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Friday, May 31, 2024

State Track & Field Championships Preview

THE STATE MEET:  The 128th Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Track and Field Championships and the 53rd Girls Track and Field Championships will be held Friday-Saturday, May 31-June 1, at the Veterans Memorial Stadium Complex on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

MEET INFORMATION:  The meet features two sessions Friday. The Division 1 session begins at 9:30 a.m. with the competition proceeding in the order of events, which can be found on the Track & Field Tournament page on the WIAA website. The Divisions 2 and 3 session begins at 3 p.m. The competition resumes Saturday at 9:30 a.m. The order of the finals for each event Saturday begins with Division 3, followed by Divisions 2 and then Division 1.

TICKET INFORMATION:  The ticket price for the State Track & Field Championships is $11 per session plus online fees. Tickets are available to be purchased online on the WIAA website through GoFan, the WIAA ticketing partner, at:  https://gofan.co/app/school/WIAAWI?activity=Track%20and%20Field.

MEET LIVE ON WIAA.TV:  The live stream of the State Meet will be produced by Rush Media on the WIAA.TV portal of the NFHS Network. To purchase a subscription to the live programming, log-on to www.wiaa.tv and click on the subscription image on the home page.

2023 TEAM RESULTS-BOYS:  Arrowhead won a share of the Division 1 championship for the third consecutive season by compiling 47 team points, which tied Stevens Point. Lakeside Lutheran claimed the Division 2 team title by compiling 45 points, which was two points better than runner-up Shorewood with 43 points. In Division 3, Shiocton secured the crown by scoring 38 points, and Athens placed second for the second straight season, compiling 32 points. Marquette won the team championship in the wheelchair competition by compiling 32 points, and Marathon was runner-up with 30 points.

2023 TEAM RESULTS-GIRLS:  In Division 1, DeForest won the team championship by accumulating 46 points, and Muskego was second with 41.5 team points. Osceola earned the title in Division 2 with 50 points in the meet, and Rice Lake placed second with 43 points. Fall Creek captured the Division 3 title with 55 points. Chequamegon and Lancaster both finished a distant second with 28 points. Turner won the wheelchair team title for the third straight season, tallying 40 points. Sparta was second with 24 points.

BY THE NUMBERS-BOYS:  Whitefish Bay has won the most boys team championships with 18, 16 of them coming consecutively from 1937-52. Milwaukee Riverside and Kohler are second with 16 titles each. Only two competitors have ever won the same individual event four times. Dave Greenwood of Park Falls won four titles in the high jump from 1976-79, and Paul Annear of Richland Center repeated the feat in the same event from 2005-08. Three individuals have won four relay titles in the same relay. Kevin Bledsoe of Milwaukee South did it in the 400 relay (1984-87) as did Josh Dickerson of D.C. Everest (1993-96) and Greg Bracey of Milwaukee Vincent (2000-03). Justin Austin of Brown Deer (2005-08) holds the boys record for the most titles won by an individual in a career with nine. Darrell Jansen of Kimberly (1958-60) and Annear have won eight championships. Four others have won seven titles. Only Alvin Kraenzlein of Milwaukee East has won five State titles in one meet (1895), and Andrew Rock of Stratford is the only other athlete to win four State titles in the same year (2000). Joe Schubert of Marquette is the only wheelchair competitor to win the same event four times. He did it in both the 100 and 400 races (2014-17). He leads all wheelchair participants with 10 total championships. Milwaukee South lays claim to the most event titles throughout the history of the meet with 99. Whitefish Bay is second with 97.

BY THE NUMBERS-GIRLS:  Madison West and Rosholt have won the most girls’ team titles with six. Three of West’s titles came in succession from 1980-82. Arcadia, Marathon, Nekoosa and Waukesha West have won five titles with Edgar, Madison Memorial, Milwaukee Bradley, Milwaukee King, Prairie du Chien and Whitewater are next on the list with four. Twenty-four girls have won the same event four times during their career. Kennedy Blahnik of Algoma, Cami Davre of Whitefish Bay, Bonnie Draxler of Wrightstown, Joanna Schultz of Holmen and Molly Seidel of University Lake School are the only athletes to accomplish the feat in two different events. Blahnik won the discus and shot put from 2011-14; Davre won the gold in the 800 and 1,600 runs from 2014-17; Draxler won the 400 dash and pole vault from 2011-14; Schultz captured the titles in the 200 and 400 dashes from 2003-06; and Seidel won the 1,600 and 3,200 runs from 2009-12. Davre, Draxler, Jaclynn Kriegl of Florence, and both Elizabeth Pospyhalla and Tess Thurs of Edgar hold the record for the most championships won in a career by an individual with 10. Dana Collins of Milwaukee Marshall, Heather Hyland of Nekoosa and Jenni Westphal of Marinette are next in line with nine. Edgar has won the most events in the history of the meet with 42 titles. Madison Memorial is next on the list with 35.

DIVISION 1 NOTES - BOYS:   Arrowhead has the most entries in the meet with 17, including representation in 14 individual events and three relays. De Pere and Menomonee Falls are next with 12 entries. The Redbirds have entries in 11 individual events and one relay, while the Phoenix has representation in nine individual events and three relays. Four individual events and three relays have their champions from last year returning this year. Senior Ben Smith of Hortonville is the two-time returning champion in the shot put. He will be among the contenders for the title again this year after qualifying with the second-furthest sectional throw of 65-7 1/2. In addition, he looks to recapture the gold medal in the discus this year. He earned the championship in 2022 and was runner-up last season, despite eclipsing the former State record in the event. He has the second-best throw qualifying distance this year at 208-0. The top qualifier in the event this season is senior Bryce Ruland of Waterford, the defending champion in the event. He set the State record last season and will threaten that mark again, entering the competition with a qualifying mark of 213.0 at sectionals. Senior Nathan Taylor of Menomonee Falls returns to the 110 hurdles after winning the title last year. He has the eighth-quickest qualifying time this season at 14.99. Senior Logan Hicks of Arrowhead appears poised to contend for his second straight championship in the 300 hurdles with the fastest qualifying time of 37.92. He should also contend with Taylor for the title in the 110 hurdles with the fastest-qualifying time of 14.21 after finishing third last year. The four-time qualifier in the event also finished fourth in 2021 and 2022. The Kaukauna 400 relay has qualified this year with a time of 43.45 after capturing the title last season. That seed time ranks 23rd out of 24 qualifiers in the event. The Neenah 1,600 relay attempts to retain its State title won last season, qualifying with the fifth-best sectional time of 3:21.26. Stevens Point was the champion in the 3,200 relay a year ago. The Panthers return to the event this season with a qualifying time of 8:00.95, which ranks as seventh-fastest on the list of qualifiers.

DIVISION 1 NOTES - GIRLS:   Arrowhead has the most entries in the meet with 19, including representation in 15 individual events and all four relays. Mukwonago has the second-most entries with 15, including 12 individual events and three relays. Six individual events and four relays feature the return of their champions from 2023 with one additional 2022 champion seeking a return to gold-medal status. Senior Abigail Sadler of Mount Horeb won the 800 run last season. She attempts to defend the title, entering the race with the second-fastest qualifying time of 2:12.18. Sophomore Ella Anschutz of Muskego has the fastest qualifying time in the 1,600 run at 4:54.62 after winning the event last season. Senior Stacy Kipkoskei of DeForest won the 300 hurdles a year ago. She returns with the fifth quickest qualifying time in the event this year at 45.45. She will need to contend with senior Eva Brandenburg of Homestead, who won the 300 hurdles in 2022 and finished fifth last season. She has recorded the fastest qualifying time at 44.77. Junior Anisa Barnett of Homestead returns to the triple jump after winning gold last season following a fifth-place finish in 2022. She has qualified this season with the second-best jump at sectionals last week at 40-0 1/2. Junior Keira Fax of Wauwatosa West attempts to defend her title in the shot put last season, which came on the heels of a sixth-place finish in 2022. She enters competition this week with the ninth-best qualifying toss of 40-8. Junior Thea Kral of Ashwaubenon appears to be positioned to repeat as champion in the discus. Her qualifying effort 152-2 is almost 11 feet further than the next-closest distance in the competition. Two-time defending champion West De Pere seeks its third straight title in the 1,600 relay. The Phantoms possess the event’s best qualifying time of 3:58.13. West De Pere is also back to defend its crown in the 800 relay with a seed time of 1:42.51, which is just .01 seconds off the fastest qualifying time this season. The Muskego 400 relay returns to the meet seeking a second straight championship, but it will most likely need to shave time off its qualifying time of 50.01, which is positioned 20th in the event. In addition, the Homestead 3,200 relay has the event’s eighth-fastest qualifying time at 9:36.56 in an attempt to defend the crown it won a year ago.

DIVISION 2 NOTES - BOYS:   Lakeside Lutheran has the most entries in the division with 13, including representation in 10 individual events and three relays. Somerset is next on the list of most entries with 11, including 11 individual events and no relays. There are four individual events and two relays that return former champions. Junior Jack Hefty of Whitewater is the defending champion in the 1,600 run. He returns with the second-best qualifying time of 4:22.65. Senior Kaden Rambatt of Big Foot is the returning champion in the pole vault. He should be considered a leading contender to win the event again this year with the best qualifying vault of 16-3. A four-time State qualifier, Rambatt also placed fourth in 2022 and runner-up in 2021. Senior Gavin Sargeant of Lodi won the triple jump a year ago, and he is back in pursuit of another title with the top qualifying leap heading into action at 46-5 1/2. Junior James Flanigan of Notre Dame is the returning champion in the discus. His throw of 181-1 at sectionals ranks second on the list of qualifiers. He also has the top qualifying throw in the shot put at 58-6 3/4 after a runner-up finish last year. The Shorewood 1,600 relay is the two-time defending champion. The Greyhounds are in pursuit of their third title in a row with the fifth-fastest qualifying time of 3:26.03. The McFarland 800 relay will defend its title with the fourth-fastest qualifying time of 1:28.92, and the Notre Dame 3,200 relay enters the State Meet with the second-fastest sectional time at 8:04.72 after winning gold last year.

DIVISION 2 NOTES - GIRLS:   New Berlin West has the most entries in the division with 12, including representation in eight individual events and four relays. Brodhead/Juda is second on the list of most entries with 11, including nine individual events and two relays. An impressive 13 events in the division feature a former champion returning to challenge for another title this year, including nine individual events and four relays. Senior Nora Gremban of Northland Pines seeks her fourth title in the 1600 run. She has the top qualifying time in the event at 4:56.62. In addition, Gremban is attempting to return to glory in the 800 run for the third time. She won titles in 2021 and 2022 before placing sixth last year. Gremban possesses the third-fastest seed time for sectionals in the event at 2:17.66. The top qualifier in the 800 run is senior Meredith Richter of Medford, who won the event in 2023. She enters the race with a qualifying time of 2:16.15. Another senior looking to win a fourth title in an event is Eliana Sheplee of Rice Lake. She broke her own Division 2 record in winning the 400 dash last year to win her third straight championship. Sheplee has produced the best sectional time at 56.26. Sheplee is also the top returning finisher in the 200 dash after she was runner-up in the event in 2023. She won the title in 2022 and was also runner-up in 2021. She has the second-fastest qualifying time at 24.99. Junior Lucci Aizpurua of Amery is the two-time reigning champion in the 100 dash. She is back with sights on her third title with the fastest qualifying time of 12.09. Aizpurua will also challenge Shiplee in the 200 dash with the swiftest qualifying time of 24.86. Sophomore Elletta Uddin of Osceola is the defending champion in the 100 and 300 hurdles after an impressive freshman season. She will again contend for the titles in both events with the fastest qualifying time in the 100 hurdles at 14.42 and the second-fastest seed time of 45.16 in the 300 hurdles. Junior Lydia Merrick of Freedom has the top seed time in the 300 hurdles at 45.10, but it's the high jump where she possesses the 2023 gold medal. She is the leading contender to win the event again with the top seed height at 5-7, which is three inches higher than the next-best qualifier. Senior MacKenzie Wissbroecker of Antigo has won the championship in the long jump the past two years, and she will contend for the title again this year with the second-best qualifying jump of 18-0. Senior Casidi Pehler of Arcadia is the returning champion in the pole vault after placing fourth in 2022. She has posted the best qualifying vault this season at 12-0. The Notre Dame 400 relay seeks its second consecutive championship. The Tritons possess the event’s top qualifying performance at 48.39. Whitewater is the returning champion in the 800 relay, but it’ll need to improve on its qualifying performance to retain the title with a seed time of 1:48.22, which ranks 14th. East Troy owns the seventh-fastest qualifying time in the 1,600 at 4:05.64 after winning the title last year, and Freedom’s 9:39.28 ranks as the fourth-best seed time in the 3,200 after earning the title a year ago.

DIVISION 3 NOTES - BOYS:  Stratford has the most entries in the division with nine, including representation in five individual events and four relays. Iola-Scandinavia is second on the list of most entries with seven, including six individual events and one relay. There are five individual events and three relays that return champions to the meet this year. Two runners account for four of those individual event champions. Senior Trent Nitek of Lake Holcombe possesses the 2023 gold medals in both the 100 and 200 dashes. He claims the third-fastest qualifying time in the 100 dash at sectionals last week at 10.85, and his 22.48 in the 200 dash ranks fourth. Senior Charlie Vater Iola-Scandinavia is chasing a second consecutive title in both the 1,600 and 3,200 runs. He has the top seed time in the 3,200 at 9:32.90 and the second-swiftest finish in the 1,600 at 4:24.77. Vater also placed fourth in the 3,200 in 2022. Senior Sam Crenshaw of Bangor is the returning champion in the pole vault after tying for fifth in 2022. He is considered the top contender for the title this season with a qualifying height of 16-6, which is more than two feet higher than the next qualifier’s sectional performance. Regis is seeking its third straight title in the 400 relay with the fifth-fastest seed time of 43.74. The Ramblers are also attempting to win their second consecutive crown in the 800 relay with a qualifying time of 1:30.98, which is third fastest in the event this year. Fennimore is the returning champion in the 3,200 relay. The Golden Eagles qualify this season with the fastest seed time of 8:10.91.

DIVISION 3 NOTES - GIRLS:  Fennimore and Shiocton have the most entries in the division with 10. Both have representation in eight individual events and four relays. Cameron and Lancaster are next on the list with nine entries apiece. The Comets have seven participants in individual events and two relays represented. The Flying Arrows have five participants in individual events and all four relays represented. Eight individual events, and two relays feature returning champions. Senior Autumn Michalski of Chequamegon is the returning champion in both the 800 and 1,600 runs. A four-time qualifier in the 800, she also finished runner-up in 2022 and eighth in 2021. Her seed time of 2:11.32 ranks second among qualifiers in the event. In addition, she placed fourth in the 1,600 in 2022, and she has been runner-up in the 3,200 run the past two seasons. She enters the meet with the fastest qualifying time of 4:55.05 in the event. Sophomore Bella Thomas of Assumption sprinted to the title in the 100 dash last season, and she possesses the quickest qualifying time in the event this year at 12.23. Thomas also has the fastest qualifying time of 25.28 in the 200 dash after placing second a year ago . Another sophomore returning champion is Iszy Sonnegtag from Cadott. She won the 400 dash last season, and she has the fastest seed time this year at 57.44. Senior Sophia Bablitch of Rosholt ran to the title in the 3,200 run in 2023. She’s back in the event, qualifying with the sixth-best time of 11:29.03. Junior Kamdan Johnson of Florence/Niagara captured the crown in the 100 hurdles last year. Her 15.21 sectional time this season ranks second in the event. In the pole vault, junior Alena Sanfelippo of Fall Creek is the leading qualifier in her pursuit of back-to-back titles with a height of 11-9. Junior Nolie Anderson of St. Mary Catholic won the discus last season after placing eighth in 2022. Her distance of 118-0 at sectionals ranks ninth among this year’s qualifiers. Fall Creek has the fourth-best seed time in the 800 relay at 1:46.15 after running to the title in the event in 2023. Oshkosh Lourdes is considered a strong contender for a second straight 3,200 relay title, coming into the State Meet with the fastest qualifying time of 9:40.37.

WHEELCHAIR NOTES:  There are three past boys’ champions participating this season. Sophomore Gianni Quintero of Marquette is the defending champion in the 400 and 800 races. He is the clear favorite to retain the titles with the fastest seed times in the events at 57.45 and 1:56.29, respectively. Senior Grant Shipley of Barron won the shot put last year and has a qualifying distance of 27-7 3/4, which is more than five feet further than the next-best toss in the field of competitors. Sophomore Renaya Horvath of Greenwood is the only returning girls wheelchair champion. After winning the 100 dash last year, she will contend for the title again this season with a time of 24.22, which is the top qualifying effort.

NEED THE QUALIFIERS?:  Qualifiers and qualifying performance lists, along with meet schedule, heats and lane assignments are available on the WIAA website by navigating to the boys or girls track & field tournament page at: www.wiaawi.org/Sports/Spring/Boys-Track-Field/Tournament or www.wiaawi.org/Sports/Spring/Girls-Track-Field/Tournament.

NEED CREDENTIALS:  Requests for media credentials for the 2024 WIAA Boys and Girls State Track & Field Championships must be submitted in advance by completing the online credential request form on the restricted media area of the WIAA website by noon, Tuesday, May 28. Verification of approved credentials is also available in the restricted media area. Please verify credential requests have been approved before planning to attend the event. Credential pick-up will be located at the media Will-Call office just inside the main entrance to the Veterans Hall of Honor at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

NEED MEET INFORMATION?:  Information, including heat assignments, meet records, listing of past team champions and all the information included in the meet program are available prior to and during the championships on both the boys and girls track & field tournament pages or on the State Tournament Info page in the restricted area of the Media Center on the WIAA website. Programs are also available when you pick-up your credential.

NEED RESULTS?:  Results of the 2024 State Track and Field results can be accessed on the WIAA website at www.wiaawi.org on either the boys or girls tournament track and field pages. In addition, links to live updates as the meet unfolds is provided in cooperation with PrimeTime Event & Race Management, LLC.

FOLLOW THE TOURNEY ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Receive the updates of the Boys and Girls State Track & Field Championships on the WIAA State Tournament Facebook and Twitter accounts. The Twitter account is @wiaawistate with the hashtag #wiaatrack. Also like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram at wiaawi.

MEDIA LOCATIONS:  Following each award ceremony, student-athletes receiving medals will be escorted to the track access gate on the southwest corner of the track (south end of the grandstand). The announcement of each event will be at the gate entering the track. Media is asked to adhere to location guidelines as indicated on the map provided at credential pick-up or in the media room. Access to the infield is ONLY available in designated areas at each event location. No interviews or loitering are permitted on the infield during the meet.

PARKING AVAILABILITY:  Parking is available in a number of general public lots surrounding the stadium on event days. Cost of parking is $8 per day. To order parking online, access the link on the boys or girls track and field pages on the website or go to the UW-La Crosse website: www.uwlax.edu/wiaa/spectators/parking/.

ORDER STATE MEET APPAREL ONLINE: WIAA licensed apparel is available online for the 2024 State Track & Field Championships. To browse and purchase branded merchandise, visit the WIAA Store at: https://gppsports.chipply.com/wiaastatetrack/store.aspx. Online purchases will be shipped after the online store closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 9.

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