PLATTEVILLE - Both the Sugar River boys and girls track teams finished second place in the small school division of the season-opening Tri State Invite at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Saturday.
Lancaster edged the Sugar River boys 79.5-76 for the team title. Northeast outdueled the Sugar River girls 84-76 for the championship.
"I was hoping the boys could pull it off," Sugar River coach Dan Schettler said. "It was a pretty competitive 18-team meet.
"We had a pretty good day. As coaches, we were happy. It was a good start," he said.
Sugar River junior Garrison Woods won the long jump (19 feet, 9 inches) and the triple jump (41-8). He also posted a third place in the high jump (6-0).
"I think he is a little disappointed he didn't go further," Schettler said. "With the weather, that was his first approach in the long jump and triple jump this year. Going almost 20 feet in the long jump and 42 in the triple jump is a pretty good start."
Area track runners dominated the long distance events. Sugar River senior Ryan McCoy finished first in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4 minutes, 28.76 seconds, which was just ahead of Darlington junior Tyson Miehe who finished second (4:29.19). La Crosse Aquinas' Michael Christianson, who won the state championship two years ago, took third. Sugar River's Alexander Yeiser took fourth (4:54.25).
"It was a good race between those three," Schettler said of McCoy, Miehe and Christianson. "That will probably be the top time in the state after the first weekend of track."
Darlington senior Quinn Cullen finished first in the 800 (2:04.4) and McCoy took third (2:06.12). Albany's Brennan Bloedel took first in the 3,200 with a time of 10:42.82, which was less than one second ahead of Darlington's Garth Garrison, who finished second (10:49.44). Sugar River's Tucker McMahan took fourth (11:08.50).
The Redbirds won the 3,200 relay (8:42.82), which was about seven seconds ahead of the Raiders who took second (8:49.94).
Brodhead-Juda sophomore Logan Maurer won the shot put (45-8 3/4) and Sugar River freshman Landon Zimmerman finished fifth (41-10 3/4).
"He's just a freshman and doesn't have the glide step down yet," Schettler said. "Throwing almost 42 feet in his first meet was a surprise."
Darlington's Kyle Johnson had the fastest qualifying time in the 55 hurdles, but finished second in the finals (:8.32), which was 0.08 seconds away from champion Jordan Eildes of Lena-Winslow.
Brodhead-Juda's Matt Speckman finished sixth in the long jump (18-5) and Jordan Douglas took sixth in the triple jump (37-11).
In the girls competition, Sugar River's Alexis Hanson won the 55 dash (:7.72) and took second in the 200 (:28.22). Sugar River senior Madeline Brunner finished first in the 1,00 (5:37.44), which was about three seconds ahead of La Crosse Aquinas' Jennifer Lichter.
"After pulling her hamstring, she wants to come out and do really well," Schettler said. "I'm hoping she can keep improving."
Hanson and Brunner were also key in the success of the 1,600 relay team.
"She (Brunner) has done a lot of work in the offseason," he said. "She wants to make her senior year successful. She looks like she did that."
Sugar River sophomore Bri Roska took first in the 3,200 (13:23.25) and Darlington senior Claire Cullen was second (13:36.65). Sugar River's Emily Diaz finished third in the 55 dash (:7.95) and third in the 55 hurdles (:9.55).
"She (Roska) put in a lot of miles in the winter," Schettler said. "She looks really good."
The Raiders' 1,600 relay team finished second and the 3,200 relay team took fourth. Sugar River's Sofia Julian took third in the pole vault (7-0).
Albany junior Bailey Hlavachek finished third in the 800 (2:28.36) and sixth in the 1,600 (5:57.93).
Brodhead-Juda's Gene Balch finished second in the pole vault (7-6) and Carly Mohns was second in the shot put (36-1 1/2). The Cardinals' 3,200 relay team finished third place (10:50.43), fourth in the 800 relay (2:02.66) and fourth in the 1,600 relay (4:35.9).
Darlington senior Claire Scott finished third in the triple jump (29-7). Darlington senior Cassidy Chambers took third in the high jump (4-10) and senior Abigail Merriam was fourth in the high jump (4-10). The Redbirds finished second in the 3,200 relay (10:45.83) and fifth in the 1,600 relay (4:36.14).
Lancaster edged the Sugar River boys 79.5-76 for the team title. Northeast outdueled the Sugar River girls 84-76 for the championship.
"I was hoping the boys could pull it off," Sugar River coach Dan Schettler said. "It was a pretty competitive 18-team meet.
"We had a pretty good day. As coaches, we were happy. It was a good start," he said.
Sugar River junior Garrison Woods won the long jump (19 feet, 9 inches) and the triple jump (41-8). He also posted a third place in the high jump (6-0).
"I think he is a little disappointed he didn't go further," Schettler said. "With the weather, that was his first approach in the long jump and triple jump this year. Going almost 20 feet in the long jump and 42 in the triple jump is a pretty good start."
Area track runners dominated the long distance events. Sugar River senior Ryan McCoy finished first in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4 minutes, 28.76 seconds, which was just ahead of Darlington junior Tyson Miehe who finished second (4:29.19). La Crosse Aquinas' Michael Christianson, who won the state championship two years ago, took third. Sugar River's Alexander Yeiser took fourth (4:54.25).
"It was a good race between those three," Schettler said of McCoy, Miehe and Christianson. "That will probably be the top time in the state after the first weekend of track."
Darlington senior Quinn Cullen finished first in the 800 (2:04.4) and McCoy took third (2:06.12). Albany's Brennan Bloedel took first in the 3,200 with a time of 10:42.82, which was less than one second ahead of Darlington's Garth Garrison, who finished second (10:49.44). Sugar River's Tucker McMahan took fourth (11:08.50).
The Redbirds won the 3,200 relay (8:42.82), which was about seven seconds ahead of the Raiders who took second (8:49.94).
Brodhead-Juda sophomore Logan Maurer won the shot put (45-8 3/4) and Sugar River freshman Landon Zimmerman finished fifth (41-10 3/4).
"He's just a freshman and doesn't have the glide step down yet," Schettler said. "Throwing almost 42 feet in his first meet was a surprise."
Darlington's Kyle Johnson had the fastest qualifying time in the 55 hurdles, but finished second in the finals (:8.32), which was 0.08 seconds away from champion Jordan Eildes of Lena-Winslow.
Brodhead-Juda's Matt Speckman finished sixth in the long jump (18-5) and Jordan Douglas took sixth in the triple jump (37-11).
In the girls competition, Sugar River's Alexis Hanson won the 55 dash (:7.72) and took second in the 200 (:28.22). Sugar River senior Madeline Brunner finished first in the 1,00 (5:37.44), which was about three seconds ahead of La Crosse Aquinas' Jennifer Lichter.
"After pulling her hamstring, she wants to come out and do really well," Schettler said. "I'm hoping she can keep improving."
Hanson and Brunner were also key in the success of the 1,600 relay team.
"She (Brunner) has done a lot of work in the offseason," he said. "She wants to make her senior year successful. She looks like she did that."
Sugar River sophomore Bri Roska took first in the 3,200 (13:23.25) and Darlington senior Claire Cullen was second (13:36.65). Sugar River's Emily Diaz finished third in the 55 dash (:7.95) and third in the 55 hurdles (:9.55).
"She (Roska) put in a lot of miles in the winter," Schettler said. "She looks really good."
The Raiders' 1,600 relay team finished second and the 3,200 relay team took fourth. Sugar River's Sofia Julian took third in the pole vault (7-0).
Albany junior Bailey Hlavachek finished third in the 800 (2:28.36) and sixth in the 1,600 (5:57.93).
Brodhead-Juda's Gene Balch finished second in the pole vault (7-6) and Carly Mohns was second in the shot put (36-1 1/2). The Cardinals' 3,200 relay team finished third place (10:50.43), fourth in the 800 relay (2:02.66) and fourth in the 1,600 relay (4:35.9).
Darlington senior Claire Scott finished third in the triple jump (29-7). Darlington senior Cassidy Chambers took third in the high jump (4-10) and senior Abigail Merriam was fourth in the high jump (4-10). The Redbirds finished second in the 3,200 relay (10:45.83) and fifth in the 1,600 relay (4:36.14).
