WISCONSIN RAPIDS - The Darlington boys cross country team's string of six straight WIAA Division 3 state championships was snapped Saturday.
Durand outdueled the Redbirds for the WIAA Division 3 state title 79-104. Darlington was looking to win its seventh straight state title. The Redbirds' streak of six straight state championships is the second longest streak in the state. Milwaukee Riverside has the longest streak of eight consecutive state titles.
"I told them there is nothing I can say to make it any better," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "They don't know what it is like not to get what you want. The last time we didn't win a state championship, this year's seniors were in fifth grade."
Rosholt took third (109), and New Glarus-Monticello finished last (380) out of the 16 teams at state.
Luther junior David Vannucchi won the individual state title with a time of 15 minutes, 54.83 seconds. Darlington junior Payton Heinberg took sixth overall and fifth out of all the runners on a team with a time of 16:41.28.
Darlington junior Tucker Lange finished 15th (17:18.21) and senior Tanner Evenstad took 16th (17:19.03). The Redbirds had four of the top 20 at state, but Durand pulled out the win with their No. 5 runner taking 31st compared to Darlington junior Trae Schilling finishing 48th (18:19.27).
"If you look up and down the line, every runner for Durand beat us except our No. 4 runner," Miehe said. "Four of their top five guys ran their best races ever. That is unheard of on the state course. They just outran us. We just got beat by a better team that day."
Miehe said with 1 mile to go, the Redbirds trailed Rosholt for second by 60 points.
"I was so impressed with how they dug in," Miehe said. "I thought we might get third. I was really proud of how they finished. Once they got over the disappointment, they can be proud of their accomplishments this year. We are bringing home a trophy for the seventh straight year, we won the conference for the eighth straight year and won the sectional."
New Glarus-Monticello freshman Conor McCoy finished 40th (18:01.45). Albany junior Josh Dahl closed out the season with a 49th-place finish at state (17:40.60).
"I think of all the runners we had there he was the closest to his fastest time of the season," New Glarus-Monticello coach Steve Wehrley said. "He was within 20 seconds. It's a course that is not as fast as Platteville or Lake Mills."
New Glarus-Monticello sophomore Adam Nelson placed 62nd (18:38.99) and freshman teammate Rudy Wicker took 87th (19:18.63). New Glarus-Monticello freshman Joe Quaglia placed 94th (19:31.56) and freshman Ty Ready was 97th (19:37.78).
"What I was telling them all week is that we are a young and inexperienced team running against guys a lot older and people with a lot more miles," Wehrley said. "We will get older, but we have to put in the miles."
In the girls' race, Edgar sophomore Marissa Ellenbecker won the state championship with a time of 18:56.33. Lancaster junior Lydia Murphy finished second (19:12.68). Darlington senior Reghan Komprood took 10th (19:55.57). Komprood is the first girls runner from Darlington to medal and earn a spot on the podium.
"She came up to me earlier in the week and asked if she had a chance to win a medal, and I said, 'yes,'" Miehe said of Komprood. "She out-kicked a girl at the end. She put everything into it. It's a great accomplishment."
Darlington junior Ilse Mendez placed 23rd (20:32.16), and Albany senior Emma Guenther took 56th (21:27.14). Guenther, who is a four-time state qualifier, closed out her career for the Comets.
"Ilse ran great," Miehe said. "Sometimes you lose your edge when your team is not there running with you. Both girls ran great races."
Durand outdueled the Redbirds for the WIAA Division 3 state title 79-104. Darlington was looking to win its seventh straight state title. The Redbirds' streak of six straight state championships is the second longest streak in the state. Milwaukee Riverside has the longest streak of eight consecutive state titles.
"I told them there is nothing I can say to make it any better," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "They don't know what it is like not to get what you want. The last time we didn't win a state championship, this year's seniors were in fifth grade."
Rosholt took third (109), and New Glarus-Monticello finished last (380) out of the 16 teams at state.
Luther junior David Vannucchi won the individual state title with a time of 15 minutes, 54.83 seconds. Darlington junior Payton Heinberg took sixth overall and fifth out of all the runners on a team with a time of 16:41.28.
Darlington junior Tucker Lange finished 15th (17:18.21) and senior Tanner Evenstad took 16th (17:19.03). The Redbirds had four of the top 20 at state, but Durand pulled out the win with their No. 5 runner taking 31st compared to Darlington junior Trae Schilling finishing 48th (18:19.27).
"If you look up and down the line, every runner for Durand beat us except our No. 4 runner," Miehe said. "Four of their top five guys ran their best races ever. That is unheard of on the state course. They just outran us. We just got beat by a better team that day."
Miehe said with 1 mile to go, the Redbirds trailed Rosholt for second by 60 points.
"I was so impressed with how they dug in," Miehe said. "I thought we might get third. I was really proud of how they finished. Once they got over the disappointment, they can be proud of their accomplishments this year. We are bringing home a trophy for the seventh straight year, we won the conference for the eighth straight year and won the sectional."
New Glarus-Monticello freshman Conor McCoy finished 40th (18:01.45). Albany junior Josh Dahl closed out the season with a 49th-place finish at state (17:40.60).
"I think of all the runners we had there he was the closest to his fastest time of the season," New Glarus-Monticello coach Steve Wehrley said. "He was within 20 seconds. It's a course that is not as fast as Platteville or Lake Mills."
New Glarus-Monticello sophomore Adam Nelson placed 62nd (18:38.99) and freshman teammate Rudy Wicker took 87th (19:18.63). New Glarus-Monticello freshman Joe Quaglia placed 94th (19:31.56) and freshman Ty Ready was 97th (19:37.78).
"What I was telling them all week is that we are a young and inexperienced team running against guys a lot older and people with a lot more miles," Wehrley said. "We will get older, but we have to put in the miles."
In the girls' race, Edgar sophomore Marissa Ellenbecker won the state championship with a time of 18:56.33. Lancaster junior Lydia Murphy finished second (19:12.68). Darlington senior Reghan Komprood took 10th (19:55.57). Komprood is the first girls runner from Darlington to medal and earn a spot on the podium.
"She came up to me earlier in the week and asked if she had a chance to win a medal, and I said, 'yes,'" Miehe said of Komprood. "She out-kicked a girl at the end. She put everything into it. It's a great accomplishment."
Darlington junior Ilse Mendez placed 23rd (20:32.16), and Albany senior Emma Guenther took 56th (21:27.14). Guenther, who is a four-time state qualifier, closed out her career for the Comets.
"Ilse ran great," Miehe said. "Sometimes you lose your edge when your team is not there running with you. Both girls ran great races."
