ALBANY - One week ago, Albany senior Brennan Bloedel rolled his truck, but walked away without a serious injury.
It was Bloedel's good fortune that led Albany coach Tony Brewer to believe his Comets were a team of destiny and would make a return trip to state.
"I told him if you can walk away from that healthy, than we will make it to state," Brewer said.
Darlington had five runners in the top 16 to win the WIAA Division 3 Albany sectional Saturday 46-69 over the Comets to qualify for state as a team for the seventh straight year. However, Brewer's prediction came true as Bloedel helped the Comets qualify for state as a team, finishing second at the Baertschi farm.
Darlington junior Jaden Komprood finished second overall with a time of 16 minutes, 39.8 seconds. Senior teammate Thomas Schultz took fourth and junior Sean Barbee was 11th (17:51.8). Sophomore Connor Hackett finished 13th (18:01.3) and junior Blake Cwynar took 16th (18:18.8).
Boscobel junior Dakota Kauffman was the sectional champion, running the 5,000-meter course in 16:32.9, which was about seven seconds ahead of Komprood. Komprood uses the rivalry with Kauffman and the competition with his teammates as motivating factors.
"We have a great competition," Komprood said of Kauffman. "He is a great runner and pushes me along. After the race we are friends. My team is what pushes me. If we didn't have as good of a team as we have, I don't know if I would be as fast."
Albany qualified for state as a team for the first time since 2010. The Comets avenged a heartbreaker from last year when they missed a state berth by one point. The sectional featured four of the state's top five teams in Division 3.
"It's a big relief just knowing how good our sectional was," Brewer said. "To tell these guys in a tent last year that we missed state by one point was tough. We had to wait one year. Our top four guys did what they had to do. We feel like we are one of the best teams in the state."
Albany senior Aaron Johnson finished third place (17:15.3), junior Tyler Dahl took seventh (17:38.3) and Bloedel was 10th (17:43.8). Albany junior Josh Little took 15th and sophomore Connor Trow, who was the Comets' No. 7 runner in the conference meet, took 34th (19:06.4) to help the Comets lock up a state berth.
"The whole race I was telling myself that this was my last race at home," Johnson said. "I had to treat it like my last race and go all out for state. The guys put in so much work in the offseason and I didn't want to waste it."
In the first 5K girls' sectional race, Poynette ran away with a sectional title 44-82 over Boscobel. Boscobel edged Darlington for a trip to state by three points. Darlington finished third (85) with a team and the Redbirds streak of eight straight trips to state was snapped. The top two teams and the top five runners not on the top two teams advance to state. Albany freshman Emma Guenther finished third (20:42.3) and junior Sydnee Woyak took sixth (21:04.8) to both qualify for state. Guenther and Woyak led the Comets to a sixth-place finish (172) in the 15-team meet. Pecatonica-Argyle took 11th (269).
"I'm just so excited to go to state with my best friend," Woyak said. "I think Emma is what kept me motivated. It has been my goal all year. It will mean so much more to go together."
Guenther was proud to qualify for state as a freshman. She's not underestimating the accomplishment.
"I'm just so excited," Guenther said. "It's been my goal all year. We just motivate each other in practices."
Darlington coach Arnie Miehe aid it would come down to a few points separating the Redbirds from Boscobel.
"They ran as hard as they could," Miehe said. "That's all you can ask for as a coach. You have to look at the fact at how young they are. It was a pressure situation in their biggest meet on the biggest stage. They ran well. Boscobel just ran a little bit better."
Darlington freshman Reghan Komprood, who missed most of the season with shin splints, took 12th place (21:52.6). Senior teammate Johanna Meister finished 13th (21:56) and sophomore Paige Schilling was 17th (22:23.5). Darlington freshman Emma Crist took 20th (22:35.7) and freshman Erin Wolf was 23rd (22:51.7).
Komprood ran in just three races this season after dealing with shin splints.
"I thought I was done for the season," Komprood said. "Coach (Miehe) helped me and I got back on my feet."
Albany sophomore Lauren Blumer took 37th (23:45.6) and freshman Madeline Halverson was 47th (25:19.5). Pecatonica-Argyle didn't qualify a runner for state, but had three runners in the top 46. Pecatonica-Argyle junior Samantha Erickson finished 34th (23:42.9) to lead the Vikings. Sophomore teammate Josie Penniston took 40th (24:18.5) and junior Hannah James was 46th (25:02).
Miehe was proud of how Komprood finished the season like many other runners.
"She had to deal with adversity and she was our No. 1 runner," he said of Komprood overcoming shin splints. "That shows a lot of character."
It was Bloedel's good fortune that led Albany coach Tony Brewer to believe his Comets were a team of destiny and would make a return trip to state.
"I told him if you can walk away from that healthy, than we will make it to state," Brewer said.
Darlington had five runners in the top 16 to win the WIAA Division 3 Albany sectional Saturday 46-69 over the Comets to qualify for state as a team for the seventh straight year. However, Brewer's prediction came true as Bloedel helped the Comets qualify for state as a team, finishing second at the Baertschi farm.
Darlington junior Jaden Komprood finished second overall with a time of 16 minutes, 39.8 seconds. Senior teammate Thomas Schultz took fourth and junior Sean Barbee was 11th (17:51.8). Sophomore Connor Hackett finished 13th (18:01.3) and junior Blake Cwynar took 16th (18:18.8).
Boscobel junior Dakota Kauffman was the sectional champion, running the 5,000-meter course in 16:32.9, which was about seven seconds ahead of Komprood. Komprood uses the rivalry with Kauffman and the competition with his teammates as motivating factors.
"We have a great competition," Komprood said of Kauffman. "He is a great runner and pushes me along. After the race we are friends. My team is what pushes me. If we didn't have as good of a team as we have, I don't know if I would be as fast."
Albany qualified for state as a team for the first time since 2010. The Comets avenged a heartbreaker from last year when they missed a state berth by one point. The sectional featured four of the state's top five teams in Division 3.
"It's a big relief just knowing how good our sectional was," Brewer said. "To tell these guys in a tent last year that we missed state by one point was tough. We had to wait one year. Our top four guys did what they had to do. We feel like we are one of the best teams in the state."
Albany senior Aaron Johnson finished third place (17:15.3), junior Tyler Dahl took seventh (17:38.3) and Bloedel was 10th (17:43.8). Albany junior Josh Little took 15th and sophomore Connor Trow, who was the Comets' No. 7 runner in the conference meet, took 34th (19:06.4) to help the Comets lock up a state berth.
"The whole race I was telling myself that this was my last race at home," Johnson said. "I had to treat it like my last race and go all out for state. The guys put in so much work in the offseason and I didn't want to waste it."
In the first 5K girls' sectional race, Poynette ran away with a sectional title 44-82 over Boscobel. Boscobel edged Darlington for a trip to state by three points. Darlington finished third (85) with a team and the Redbirds streak of eight straight trips to state was snapped. The top two teams and the top five runners not on the top two teams advance to state. Albany freshman Emma Guenther finished third (20:42.3) and junior Sydnee Woyak took sixth (21:04.8) to both qualify for state. Guenther and Woyak led the Comets to a sixth-place finish (172) in the 15-team meet. Pecatonica-Argyle took 11th (269).
"I'm just so excited to go to state with my best friend," Woyak said. "I think Emma is what kept me motivated. It has been my goal all year. It will mean so much more to go together."
Guenther was proud to qualify for state as a freshman. She's not underestimating the accomplishment.
"I'm just so excited," Guenther said. "It's been my goal all year. We just motivate each other in practices."
Darlington coach Arnie Miehe aid it would come down to a few points separating the Redbirds from Boscobel.
"They ran as hard as they could," Miehe said. "That's all you can ask for as a coach. You have to look at the fact at how young they are. It was a pressure situation in their biggest meet on the biggest stage. They ran well. Boscobel just ran a little bit better."
Darlington freshman Reghan Komprood, who missed most of the season with shin splints, took 12th place (21:52.6). Senior teammate Johanna Meister finished 13th (21:56) and sophomore Paige Schilling was 17th (22:23.5). Darlington freshman Emma Crist took 20th (22:35.7) and freshman Erin Wolf was 23rd (22:51.7).
Komprood ran in just three races this season after dealing with shin splints.
"I thought I was done for the season," Komprood said. "Coach (Miehe) helped me and I got back on my feet."
Albany sophomore Lauren Blumer took 37th (23:45.6) and freshman Madeline Halverson was 47th (25:19.5). Pecatonica-Argyle didn't qualify a runner for state, but had three runners in the top 46. Pecatonica-Argyle junior Samantha Erickson finished 34th (23:42.9) to lead the Vikings. Sophomore teammate Josie Penniston took 40th (24:18.5) and junior Hannah James was 46th (25:02).
Miehe was proud of how Komprood finished the season like many other runners.
"She had to deal with adversity and she was our No. 1 runner," he said of Komprood overcoming shin splints. "That shows a lot of character."
