who finished second (17:18.1), and senior Conner Hackett, who took third (17:22.3). Sophomore Tucker Lange placed sixth (17:43.6), and sophomore Trae Schilling took ninth (18:04). Junior Paul King took 10th to earn first-team all-conference but didn't factor into the team scoring. The top 15 runners earned all-conference honors.
"We have a couple of guys who can step in and be our fifth guy," Miehe said. "That is a nice luxury to have."
Albany sophomore Josh Dahl led the Comets with an eighth-place finish (18:00.3). Senior Trevor Mueller placed 11th (18:16.6), senior Isaac Halverson finished 18th (18:59), junior Logun Parker took 20th (19:18.1), and senior Connor Trow placed 21st (19:20.2).
"We were hoping to get three or four all-conference runners, and we got two," Brewer said. "We have to do a better job of running together. If this would have been the day of the sectional we probably would have lost to Wisconsin Heights-Barneveld and our season would be over. The good thing is this was only conference."
Pecatonica-Argyle freshman Troy Nickels led the Vikings by taking 32nd (20:13.6). The other top performance by the Vikings came from freshman Payton Flannery, who placed 42nd (21:28.9).
In the SWAL girls meet, Albany senior Ciara Kaderly was the individual conference champion, running the 5,000-meter course in 20:05.3. Junior teammate Emma Guenther took second (20:37.2).
Although the Comets captured the top two spots, the Redbirds used depth to claim the team title.
"That (the 1-2 combination of Kaderly and Guenther) is the strength of our team," Brewer said. "We ran well. They (Darlington) just ran better."
Darlington had its top five runners all finish in the top nine to earn all-conference honors. Darlington sophomore Ilse Mendez finished third (20:39.3), senior Paige Schilling fourth (20:49.9), junior Reghan Komprood fifth (21:34) and junior Emma Crist seventh (21:34). Junior Erin Wolf was ninth (21:39.1).
"We have made a big jump and step as a team this year," Miehe said. "We have always had close races with Albany this year. We beat them twice and they beat us at River Valley coming into this. We knew it would be a dogfight and probably come down to a couple of points."
Pecatonica-Argyle finished last out of five teams (152). The Vikings had all five of their runners finish in the top half of the race. Sophomore Stephanie James finished 26th (25:02.4), senior Adriana Johnson took 30th (27:38.6), senior Jessica Erickson placed 31st (27:39.1), and sophomore Abby Loomis was 32nd (29:04.7). Senior Sarah Swenson placed 33rd (33:46.1).
