Schmidt brings home two medals and runs a lifetime best; Crossman runs a lifetime best; and 4×400 meter relay and Schmidt set two new school records

TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR

The WIAA State Track & Field Championships were held at Veterans Memorial Stadium, UW-LaCrosse, in LaCrosse on Friday, June 3, and Saturday, June 4, 2022, with a small group of Merrill female athletes competing.

On Friday, Madi Crossman competed in the Division 1 girls 200 meter dash and finished with the 12th fastest time and also her lifetime best of 26.13 seconds.

The girls 4×400 meter relay team of Liz Schmidt, Mia Smith, Olivia Troyer, and Madi Crossman, alternates Emma Marlowe and Jalie Severt, raced to an 11th place finish. “They came in just one spot out of finals,” said Alex Oestreich, Merrill Varsity Track and Field Head Coach, “And ran a new school record of 4:05.17.”

On day two of the State Championships, Merrill’s Liz Schmidt competed in both the 800 and 1600 meter runs.

“Saturday was Senior Liz Schmidt’s time to shine and that she did,” Oestreich said. “She started off with a silver medal finish in the 1600 meter run with a time of 5:00.82.”

“She then went on to compete in the 800 meter run where she ran a lifetime best, and set a new school record time of 2:15.76, which was good for a bronze medal,” he said.

Oestreich said competing at the WIAA State Championships was a great way to wrap up the 2022 season. “Overall it was an awesome weekend!” he said. “We had two individual lifetime bests, along with two new school records. I’m really proud of how our girls stepped up on the biggest stage of the year, ran some amazing times, and brought home some hardware.”