Six other Merrill athletes break their own personal-best records in two or more events
TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
May 17 @ D.C. Everest
At the May 17 D.C. Everest (DCE) Quadrangular hosted by Everest, Merrill’s Elizabeth (Liz) Schmidt broke the Merrill Girls 1600 m. Run record with a time of 5:04.14.
The competition from DCE, Wisconsin Rapids, and Marshfield was tough, the weather was prematurely sweltering, but the story of the day for Merrill was Liz Schmidt. “The weather seemed to swing from brutally cold to uncomfortably hot in a week’s time,” said Varsity Head Track & Field Coach Jason Wadzinsksi. “We had a number of stellar performances in the heat, but none better than the 5:04.14 minute 1600 m, Run by Elizabeth Schmidt.”
“This time broke the previous Merrill record of 5:06.98 set by Darlene Amelse in 1997,” Wadzinski said. “Congratulations, Miss Schmidt! What an achievement!”
That record-breaking time also nailed the first place finish for the Merrill Girls, with Schmidt taking first place in the 1600 m. Run as well as the 800 m. Run (2:19.35). Other first place finishes for the Lady Bluejays included: Faith Seliger in the High Jump (5’0”), Madison Crossman in the 200 m Dash (27.51), and the winning team of Faith Seliger, Crystal Dearth, Madison Crossman, and Elizabeth Schmidt in the 4×400 m. Relay.
For the Bluejay Boys, Carter Jensen brought home a first place finish in the 300 hurdles (43.05) and Merrill guys took second place in four events: Nik Zastrow in the 200 m Dash (24.04), Cal Hoeppner in the 1600 m Run (5:12.97), Carter Jensen in the 110 hurdles (17.30), and Ashton Voermans in the Pole Vault (11’0”).
Six Merrill athletes also broke two or more of their own personal records at this meet including Johnny Handlin, Nathan Mattson, Caleb Norton, Hunter Stadler, Alexis Crossman, and Dafney Yates.
May 10 @ Merrill
The Merrill Bluejays hosted the May 10 Quadrangular at Jay Stadium on a very chilly event according to Coach Wadzinski. They competed against the Co-Ed teams from Marshfield, SPASH, and Wisconsin Rapids. In his comments after that game, Coach said, “We had a number of great perforrmances on Monday night, highlighted by an electric finish from the Girls 4×400 m. Relay Team. We’re hoping Mother Nature will grant us some warmer weather at some point here.” [He may not have expected quite the turn in weather that followed when he made that comment.]
“In the meantime, we’re going to keep improving everyday and have some fun regardless of temperature,” he said.
Top performances of the meet included five first place finishes for the Girls: Liz Schmidt in the 1600 m Run (5:13), Faith Seliger in the High Jump (5’0”), Brindelyn Eternicka in the Discus (99’4”), Madison Crossman in the 200 m Dash (27.11), and the team of Faith Seliger, Olivia Troyer, Madison Crossman, and Elizabeth Schmidt in the 4×400 m. Relay. The team of Olivia Troyer, Brooklyn Kraegenbrink, Crystal Dearth, and Emma Marlowe took second place in the 4×200 m. Relay, and Madison Crossman took second in the Triple Jump (31’ 5”).
For the Boys, Carter Jensen took first place in the 300 hurdles (44.22) and the team of Galen Franke, Kayoda Raddatz, Lucas Zastrow, and Carter Jensen took first place in the 4×200 m. Relay.
Racking up second place finishes were: David Golisch in the High Jump (5’6”); the team of Levi Black, Kyle Stellingworth, Callin Hoeppner, and David Golisch in the 4×800 m. Relay; Carter Jensen in the 110 hurdles (16.76); the team of Nik Zastrow, Johnny Krause, Ashton Voermans, and Lucas Zastrow in the 4×100 m. Relay; and the team of Cole Woellner, Callen Hoeppner, Brian Ball, and AJ Vogel in the 4×400 m Relay.
May 3 & 4 @ Marshfield
“On May 3 & 4, the Girls and Boys Teams competed in Marshfield at their beautiful new facility, for the first ever Track & Field Meet run at the high school,” Coach Wadzinski said. “Our two teams [Girls and Boys] had a combined total of 46 individual personal records broken at these meets. That is a phenomenal start to the year for athletes who are just getting back into the swing of things.”
First place finishes for the Girls included Liz Schmidt in the 800 m run (2:18), Liz Schmidt in the 1600 m run (5:06), and Madison Crossman in the Triple Jump (31’ 8.75”).
Second place finishes for the Girls included Faith Seliger in the High Jump (5’0”), Brin Eternicka in the Discus (96’3”), and in the 4×200 m Relay, the team of Olivia Troyer, Jessica Leander, Jalie Severt, and Faith Seliger.
The Bluejay Boys ran away with a collection of first place finishes to their credit, as well: Carter Jensen in the 110 hurdles (17.02 seconds); Carter Jensen in the 300 hurdles (43.34 seconds); the team of AJ Vogel, Brian Ball, Carter Jensen, and Lucas Zastrow in the 4×200 m. Relay; and the team of Nik Zastrow, Johnny Krause, Ashton Voermans, and Lucas Zastrow in the 4×100 m. Relay.
Ashton Voermans also came away with a second place finish in the Pole Vault (11’ 6”), as did the 4×800 m. Relay team of David Golisch, Ethan Ravn, Callen Hoeppner, and Kyle Stellingworth.
Three-week wrap up
It’s been a busy three weeks for the Boys and Girls Merrill Bluejay Track & Feild Team, and these guys and gals don’t look to be slowing their pace anytime soon. We’ll be watching for more athletes to keep beating their personal-best records and showcasing their abilities in the meets to come.