ALBANY - Three-peating as state champions could become a reality after the Darlington boys cross country team ran way with an Albany sectional championship Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Baertschi farm.
"I couldn't ask for more as far as what the kids did," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "We came into the year with some inexperienced runners and we didn't know how the season would go. They put it all together and came through."
Darlington senior Tyson Miehe, the two-time state champion, won the sectional title with a time of 16 minutes, 19.2 seconds. It's the fourth straight sectional title for Miehe.
"He's looking forward to that (winning a state championship for the third consecutive year)," Arnie Miehe said. "He has put in a lot of miles to make it happen."
The Redbirds, ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Division 3 poll, had three runners in the top 10 at the sectional. In addition to Miehe, sophomore Jaden Komprood finished third (16:49.8) and junior Thomas Schultz took ninth (17:35.2).
"Jaden has really come on for us," Arnie Miehe said. "He rose from an alternate last year to third at the sectional. That is a big jump. He (Schultz) had to get his feet on the ground early on. He's in a groove now and really running well."
Boscobel edged Albany by one point, 82-83 for the second team state bid. The Comets did have three individual state qualifiers led by junior Aaron Johnson who took fifth (17:13.9). The other individual state qualifiers include Albany junior Brennan Bloedel who finished seventh (17:23.3) and sophomore Tyler Dahl who took 10th (17:37.8). Albany sophomore Josh Little took 12th (18:01.1) and was two spots away from qualifying.
"When I told them they lost by one point, they all said they could have beat one more person," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "It's easy to say that after the results. Our effort was there. It wasn't our best race, but they gave great effort. I was disappointed for them. It was a tough day."
Darlington sophomore Blake Cwynar took 14th (18:03.2) and sophomore Sean Barbee was 15th (18:08.7).
Brewer has high expectations for his three state qualifiers. It will be Johnson's second straight state meet and the first for Bloedel and Dahl.
"Those three will go and do a good job of representing us at state," Brewer said. "We don't have a senior, but we didn't want to wait until next year (to qualify for state.) You never know what will happen. Just look at Bailey."
Albany senior Bailey Hlavachek, who is a three-time state qualifier in cross country, didn't run in the sectional due to a stress fracture. The Comets had just three girls run. Albany sophomore Sydnee Woyak finished 21st (17:30.3) and was more than 1 minute from the last state qualifying spot.
"We had her go out faster than she usually does and that probably cost her a few seconds," Brewer said. "We told her with Bailey out, don't run for 20th. Go out and run with the best for as long as you can. The last half mile, I could tell she was tired. This is a good experience for her. It's a matter of using that experience for next year to get better."
Poynette (57) won the sectional team title. Darlington finished second (75) and qualified for state as a team for the eighth straight year.
"When they step into the program that is how high the bar is," Miehe said of state. "The kids who have run in the past have set the expectation."
Darlington senior Claire Cullen finished seventh (16:32.9) and freshman Paige Schilling took eighth (16:37.2) to lead the Redbirds.
"Claire and Paige had a very strong race," Miehe said.
Darlington junior Johanna Meister finished 16th (17:18.2) and senior Darby Fitzsimons was 19th (17:28.7). Senior Carly Reilly took 25th (17:58) to round out the top five for the Redbirds.
Pecatonica-Argyle finished 11th (279) out of 14 teams. The Vikings had three of the top 50 runners. Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Samantha Erickson took 28th (18:23.6) and freshman teammate Jozie Penniston finished 49th (19:50.8).
"Darby Fitzimons has been so solid for us all year," Miehe said.
He also credited Reilly for making the SWAL title possible by finishing ahead of several Boscobel runners.
"She's put together two strong races," Miehe said of Reilly. It's great to see a senior come through when you need her to."
"I couldn't ask for more as far as what the kids did," Darlington coach Arnie Miehe said. "We came into the year with some inexperienced runners and we didn't know how the season would go. They put it all together and came through."
Darlington senior Tyson Miehe, the two-time state champion, won the sectional title with a time of 16 minutes, 19.2 seconds. It's the fourth straight sectional title for Miehe.
"He's looking forward to that (winning a state championship for the third consecutive year)," Arnie Miehe said. "He has put in a lot of miles to make it happen."
The Redbirds, ranked No. 1 in the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association Division 3 poll, had three runners in the top 10 at the sectional. In addition to Miehe, sophomore Jaden Komprood finished third (16:49.8) and junior Thomas Schultz took ninth (17:35.2).
"Jaden has really come on for us," Arnie Miehe said. "He rose from an alternate last year to third at the sectional. That is a big jump. He (Schultz) had to get his feet on the ground early on. He's in a groove now and really running well."
Boscobel edged Albany by one point, 82-83 for the second team state bid. The Comets did have three individual state qualifiers led by junior Aaron Johnson who took fifth (17:13.9). The other individual state qualifiers include Albany junior Brennan Bloedel who finished seventh (17:23.3) and sophomore Tyler Dahl who took 10th (17:37.8). Albany sophomore Josh Little took 12th (18:01.1) and was two spots away from qualifying.
"When I told them they lost by one point, they all said they could have beat one more person," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. "It's easy to say that after the results. Our effort was there. It wasn't our best race, but they gave great effort. I was disappointed for them. It was a tough day."
Darlington sophomore Blake Cwynar took 14th (18:03.2) and sophomore Sean Barbee was 15th (18:08.7).
Brewer has high expectations for his three state qualifiers. It will be Johnson's second straight state meet and the first for Bloedel and Dahl.
"Those three will go and do a good job of representing us at state," Brewer said. "We don't have a senior, but we didn't want to wait until next year (to qualify for state.) You never know what will happen. Just look at Bailey."
Albany senior Bailey Hlavachek, who is a three-time state qualifier in cross country, didn't run in the sectional due to a stress fracture. The Comets had just three girls run. Albany sophomore Sydnee Woyak finished 21st (17:30.3) and was more than 1 minute from the last state qualifying spot.
"We had her go out faster than she usually does and that probably cost her a few seconds," Brewer said. "We told her with Bailey out, don't run for 20th. Go out and run with the best for as long as you can. The last half mile, I could tell she was tired. This is a good experience for her. It's a matter of using that experience for next year to get better."
Poynette (57) won the sectional team title. Darlington finished second (75) and qualified for state as a team for the eighth straight year.
"When they step into the program that is how high the bar is," Miehe said of state. "The kids who have run in the past have set the expectation."
Darlington senior Claire Cullen finished seventh (16:32.9) and freshman Paige Schilling took eighth (16:37.2) to lead the Redbirds.
"Claire and Paige had a very strong race," Miehe said.
Darlington junior Johanna Meister finished 16th (17:18.2) and senior Darby Fitzsimons was 19th (17:28.7). Senior Carly Reilly took 25th (17:58) to round out the top five for the Redbirds.
Pecatonica-Argyle finished 11th (279) out of 14 teams. The Vikings had three of the top 50 runners. Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Samantha Erickson took 28th (18:23.6) and freshman teammate Jozie Penniston finished 49th (19:50.8).
"Darby Fitzimons has been so solid for us all year," Miehe said.
He also credited Reilly for making the SWAL title possible by finishing ahead of several Boscobel runners.
"She's put together two strong races," Miehe said of Reilly. It's great to see a senior come through when you need her to."
