The Hatchet co-ed track entered Friday’s Tomahawk Invitational held at UW-Eau Claire with tons of questions, but answers were obviously forthcoming.
The THS girls grabbed the title of the nine-team meet, while the boys placed a solid third.
“What we didn’t anticipate with our co-ed program in general was how much depth we have,” THS coach John Zuelsdorf said. “It really showed at UW-EC as we were able to score multiple times in many events. Even though we had only three event championships on each side of the ledger, we came away with a girls title and were in the thick of things on the boys side.
“With 22 out of 30 girls as underclass athletes (frosh/soph) and having only four girls overall return as competitors at this large early season invite, we didn’t really know what to expect. What was even more amazing is that a dozen of our girls out of the 18 we took to the meet had never competed in a high school varsity meet before.
“It’s very early and we feel that as we get to know the strengths of the boys and girls we should continue to develop and improve. Our upperclassmen showed great poise with their individual championships.”
Grace Mickelson defended her title in the pole vault by clearing 9′ 0″, and Bryan Tomek broke the meet record set by Anthony Lampe back in 2004 with a 2:08.51 in the 800. Austin Bellile ran :55 flat to take the 400, and Austin Ehn paced the pole vault at 12′ 0″. Alex Zedler ran 14:20.69 in winning the 3200, and the 800 team of Hannah Meyer, Emmy Larson, Katie Koth and Breanna Renn won in 1:56.60.
“Grace, Bryan, Austin and Austin were stellar role models for the underclass athletes with their performances,” Zuelsdorf said. “It was great to see some of the younger athletes top their events. Alex Zedler ran a smart race, and our girls 800 meter relay team with mostly frosh/sophs ran a great race and didn’t panic in the last exchange when Cadott dropped the baton right next to them.”
The THS girls went 2-3 in the long jump with Koth (13′ 6.75″) and Larson (13′ 5.75″), and the triple jump with Meyer (31′ 2″) and Larson (30′ 4″). Other runner-up finishes came from: the 1600 team (Meyer, Renn, Larson, Anna Nyberg, 4:43.14) and the 3200 group (Zedler, Audrey Dichsen, Alice Egorov, Talyn Jones, 11:52.05). Thirds came from Renn (55, :07.98); Dani Whiting (1600, 6:27.52); and Kate Gaedtke (400, 1:12.75). Other top finishes came from: Gaedtke (4th, HJ, 4′ 8″); Nyberg (5th, HJ, 4′ 8″); Michaela Galganski (4th, PV, 7′ 0″); Koth (4th, 200, :30.75); Claire Kuehn (3200, 15:02.28); Dichsen (5th, 800, 2:57.04); Sara Kouba (6th, 400, 1:13.51).
Boys runner-up finishes were turned in by: Eddie Yirsa (200, :24.69); Ryan Kuehn (3200, 11:59.43); and the 1600 team (Bellile, Yirsa, Neko McMahon, Evan Russo, 3:51.49).Peter Pintens (PV, 11′ 6″) and the 3200 squad (Austin Kaiser, Tomek, Troy Van Strydonk, Kuehn, 9:48.18) were 3rd.
Other high finishes came from: Yirsa (4th, 55, :07.05/5th, TJ, 37′ 9.5″); Dakota Tomek (4th, 1600, 5:30.40); Jacob McGuire (5th, 1600, 5:31.34); McMahon (5th, LJ, 17′ 4.5″); Ben Yirsa (5th, 55 HH, :09.89); and the 800 relay (McMahon, Russo, B. Yirsa, Alex Ungerer, 5th, 800, 1:48.81).
Team standings-Girls-Tomahawk 127.5, Stratford 85.75, Cadott 84.25, Medford 82, Black River Falls 78, Unity 44, Durand 39, Osseo-Fairchild 24, Pittsville 14.5…….Boys-Medford 115.5, B.R.F. 114.5, Tomahawk 99, Stratford 72, Unity 56, O-F 44, Durand 34, Cadott 33, Pittsville 16.