WISCONSIN RAPIDS - It was a mix of emotions for Darlington cross country coach Arnie Miehe at the WIAA Division 3 state cross country meet on Saturday.
The Darlington boys cross country team had five of the top 16 runners in the team scoring and repeated as Division 3 state champions 50-99 over Boscobel at the Ridges Golf Course. The Darlington girls, who were looking to bring home the first girls state championship in the school's history, finished as the state runner-up, 110-108 to Spring Valley.
Miehe was proud the program was able to bring home gold and silver trophies.
"When you are the defending state champion and ranked No. 1, it's tough to go up there with those expectations sometimes," Miehe said. "They ran like champions. They met the challenge. For me as a coach, it's weird and odd. To be within two points of having that dream (girls state title) come true, they were crushed. You are celebrating on one side and crushed on the other."
Darlington junior Tyson Miehe repeated as the state champion with a time of 15 minutes, 51.94 seconds in the 5,000-meter run. Senior Quinn Cullen finished eighth (16:58.89) and senior Garth Garrison took 10th (17:03.80).
"It was a feeling of deja vu," Tyson Miehe said. "It's as good as last year. We finally fulfilled what we set out to do."
Senior Kyle Schulte took 15th (17:15.74) and sophomore Thomas Schultz was 16th (17:16.36). The Redbirds as a team averaged four seconds faster at state this year compared to last year.
Tyson Miehe led the race for the first two miles. Kenosha St. Joseph's Kevin started surging after the two-mile mark and took the lead. Miehe made his move at about the half-mile mark and cruised to the title by about 23 seconds.
"When he did that, I knew he made the move too early," Tyson said. "I was beat going across the finish line. Hopefully, next year I can go for a three-peat. I'm going to set that as my goal to work towards."
Albany sophomore Aaron Johnson took 62nd (17:46.21) in his first state appearance.
The Redbird girls were led by senior Christa Wamsley who finished eighth overall with a time of 15:20.21. Senior Harley Douglas took 23rd (15:52.46). Seniors Rebecca Mathias took 55th (16:39.60) followed by senior Cheyenne Wolfe who took 56th (16:41.23) and junior Claire Cullen finished 65th (16:50.13).
"This (state championship) is what they have put so much into it," Arnie Miehe said. "This has been the talk and the dream. This year everything came together. When it flashed up on the scoreboard, they were crushed. You can't talk them out of being disappointed. You just have to let it settle. You realize it's what you accomplished. I wanted them to look and see they were the first team to bring home a state cross country trophy."
Albany junior Bailey Hlavachek, a two-time state qualifier, took 44th (16:19.91).
The Darlington boys cross country team had five of the top 16 runners in the team scoring and repeated as Division 3 state champions 50-99 over Boscobel at the Ridges Golf Course. The Darlington girls, who were looking to bring home the first girls state championship in the school's history, finished as the state runner-up, 110-108 to Spring Valley.
Miehe was proud the program was able to bring home gold and silver trophies.
"When you are the defending state champion and ranked No. 1, it's tough to go up there with those expectations sometimes," Miehe said. "They ran like champions. They met the challenge. For me as a coach, it's weird and odd. To be within two points of having that dream (girls state title) come true, they were crushed. You are celebrating on one side and crushed on the other."
Darlington junior Tyson Miehe repeated as the state champion with a time of 15 minutes, 51.94 seconds in the 5,000-meter run. Senior Quinn Cullen finished eighth (16:58.89) and senior Garth Garrison took 10th (17:03.80).
"It was a feeling of deja vu," Tyson Miehe said. "It's as good as last year. We finally fulfilled what we set out to do."
Senior Kyle Schulte took 15th (17:15.74) and sophomore Thomas Schultz was 16th (17:16.36). The Redbirds as a team averaged four seconds faster at state this year compared to last year.
Tyson Miehe led the race for the first two miles. Kenosha St. Joseph's Kevin started surging after the two-mile mark and took the lead. Miehe made his move at about the half-mile mark and cruised to the title by about 23 seconds.
"When he did that, I knew he made the move too early," Tyson said. "I was beat going across the finish line. Hopefully, next year I can go for a three-peat. I'm going to set that as my goal to work towards."
Albany sophomore Aaron Johnson took 62nd (17:46.21) in his first state appearance.
The Redbird girls were led by senior Christa Wamsley who finished eighth overall with a time of 15:20.21. Senior Harley Douglas took 23rd (15:52.46). Seniors Rebecca Mathias took 55th (16:39.60) followed by senior Cheyenne Wolfe who took 56th (16:41.23) and junior Claire Cullen finished 65th (16:50.13).
"This (state championship) is what they have put so much into it," Arnie Miehe said. "This has been the talk and the dream. This year everything came together. When it flashed up on the scoreboard, they were crushed. You can't talk them out of being disappointed. You just have to let it settle. You realize it's what you accomplished. I wanted them to look and see they were the first team to bring home a state cross country trophy."
Albany junior Bailey Hlavachek, a two-time state qualifier, took 44th (16:19.91).
