MONROE - New Glarus-Monticello senior Madeline Brunner's dreams of running at the state cross country meet were dashed after she finished 16th at the WIAA Division 2 Monroe sectional on Saturday at Twining Park.
Brunner finished the 4K course in 16 minutes, 51 seconds, which was 22 seconds away from qualifying for state.
"It's been a long season," Brunner said. "I was building towards today. I knew I would have to run a lot faster than I have all year. I have been struggling all year with the mental part of racing. I just didn't get it done."
New Glarus-Monticello coach Steve Wehrley said Brunner, who was the conference champion, left her mark.
"What Madeline doesn't see now is she set the training, eating and sleeping standard," Wehrley said. "She doesn't know it, but she has a six-year influence about what happens to our program."
Dodgeville-Mineral Point won the sectional title 34-76 over Madison Edgewood. New Glarus-Monticello finished fifth (186), Monroe took eighth (223) and Brodhead-Juda was 12th (279) at the 15-team meet.
New Glarus-Monticello senior Anna Cruse took 27th (17:18) followed by junior Carly Duerst, 45th (18:01); freshman Kerry McCoy, 47th (18:04) and sophomore Sam Barr, 51st (18:13).
Monroe junior Therese Hughes finished 29th (17:31) to lead the Cheesemakers. Junior Nicole Witt finished 44th (17:58), sophomore Kelley Baumann took 48th (18:05) and freshman Kayla Einbeck was 49th (18:06). Sophomore Alyssa Dale took 53rd (18:16) to round out the top five for the Cheesemakers.
"At the last 800 I gave it all I had because this is the last meet of the season," Witt said.
Witt said running the sectional at Twining Park gave the Cheesemakers a lot of confidence.
Monroe set a goal of finishing in the top half of the sectional and they accomplished that feat.
"We knew we couldn't compete with the top teams," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "I thought our girls really battled hard the second half of the race."
Hirsbrunner said Hughes ran a great race and finished about where she should have.
"She wanted a crack at being a state qualifier," he said.
The Cheesemakers made some big improvements this season and used different racing strategies.
"We went out strong," Hirsbrunner said. "We are focusing on being stronger in the middle and end of the race."
Brodhead-Juda freshman Taylor Bluemel took 20th with a time of 17:03 and junior Morganne Goecks finished 30th (17:32). Freshman Danielle Dieckhoff took 71st (18:56), junior Camilla Klar finished 74th (19:13) and freshman Hayley Shelton was 84th (19:37).
Witt is already looking forward to next year.
"I think if we work hard together in the summer it will really pay off and we will be able to do better than we have," she said.
Brunner finished the 4K course in 16 minutes, 51 seconds, which was 22 seconds away from qualifying for state.
"It's been a long season," Brunner said. "I was building towards today. I knew I would have to run a lot faster than I have all year. I have been struggling all year with the mental part of racing. I just didn't get it done."
New Glarus-Monticello coach Steve Wehrley said Brunner, who was the conference champion, left her mark.
"What Madeline doesn't see now is she set the training, eating and sleeping standard," Wehrley said. "She doesn't know it, but she has a six-year influence about what happens to our program."
Dodgeville-Mineral Point won the sectional title 34-76 over Madison Edgewood. New Glarus-Monticello finished fifth (186), Monroe took eighth (223) and Brodhead-Juda was 12th (279) at the 15-team meet.
New Glarus-Monticello senior Anna Cruse took 27th (17:18) followed by junior Carly Duerst, 45th (18:01); freshman Kerry McCoy, 47th (18:04) and sophomore Sam Barr, 51st (18:13).
Monroe junior Therese Hughes finished 29th (17:31) to lead the Cheesemakers. Junior Nicole Witt finished 44th (17:58), sophomore Kelley Baumann took 48th (18:05) and freshman Kayla Einbeck was 49th (18:06). Sophomore Alyssa Dale took 53rd (18:16) to round out the top five for the Cheesemakers.
"At the last 800 I gave it all I had because this is the last meet of the season," Witt said.
Witt said running the sectional at Twining Park gave the Cheesemakers a lot of confidence.
Monroe set a goal of finishing in the top half of the sectional and they accomplished that feat.
"We knew we couldn't compete with the top teams," Monroe coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "I thought our girls really battled hard the second half of the race."
Hirsbrunner said Hughes ran a great race and finished about where she should have.
"She wanted a crack at being a state qualifier," he said.
The Cheesemakers made some big improvements this season and used different racing strategies.
"We went out strong," Hirsbrunner said. "We are focusing on being stronger in the middle and end of the race."
Brodhead-Juda freshman Taylor Bluemel took 20th with a time of 17:03 and junior Morganne Goecks finished 30th (17:32). Freshman Danielle Dieckhoff took 71st (18:56), junior Camilla Klar finished 74th (19:13) and freshman Hayley Shelton was 84th (19:37).
Witt is already looking forward to next year.
"I think if we work hard together in the summer it will really pay off and we will be able to do better than we have," she said.
