MONROE - The rain was about the only thing that could come close to Brett DeNure as he made his way around the track Friday.
"I just try to do my best," DeNure said as he caught his breath after the race.
His best is what he showed Friday at the 42nd Annual Simpson Relays at Monroe High School.
The fleet-footed junior left his competition far behind as he crossed the finish line to give the Cheesemakers a first-place finish in the 1600-meter medley.
DeNure, who has battled a nagging hamstring injury, received high-fives and pats on the back from his teammates as he walked off the track.
"It feels perfect," he said of his hamstring after the race. "I wasn't worried about it at all."
DeNure ran the 800-meter leg of the race after Tad Christen ran the 200 dash to start, Jordan Steiner took over for another 200 and Caleb Ahrens kept the race within DeNure's sure-fire grip.
The 800 is not a race DeNure typically runs, but the track event provided him a chance to do something different.
"We try to get the runners to run different events," coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "We wanted to see what he could do in the half mile."
Hirsbrunner said he wasn't worried about DeNure's legs holding up in the race.
"He's in much better shape," the coach said.
The relay marked the only first-place finish for the boys, who placed fifth with 54 points.
The girls also came away with one gold and placed fourth as a team with 57 points. Sun Prairie took both titles with 87 and 101 points, respectively.
Both the boys' and girls' teams had to battle on-again, off-again rain during the night but still many Cheesmakers went home with personal bests.
The girls captured first in the hurdle shuttle as Meghan Birt, Claire Wyttenbach and Paige Hoesly combined for 53.3 seconds. The Lady Cheesemakers achieved two second-place finishes and three thirds. Meaghan Tomasiewicz, Calyn Bidlingmaier, Stephanie Wyss Birt, Hoesly and Wyttenbach were all involved in top-3 finishes.
"Meghan Birt had a great meet and it's nice to see her healthy and ready to have a great year," girls coach Curt Miller said.
Tomasiewicz, Wyss and Bidlingmaier combined for 14 feet, 4 inches to take second in the high jump relay and Shelbey Metcalf, Carmen Lawver and Tabatha Huber stacked up an incredible 268 feet, 8 inches in the discus relay, also good for second.
The boys took just one silver medal as Kyle Klein, Cullen Sampson, Christen and DeNure finished second in the 1600 relay.
Monroe placed third in the 800, high jump, shot put and discus medleys. Lucas Leu and Luke Voegeli were members of both throwing trios.
The Cheesemakers hope for more success and dryer surfaces Tuesday night at home against Badger Conference rivals McFarland and Madison Edgewood.
"I just try to do my best," DeNure said as he caught his breath after the race.
His best is what he showed Friday at the 42nd Annual Simpson Relays at Monroe High School.
The fleet-footed junior left his competition far behind as he crossed the finish line to give the Cheesemakers a first-place finish in the 1600-meter medley.
DeNure, who has battled a nagging hamstring injury, received high-fives and pats on the back from his teammates as he walked off the track.
"It feels perfect," he said of his hamstring after the race. "I wasn't worried about it at all."
DeNure ran the 800-meter leg of the race after Tad Christen ran the 200 dash to start, Jordan Steiner took over for another 200 and Caleb Ahrens kept the race within DeNure's sure-fire grip.
The 800 is not a race DeNure typically runs, but the track event provided him a chance to do something different.
"We try to get the runners to run different events," coach Dave Hirsbrunner said. "We wanted to see what he could do in the half mile."
Hirsbrunner said he wasn't worried about DeNure's legs holding up in the race.
"He's in much better shape," the coach said.
The relay marked the only first-place finish for the boys, who placed fifth with 54 points.
The girls also came away with one gold and placed fourth as a team with 57 points. Sun Prairie took both titles with 87 and 101 points, respectively.
Both the boys' and girls' teams had to battle on-again, off-again rain during the night but still many Cheesmakers went home with personal bests.
The girls captured first in the hurdle shuttle as Meghan Birt, Claire Wyttenbach and Paige Hoesly combined for 53.3 seconds. The Lady Cheesemakers achieved two second-place finishes and three thirds. Meaghan Tomasiewicz, Calyn Bidlingmaier, Stephanie Wyss Birt, Hoesly and Wyttenbach were all involved in top-3 finishes.
"Meghan Birt had a great meet and it's nice to see her healthy and ready to have a great year," girls coach Curt Miller said.
Tomasiewicz, Wyss and Bidlingmaier combined for 14 feet, 4 inches to take second in the high jump relay and Shelbey Metcalf, Carmen Lawver and Tabatha Huber stacked up an incredible 268 feet, 8 inches in the discus relay, also good for second.
The boys took just one silver medal as Kyle Klein, Cullen Sampson, Christen and DeNure finished second in the 1600 relay.
Monroe placed third in the 800, high jump, shot put and discus medleys. Lucas Leu and Luke Voegeli were members of both throwing trios.
The Cheesemakers hope for more success and dryer surfaces Tuesday night at home against Badger Conference rivals McFarland and Madison Edgewood.
