MONROE - Sophomore Jordan Hirsbrunner doesn't want to put more pressure on herself to have a season-best jump in the high jump at the WIAA Division 2 state track meet today.
Hirsbrunner enters the state championships tied for the second best jump (5 feet, 5 inches) along with East Troy's Hope Schneider. Martin Luther sophomore Brooke Blazei has the best qualifying jump from the sectional (5-6) heading into state.
"I think it's a really nice opportunity to compete at the state track meet," Hirsbrunner said. "I just want to come here and do my best."
Hirsbrunner has big expectations, but with the unpredictable weather and other factors, she understands there are no guarantees at state in the high jump.
"My goal is to medal," she said. "There is always a chance for anything to happen."
Hirsbrunner has rested most of the week to keep her legs fresh for the state meet.
"I just want to be jumping like I have been jumping the last couple of meets," she said. I know where I'm seeded and what I have to do."
Hirsbrunner is also the eighth seed in the 300-meter hurdles (46.59). She is coming off a season-best time in the 300 hurdles at the Viroqua sectional.
"I think my goals and an accomplishment would be to make the finals," Hirsbrunner said of the 300 hurdles. "I just want to run the hurdles like I have been running. The key is to keep a good pace up, run hard between the hurdles and attack every hurdle with my dominant foot."
Monroe girls track coach Matt Davis said a good goal for Hirsbrunner would be making it to the finals in the 300 hurdles.
"The longer the race the more unpredictable it us," Davis said. "If she can make it to the finals I'm confident good things will certainly happen. She has a good chance of medaling and getting on the podium."
Other medal hopefuls are Brodhead-Juda freshman Madee Harding, who has the third fastest qualifying time in the 400 (59.09) and Sugar River sophomore Krista Diaz, who has the fourth-fastest qualifying time in the 100 hurdles (15.54). Sugar River sophomore Noelle Marie has the sixth-best time in the 3,200 (11:25.65). Brodhead-Juda freshman Cora Purdue (800) and junior teammate Taylor Bluemel (1,600) also are looking to medal.
The Cheesmakers' 3,200 relay team of junior Isabel Bazley, freshman Mya Waterman, freshman Rachel Meier and sophomore Ciara Kaderly is a special state qualifier, but the relay is seeded seventh (9 minutes, 45.84 seconds). The top six relays medal.
"If they are going to run like they did the other day (at the Viroqua sectional), I think they have a chance to medal," Davis said. "They could have the meet of their lives or it could go the other way. I think the key will be if they can hit their pace on each lap. If they can use other teams to drive them, they will be O.K."
The Monroe boys 3,200 relay team of freshman Dylan Scace, junior Thang Lu, freshman Jonah Tostrud and senior Cody Faust are the seventh seed (8:08.73). The No. 1 seed in the 3,200 relay is Shorewood (7:59.61). The Cheesemakers have made five straight trips to state in the 3,200 relay and have won the state title three of the last four years. The Cheesemakers last year were the state runner-up in the 3,200 relay.
"It's to try to run better than sectionals," Monroe boys track coach Curt Miller said. "If they can come up to the state meet and run their best time of the year, we would consider that a success. The target we put out there is if we can run 8:04 we could medal. It's about one second faster per guy than sectionals. That is a very attainable goal.
"All four of them are excited to be here. It's Cody's last meet as a Cheesemaker. All four of them are really excited about the opportunity to compete."
Brodhead-Juda senior Logan Maurer is the defending state champion in both the shot put and discus. He enters the state meet as the No. 1 seed in the discus (171-2) and the fifth seed in the shot put (52-5). Sugar River junior Landon Zimmerman is the fifth seed in the discus (163-10).
Hirsbrunner enters the state championships tied for the second best jump (5 feet, 5 inches) along with East Troy's Hope Schneider. Martin Luther sophomore Brooke Blazei has the best qualifying jump from the sectional (5-6) heading into state.
"I think it's a really nice opportunity to compete at the state track meet," Hirsbrunner said. "I just want to come here and do my best."
Hirsbrunner has big expectations, but with the unpredictable weather and other factors, she understands there are no guarantees at state in the high jump.
"My goal is to medal," she said. "There is always a chance for anything to happen."
Hirsbrunner has rested most of the week to keep her legs fresh for the state meet.
"I just want to be jumping like I have been jumping the last couple of meets," she said. I know where I'm seeded and what I have to do."
Hirsbrunner is also the eighth seed in the 300-meter hurdles (46.59). She is coming off a season-best time in the 300 hurdles at the Viroqua sectional.
"I think my goals and an accomplishment would be to make the finals," Hirsbrunner said of the 300 hurdles. "I just want to run the hurdles like I have been running. The key is to keep a good pace up, run hard between the hurdles and attack every hurdle with my dominant foot."
Monroe girls track coach Matt Davis said a good goal for Hirsbrunner would be making it to the finals in the 300 hurdles.
"The longer the race the more unpredictable it us," Davis said. "If she can make it to the finals I'm confident good things will certainly happen. She has a good chance of medaling and getting on the podium."
Other medal hopefuls are Brodhead-Juda freshman Madee Harding, who has the third fastest qualifying time in the 400 (59.09) and Sugar River sophomore Krista Diaz, who has the fourth-fastest qualifying time in the 100 hurdles (15.54). Sugar River sophomore Noelle Marie has the sixth-best time in the 3,200 (11:25.65). Brodhead-Juda freshman Cora Purdue (800) and junior teammate Taylor Bluemel (1,600) also are looking to medal.
The Cheesmakers' 3,200 relay team of junior Isabel Bazley, freshman Mya Waterman, freshman Rachel Meier and sophomore Ciara Kaderly is a special state qualifier, but the relay is seeded seventh (9 minutes, 45.84 seconds). The top six relays medal.
"If they are going to run like they did the other day (at the Viroqua sectional), I think they have a chance to medal," Davis said. "They could have the meet of their lives or it could go the other way. I think the key will be if they can hit their pace on each lap. If they can use other teams to drive them, they will be O.K."
The Monroe boys 3,200 relay team of freshman Dylan Scace, junior Thang Lu, freshman Jonah Tostrud and senior Cody Faust are the seventh seed (8:08.73). The No. 1 seed in the 3,200 relay is Shorewood (7:59.61). The Cheesemakers have made five straight trips to state in the 3,200 relay and have won the state title three of the last four years. The Cheesemakers last year were the state runner-up in the 3,200 relay.
"It's to try to run better than sectionals," Monroe boys track coach Curt Miller said. "If they can come up to the state meet and run their best time of the year, we would consider that a success. The target we put out there is if we can run 8:04 we could medal. It's about one second faster per guy than sectionals. That is a very attainable goal.
"All four of them are excited to be here. It's Cody's last meet as a Cheesemaker. All four of them are really excited about the opportunity to compete."
Brodhead-Juda senior Logan Maurer is the defending state champion in both the shot put and discus. He enters the state meet as the No. 1 seed in the discus (171-2) and the fifth seed in the shot put (52-5). Sugar River junior Landon Zimmerman is the fifth seed in the discus (163-10).
