DARLINGTON - Cheyenne Wolfe gritted her teeth as she raced through the mud to the finish.
As a freshman, Wolfe understands the expectation that comes with running cross country in Darlington. Wolfe finished eighth at the WIAA Division 3 Darlington sectional Friday to help the Redbirds escape with a sectional championship, 53-54, over Boscobel to advance to state for the second straight year as a team.
Wolfe ran the 4K course at Darlington High School in 17 minutes, 20 seconds. Wolfe's goals for running the sectional on a sloppy home course were clear.
"I wanted to go to state and wanted to keep up with Kayla Sheckles of Fennimore," she said. "I wanted to finish ahead of Boscobel's top two runners. I don't really think that happened."
However, the Redbirds made it happen running as a team. The Redbirds placed three runners in the top 10, including sophomore Amy Jorgenson (ninth, 17:25) and freshman Christa Wamsley (10th, 17:25).
Jorgenson had to battle her emotions waiting through the boys race to see if they would be making another trip to state with a sectional title in hand.
"It (state) has been a big goal," Jorgenson said. "I don't even have the words for it. I want to know right now. I'm very impatient. I'm really shaking."
The top five runners not on the top two teams at the sectional also advance to state. Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Kendra Sigg, who finished 11th overall (17:25), was one place away from advancing to state. It's the second straight year Sigg has missed qualifying for state by one place.
Sigg has battled a foot injury. Pecatonica-Argyle coach Pat Hardyman said she may have had a stress fracture. She also has been sick the past two weeks. Hardyman held Sigg out of the conference meet.
"I didn't even know if she would run," Hardyman said. "She was probably 80 percent. When she's healthy, she's as tough as anybody."
Albany finished fifth with 142 points, which was seven away from fourth-place North Crawford. The Comets were led by junior Rosy Bauman, who finished 15th (17:44). Albany sophomore Ciara Kubesh took 25th (18:06) and junior Ingrid Kallgren was 26th (18:11).
The Redbirds overcame some sickness and a late scratch from the lineup when freshman Harley Douglas was sick and couldn't run. Fellow freshman Claire Scott stepped up and took 16th (17:47).
"When you are not at full strength, you don't know who will come through," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "All year someone has come through."
Darlington freshman Tatum Evenstad finished 20th (17:59) as four of the Redbirds' top five runners were freshmen.
Miehe said Evenstad overtaking five runners down the stretch was key. That combined with the performances of Wolfe, Jorgenson and Wamsley sealed the Redbirds' fate.
"If they are not where they were, we are not even in it," Miehe said.
As a freshman, Wolfe understands the expectation that comes with running cross country in Darlington. Wolfe finished eighth at the WIAA Division 3 Darlington sectional Friday to help the Redbirds escape with a sectional championship, 53-54, over Boscobel to advance to state for the second straight year as a team.
Wolfe ran the 4K course at Darlington High School in 17 minutes, 20 seconds. Wolfe's goals for running the sectional on a sloppy home course were clear.
"I wanted to go to state and wanted to keep up with Kayla Sheckles of Fennimore," she said. "I wanted to finish ahead of Boscobel's top two runners. I don't really think that happened."
However, the Redbirds made it happen running as a team. The Redbirds placed three runners in the top 10, including sophomore Amy Jorgenson (ninth, 17:25) and freshman Christa Wamsley (10th, 17:25).
Jorgenson had to battle her emotions waiting through the boys race to see if they would be making another trip to state with a sectional title in hand.
"It (state) has been a big goal," Jorgenson said. "I don't even have the words for it. I want to know right now. I'm very impatient. I'm really shaking."
The top five runners not on the top two teams at the sectional also advance to state. Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Kendra Sigg, who finished 11th overall (17:25), was one place away from advancing to state. It's the second straight year Sigg has missed qualifying for state by one place.
Sigg has battled a foot injury. Pecatonica-Argyle coach Pat Hardyman said she may have had a stress fracture. She also has been sick the past two weeks. Hardyman held Sigg out of the conference meet.
"I didn't even know if she would run," Hardyman said. "She was probably 80 percent. When she's healthy, she's as tough as anybody."
Albany finished fifth with 142 points, which was seven away from fourth-place North Crawford. The Comets were led by junior Rosy Bauman, who finished 15th (17:44). Albany sophomore Ciara Kubesh took 25th (18:06) and junior Ingrid Kallgren was 26th (18:11).
The Redbirds overcame some sickness and a late scratch from the lineup when freshman Harley Douglas was sick and couldn't run. Fellow freshman Claire Scott stepped up and took 16th (17:47).
"When you are not at full strength, you don't know who will come through," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "All year someone has come through."
Darlington freshman Tatum Evenstad finished 20th (17:59) as four of the Redbirds' top five runners were freshmen.
Miehe said Evenstad overtaking five runners down the stretch was key. That combined with the performances of Wolfe, Jorgenson and Wamsley sealed the Redbirds' fate.
"If they are not where they were, we are not even in it," Miehe said.
