DARLINGTON - The steamy heat couldn't stop dozens of athletes from running for a berth in the WIAA Division 3 Bangor Sectional Monday.
Black Hawk junior Rachel Rygh edged out Cuba City's Emily Kaiser to win a regional championship in the 100-meter dash. Rygh finished the 100 in 12.94 seconds. She also won the 200 (:27.84).
"It was just an amazing feeling," Rygh said. "Coming into the track season, I wanted to break the 100 and 200 records. "Hopefully, my times keep decreasing in the 100 and 200."
Darlington ran away with the WIAA Division 3 regional, which the Redbirds hosted Monday, 160-133 over Cuba City. Black Hawk took third (94), Albany finished fourth (83) and Pecatonica-Argyle was fifth (77). The top four finishers in each event advance to the Bangor sectional Thursday.
Black Hawk junior Melissa Wellnitz won the 400 with a time of 1 minute, 4.84 seconds and she took second in the 800 behind Pecatonica-Argyle's Kendra Sigg who won a regional title in the 800 (2:35.74). Sigg edged Wellnitz by 0.1 second for the title.
The other area sectional qualifiers in the 400 were Darlington freshman Alison Wedig, who was third and Pecatonica-Argyle freshman Emma Marion who was fourth. In a strange turn of events, Southwestern's Mariah Kammerude, who was the top seed, missed the 400 after she failed to report. Meet officials allowed her to run before a heat of the boys 400. However, the rules committee decided to disqualify her after she ran.
The other area sectional qualifiers in the 800 were Albany sophomore Jessica Mauerman, who was third, and Darlington junior Shawni Smith.
Black Hawk senior Katie Place won the triple jump (34 feet, 6 1/4 inches) and she took second in the long jump (15-3). Darlington junior Chayse Hermanson took second in the triple jump (30-4 1/2). Darlington sophomore Hannah Huffman finished third and Pecatonica-Argyle senior Holly Vlasak finished fourth in the long jump. Vlasak finished second in the 100 (:13.54).
Darlington's 1,600 relay team of Huffman, Kayla Lange, Olivia Wedig and Chayse Hermanson finished first with a time of 4:17.54, which was one second ahead of Black Hawk. Black Hawk coach Cory Milz stacked the 1,600 relay with Rygh, Place, Kate Quinn and Wellnitz. Albany took third and qualified for the sectional in the 1,600 relay.
"Darlington has one of the top times in the state," Milz said. "We figured that would be one of our most competitive relays."
The Redbirds qualified all four of their relays for the sectional. The Redbirds' 3,200 relay team of Wedig, Amy Jorgenson, Christa Wamsley and Cheyenne Wolfe finished first with a time of 10:56.34, which was 38.20 seconds ahead of runner-up Albany. Pecatonica-Argyle's 3,200 relay team also qualified for the sectional.
"We basically just ran to qualify," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. There were some spots where I thought we could have had some more people qualify who didn't."
Darlington's 800 relay team finished second (1:52.64) and Pecatonica-Argyle was third (1:58.44). The Redbirds' 400 relay team took second (:52.74), Pecatonica-Argyle was third and Black Hawk was fourth.
Monticello senior Kelsey Bernet won the 1,600 (5:41.24) ahead of Sigg who was third (5:48.74) and Monticello freshman Katie Nelson who was fourth. Bernet took second in the regional in the 3,200 (12:39.94).
"My goal was to get first," Bernet said. "I was a little worried because of this hot heat and I have a cold. The heat definitely has an impact on the runners today."
Bernet is seeking her fourth straight trip to state.
"It feels amazing," she said after winning the 1,600. "It feels like I have accomplished what I wanted to accomplish."
The Redbirds also dominated the pole vault with three of the top four. Darlington senior Kara Krahenbuhl won the pole vault (9-0), Darlington junior Chelsea Fortin took third and junior Taryn Evenstad was fourth.
Darlington sophomore Alix Brandt won the 100 hurdles (:17.54). Black Hawk had two sectional qualifiers in the 100 hurdles, Alyssa Peifer and Hillary Holland.
Darlington senior Lisa Kreidler took second in the 300 hurdles (:49.74) and Piefer finished fourth.
Darlington junior McKenzie Pickett finished second in the shot put and Black Hawk senior Cassie Jorgenson was fourth. Darlington sophomore Haily McGowan took second in the discus.
Darlington freshman Cassidy Chambers took second in the high jump and Black Hawk senior Nicole Kloepfer was third.
Black Hawk junior Rachel Rygh edged out Cuba City's Emily Kaiser to win a regional championship in the 100-meter dash. Rygh finished the 100 in 12.94 seconds. She also won the 200 (:27.84).
"It was just an amazing feeling," Rygh said. "Coming into the track season, I wanted to break the 100 and 200 records. "Hopefully, my times keep decreasing in the 100 and 200."
Darlington ran away with the WIAA Division 3 regional, which the Redbirds hosted Monday, 160-133 over Cuba City. Black Hawk took third (94), Albany finished fourth (83) and Pecatonica-Argyle was fifth (77). The top four finishers in each event advance to the Bangor sectional Thursday.
Black Hawk junior Melissa Wellnitz won the 400 with a time of 1 minute, 4.84 seconds and she took second in the 800 behind Pecatonica-Argyle's Kendra Sigg who won a regional title in the 800 (2:35.74). Sigg edged Wellnitz by 0.1 second for the title.
The other area sectional qualifiers in the 400 were Darlington freshman Alison Wedig, who was third and Pecatonica-Argyle freshman Emma Marion who was fourth. In a strange turn of events, Southwestern's Mariah Kammerude, who was the top seed, missed the 400 after she failed to report. Meet officials allowed her to run before a heat of the boys 400. However, the rules committee decided to disqualify her after she ran.
The other area sectional qualifiers in the 800 were Albany sophomore Jessica Mauerman, who was third, and Darlington junior Shawni Smith.
Black Hawk senior Katie Place won the triple jump (34 feet, 6 1/4 inches) and she took second in the long jump (15-3). Darlington junior Chayse Hermanson took second in the triple jump (30-4 1/2). Darlington sophomore Hannah Huffman finished third and Pecatonica-Argyle senior Holly Vlasak finished fourth in the long jump. Vlasak finished second in the 100 (:13.54).
Darlington's 1,600 relay team of Huffman, Kayla Lange, Olivia Wedig and Chayse Hermanson finished first with a time of 4:17.54, which was one second ahead of Black Hawk. Black Hawk coach Cory Milz stacked the 1,600 relay with Rygh, Place, Kate Quinn and Wellnitz. Albany took third and qualified for the sectional in the 1,600 relay.
"Darlington has one of the top times in the state," Milz said. "We figured that would be one of our most competitive relays."
The Redbirds qualified all four of their relays for the sectional. The Redbirds' 3,200 relay team of Wedig, Amy Jorgenson, Christa Wamsley and Cheyenne Wolfe finished first with a time of 10:56.34, which was 38.20 seconds ahead of runner-up Albany. Pecatonica-Argyle's 3,200 relay team also qualified for the sectional.
"We basically just ran to qualify," Albany coach Tony Brewer said. There were some spots where I thought we could have had some more people qualify who didn't."
Darlington's 800 relay team finished second (1:52.64) and Pecatonica-Argyle was third (1:58.44). The Redbirds' 400 relay team took second (:52.74), Pecatonica-Argyle was third and Black Hawk was fourth.
Monticello senior Kelsey Bernet won the 1,600 (5:41.24) ahead of Sigg who was third (5:48.74) and Monticello freshman Katie Nelson who was fourth. Bernet took second in the regional in the 3,200 (12:39.94).
"My goal was to get first," Bernet said. "I was a little worried because of this hot heat and I have a cold. The heat definitely has an impact on the runners today."
Bernet is seeking her fourth straight trip to state.
"It feels amazing," she said after winning the 1,600. "It feels like I have accomplished what I wanted to accomplish."
The Redbirds also dominated the pole vault with three of the top four. Darlington senior Kara Krahenbuhl won the pole vault (9-0), Darlington junior Chelsea Fortin took third and junior Taryn Evenstad was fourth.
Darlington sophomore Alix Brandt won the 100 hurdles (:17.54). Black Hawk had two sectional qualifiers in the 100 hurdles, Alyssa Peifer and Hillary Holland.
Darlington senior Lisa Kreidler took second in the 300 hurdles (:49.74) and Piefer finished fourth.
Darlington junior McKenzie Pickett finished second in the shot put and Black Hawk senior Cassie Jorgenson was fourth. Darlington sophomore Haily McGowan took second in the discus.
Darlington freshman Cassidy Chambers took second in the high jump and Black Hawk senior Nicole Kloepfer was third.
