DARLINGTON - Todd Bastian, Darlington's track coach, didn't have any high expectations of winning the Redbird Invitational, but that's exactly what the Darlington boys and girls track teams did Monday.
The Darlington boys outdistanced Black Hawk 161.5-104 for the team title. The Darlington girls rolled to a 186-95 win over Belmont. Both the Monroe boys and girls teams made up of younger athletes and junior varsity athletes finished eighth at the 11 team meet.
"We just want to sort some people out," Bastian said. "We have to find out who will be running on the relays. We haven't had a lot of outdoor meets yet. We need the weather to get warmer. The cold weather bites. We haven't had a 70 degree day yet. Maybe when the weather warms up the kids will loosen up and run a little better."
Black Hawk junior Hayden Schliem won the high jump (5 feet, 10 inches) and the 400 (:53.12). Schliem edged Monroe freshman Jake Hirsbrunner in the high jump. Hirsbrunner also cleared 5-10, but Schliem won on a tiebreaker.
"That was unexpected," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said of Schliem winning the high jump. "He (Schliem) has some natural jumping ability. His technique needs work."
Hirsbrunner was just a week removed from clearing 6-4.
"Today, it was just kind of an off day," Hirsbrunner said. "I had a big day at the dual with Monona Grove, Milton and Edgewood. I had a lot of momentum coming in."
Hirsbrunner said his goal at the start of the season was to make 6-2, qualify for state, and get into the top five all-time freshmen chart in the high jump.
"I just wanted to get 6-2," he said. "I never really thought about it (6-4). Now I have to set my goal at 6-6."
Schliem finished just ahead of Pecatonica-Argyle senior Lucas Stoehr in the 400.
"His goal is to run a 51.5," Milz said of Schliem. "I think he is capable of that. It was kind of an upset that he beat Stoehr."
Black Hawk senior Jacob Meier won the long jump (20-4) well ahead of Pecatonica-Argyle senior Charlie Rubio, who was second (18-1 1/2). Black Hawk senior Michael Wolff took first in the in the triple jump (40-1 1/2) and Meier was second (38-9). Black Hawk freshman Jayden Rufenacht won the 100 (:11.38) and senior Bryant Luhman won the shot put (44-6 1/4).
Darlington junior Mitchell Langkamp finished first in the 200 (:23.60) and junior Levi Wedig won the pole vault (11-0).
The Redbirds' 400 relay team of Cody Erickson, Wedig, Dylan Nyffenegger and Storm Wiegel finished first with a time of 47.71 seconds. In the 800 relay, the Redbirds' team of Erickson, Wedig, Langkamp and Wiegel won with a time of 1:36.19, which was just ahead of second place Pecatonica-Argyle (1:37.63).
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Wyatt Massey finished first in the 800 (2:03.73). The Vikings' 1,600 relay team of Stoehr, Nate Leonard, Nathan Loyd and Marcus Rubio finished first with a time of 3:38.39, which was just ahead of Darlington (3:38.59). The Redbirds also added a second place in the 3,200 relay (8:28.19).
Darlington freshman Kyle Johnson took second in the 110 hurdles (:17.76) and Darlington junior Kent Miehe took second in the 1,600, with a time of 4:45.91. Black Hawk junior Kyle Woodruff finished second in the 300 hurdles by about one second ahead of Johnson.
In the girls meet, Black Hawk senior Rachel Rygh took first in the 100 (:12.95) and the 400 (1:03.97). She added a second place in the 200 (27.84). In the 400, Rygh's finish was only one second ahead of Darlington senior Kayla Lange.
Darlington sophomore Cassidy Chambers won the high jump (4-8), senior Chelsea Fortin took first in the pole vault (9-0) and Darlington junior Alix Brandt won the 100 hurdles (:17.59).
The Redbirds' 800 relay team including Claire Scott, Brandt, Hannah Huffman and Chayse Hermanson finished first with a time of 1:54.04, which was about four seconds ahead of Pecatonica-Argyle. The trio of Hermanson, Huffman and Scott teamed with Carly Reilly to win the 1,600 relay with a time of 4:26.28, which was well ahead of second place Pecatonica-Argyle (4:40.98). The Redbirds also took second in the 3,200 relay (10:39.88).
Darlington senior McKenzie Pickett finished second in the shot put (35-5) and junior Hailey McGowan took second in the discus (94-4). Huffman took second in the long jump (14-4), Hermanson was third in the triple jump (30-1 1/2) and Hannah Robiolio was third in the 3,200 (12:47) for the Redbirds.
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Kendra Sigg finished third in the 1,600 (5:35.67) and fourth in the 800 (2:36.11).
Monroe coach Curt Miller said the meet is an opportunity for younger athletes and JV runners a chance to compete.
"It's a chance for them to compete against invitational competition," Miller said. "Our area has some very good track and field teams. It's an opportunity to come and see some teams and get experience for some of these kids who next year will be competing in varsity type invitationals."
The Darlington boys outdistanced Black Hawk 161.5-104 for the team title. The Darlington girls rolled to a 186-95 win over Belmont. Both the Monroe boys and girls teams made up of younger athletes and junior varsity athletes finished eighth at the 11 team meet.
"We just want to sort some people out," Bastian said. "We have to find out who will be running on the relays. We haven't had a lot of outdoor meets yet. We need the weather to get warmer. The cold weather bites. We haven't had a 70 degree day yet. Maybe when the weather warms up the kids will loosen up and run a little better."
Black Hawk junior Hayden Schliem won the high jump (5 feet, 10 inches) and the 400 (:53.12). Schliem edged Monroe freshman Jake Hirsbrunner in the high jump. Hirsbrunner also cleared 5-10, but Schliem won on a tiebreaker.
"That was unexpected," Black Hawk coach Cory Milz said of Schliem winning the high jump. "He (Schliem) has some natural jumping ability. His technique needs work."
Hirsbrunner was just a week removed from clearing 6-4.
"Today, it was just kind of an off day," Hirsbrunner said. "I had a big day at the dual with Monona Grove, Milton and Edgewood. I had a lot of momentum coming in."
Hirsbrunner said his goal at the start of the season was to make 6-2, qualify for state, and get into the top five all-time freshmen chart in the high jump.
"I just wanted to get 6-2," he said. "I never really thought about it (6-4). Now I have to set my goal at 6-6."
Schliem finished just ahead of Pecatonica-Argyle senior Lucas Stoehr in the 400.
"His goal is to run a 51.5," Milz said of Schliem. "I think he is capable of that. It was kind of an upset that he beat Stoehr."
Black Hawk senior Jacob Meier won the long jump (20-4) well ahead of Pecatonica-Argyle senior Charlie Rubio, who was second (18-1 1/2). Black Hawk senior Michael Wolff took first in the in the triple jump (40-1 1/2) and Meier was second (38-9). Black Hawk freshman Jayden Rufenacht won the 100 (:11.38) and senior Bryant Luhman won the shot put (44-6 1/4).
Darlington junior Mitchell Langkamp finished first in the 200 (:23.60) and junior Levi Wedig won the pole vault (11-0).
The Redbirds' 400 relay team of Cody Erickson, Wedig, Dylan Nyffenegger and Storm Wiegel finished first with a time of 47.71 seconds. In the 800 relay, the Redbirds' team of Erickson, Wedig, Langkamp and Wiegel won with a time of 1:36.19, which was just ahead of second place Pecatonica-Argyle (1:37.63).
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Wyatt Massey finished first in the 800 (2:03.73). The Vikings' 1,600 relay team of Stoehr, Nate Leonard, Nathan Loyd and Marcus Rubio finished first with a time of 3:38.39, which was just ahead of Darlington (3:38.59). The Redbirds also added a second place in the 3,200 relay (8:28.19).
Darlington freshman Kyle Johnson took second in the 110 hurdles (:17.76) and Darlington junior Kent Miehe took second in the 1,600, with a time of 4:45.91. Black Hawk junior Kyle Woodruff finished second in the 300 hurdles by about one second ahead of Johnson.
In the girls meet, Black Hawk senior Rachel Rygh took first in the 100 (:12.95) and the 400 (1:03.97). She added a second place in the 200 (27.84). In the 400, Rygh's finish was only one second ahead of Darlington senior Kayla Lange.
Darlington sophomore Cassidy Chambers won the high jump (4-8), senior Chelsea Fortin took first in the pole vault (9-0) and Darlington junior Alix Brandt won the 100 hurdles (:17.59).
The Redbirds' 800 relay team including Claire Scott, Brandt, Hannah Huffman and Chayse Hermanson finished first with a time of 1:54.04, which was about four seconds ahead of Pecatonica-Argyle. The trio of Hermanson, Huffman and Scott teamed with Carly Reilly to win the 1,600 relay with a time of 4:26.28, which was well ahead of second place Pecatonica-Argyle (4:40.98). The Redbirds also took second in the 3,200 relay (10:39.88).
Darlington senior McKenzie Pickett finished second in the shot put (35-5) and junior Hailey McGowan took second in the discus (94-4). Huffman took second in the long jump (14-4), Hermanson was third in the triple jump (30-1 1/2) and Hannah Robiolio was third in the 3,200 (12:47) for the Redbirds.
Pecatonica-Argyle junior Kendra Sigg finished third in the 1,600 (5:35.67) and fourth in the 800 (2:36.11).
Monroe coach Curt Miller said the meet is an opportunity for younger athletes and JV runners a chance to compete.
"It's a chance for them to compete against invitational competition," Miller said. "Our area has some very good track and field teams. It's an opportunity to come and see some teams and get experience for some of these kids who next year will be competing in varsity type invitationals."
