WIAA State Track and Field Championships Preview

THE STATE MEET:  The 127th Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Track and Field Championships and the 52nd Girls Track and Field Championships will be held Friday-Saturday, June 2-3, 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 Divisions 2 and 3 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 Division 1 session begins at 4:30 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 1, respectively.

TICKET INFORMATION:  Ticket prices for the State Track & Field Championships are $11 per session plus online fees, and they 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. 

2022 TEAM RESULTS-BOYS: Arrowhead won the Division 1 championship for the second consecutive season, compiling 55.5 team points. Kimberly was runner-up with 36 points. Shorewood claimed the Division 2 team title by compiling 46 points, which was one point better than runner-up  Lodi with 45 points. In Division 3, Chetek-Weyerhaeuser captured the crown by scoring 44 points, and Athens placed second with 35 points. Kenosha Indian Trail won the team championship in the wheelchair competition by compiling 36 points, and Wisconsin Lutheran was runner-up with 35 points.

2022 TEAM RESULTS-GIRLS:  In Division 1, West De Pere won the team championship by accumulating 66.33 points, and Homestead was second with 36 team points. Shorewood earned the title in Division 2 with 38 points in the meet, and former defending champion Freedom placed second with 30 points. Webster captured the Division 3 title with 38 points. Dodgeland finished runner-up with 37 points. Turner won the wheelchair team title for the second straight season, tallying 40 points. Kenosha Indian Trail was second with 28 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 (2005-08) of Brown Deer 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 34.

DIVISION 1 NOTES – BOYS:   Kimberly and Wisconsin Lutheran have representation in the most events with 15, The Papermakers have entries in 11 individual events and all four relays. The Vikings have entries in 12 individual events and three relays. Mukwonago is next with representation in 14 events, including 10 individual events and four relays. Arrowhead and Stevens Point are next with participants in 13 events. The Warhawks have entries in nine individual events and all four relays, while the Panthers have representation in 12 individual events and one relay. Seven individual events and four relays have their champions from last year returning this year. Junior Ben Smith of Hortonville is the returning champion in both the shot put and the discus. He enters the meet with the top qualifying throws from sectionals at 65-1 1/2 and 203-9, respectively. Senior Lyndon Hemmrich-Hartman of Green Bay Southwest qualifies in the 100-meter dash this season with the fastest seed time of 10.65 recorded at the sectionals after winning the title last year representing Oshkosh North. Senior Andrew Regnier of Waunakee in the returning champion in the 400 dash. He is seeded third this season with a time of 49.68. Senior Emmanuel Johnson of Racine Park is back contending for another title in the high jump after earning the gold medal last season after a runner-up finish in 2021. His qualifying leap of 6-4 is tied for fifth-best. Senior Aaron Cummings of Hartford enters the meet with the top qualifying height of 16-6 in the pole vault after winning the title last year to go with a third-place finish in 2021. Senior Bennett Fried of La Crosse Central is the defending champion in the triple jump, and he enters competition with a distance of 44-5 1/2, which is seventh best among qualifiers. The New Richmond 400 relay has qualified this year with a time of 43.02 after capturing the title last season. That seed time ranks 12th among qualifiers in the event. The Arrowhead 800 relay attempts to retain the State title in the event, qualifying with the eighth best sectional time of 1:28.80. West De Pere is seeded third in the 1,600 relay with a sectional time of 3:22.40 after running to the State championship in the event in 2023. Hartford was the champion in the 3,200 relay a year ago, returning to the event this season with a qualifying time of 8:05.06. That time ranks as 11th fastest on the list of qualifiers.

DIVISION 1 NOTES – GIRLS:  Franklin and Kenosha Indian Trail have representation in 15 events to lead the division. The Sabers have entries in 12 individual events and in three relays, and the Hawks have participants in 11 individual events and all four relays. Mukwonago has the third-most events with representation with 14, including 12 individual events and two relays. Six individual events and two relays feature the return of their champions from 2022, and there are also an additional two 2021 champions seeking a return to gold-medal status. Senior Brooklyn Sandvig of Chippewa Falls returns to the 400 dash in quest of a third straight championship. She has the fastest qualifying time in the event at 54.55. Sandvig has the second-fastest seed times in the 100 and 200 dashes at 11.91 and 24.66, respectively, after winning the titles last year following third-place finishes in 2021. Sophomore Mackenzie Babcock of Monona Grove is the ninth quickest qualifier this season with a sectional time of 5:06.61 after winning the 1,600 run last season. Senior Zaira Malloy-Salgado of Middleton seeks to retain her title she won last year in the 3,200 with a qualifying time of 11:15.41, which positions her eighth-best among qualifiers in the event. Junior Eva Brandenburg of Homestead won the 300 hurdles a year ago, and she returns to defend her title with the fourth-fastest qualifying time of 44.62. She will need to contend with, among others, senior Anna Szepieniec of DeForest, who earned the title in 2021 and has the second-fastest seed time at 44.32. Another qualifier who won a State title in 2021 and seeks to return to the top of the awards podium is senior Kyla Saleh of Waunakee in the high jump. She enters competition with a height of 5-7, which is three inches higher than the next highest qualifying mark. The Mukwonago 800 relay returns the meet seeking a second straight championship, but it will most likely need to shave time off its qualifying time of 1:45.98, which is positioned 13th in the event. In addition, the West De Pere 1,600 relay has the event’s fastest qualifying time at 3:56.00 in an attempt to defend the crown it won a year ago.

DIVISION 2 NOTES – BOYS:  Catholic Memorial has the most event entries in the meet with 11. The Crusaders have qualifiers in eight individual events and three relays. Lakeside Lutheran and Notre Dame have representation in nine events, The Warriors  have competitors in six individual events and three relays, and the Tritons  have entries in eight individual events and one relay. There are five individual events and two relays that return their 2022 champions. Senior Nathan Cumberbatch of Shorewood is the returning two-time champion in two individual events. He won the 400 dash and 800 run in 2021 and 2022. Cumberbatch  returns as the top qualifier in both those event this season, recording a sectional time of 48.80 in the 400 and a time of 1:56.32 in the 800 run. Cumberbatch also won the 2021 Division 2 cross country championship. Senior Collin Conzemius of Aquinas won both the 100 and 200 dashes a year ago, and he returns to the State championships with the swiftest time in both events at 10.95 and 21.72, respectively. Senior Kyle Wisniewski of New London won the triple jump last year, and he qualifies this season with the fifth-best jump at last week’s sectionals at 44-0. The Shorewood 1,600 and 3,200 relays captured gold last year and appear to be in position to repeat with the top qualifying time in the 1,600 at 3:23.97, and they have the 13th-fastest pace in the 3,200 relay at 8:18.46.

DIVISION 2 NOTES – GIRLS:   Osceola is represented in the most number of events with 11, including seven individual events and four relays. New Berlin Eisenhower is next on the list with 10, including eight individual events and two relays. Freedom and Rice Lake have entries in eight events with six individual events and two relays. Winneconne also has eight entries, comprised of seven individual events and one relay. Ten individual events in the division feature a former champion returning to challenge for another title this year, including three events featuring last year’s champion and the 2021 champion. Junior Nora Gremban of Northland Pines has won both the 800 and 1,600 runs in her first two seasons. She seeks to again successfully defend those titles with the second-best seed time in the 800 at 2:19.27 and the third-swiftest time in the 1,600 at 5:04.84. Another junior  looking to follow up on a brilliant first two seasons is Eliana Sheplee of Rice Lake. She set the Division 2 record in winning the 400 dash in 2021 and repeated as champion last year. Sheplee has produced the third-best sectional time this season at 57.03. Sheplee is also the returning champion in the 200 dash after she was runner-up in the event in 2021. She recorded the second-fastest qualifying time last week at 24.89. The fastest seed time was clocked by 2021 champion Delea Martins of Shorewood at 24.67, who didn’t qualify in 2022. In addition, sophomore Luciana Aizpurua of Amery is the reigning champion in the 100 dash. She is back to defend her title with a  qualifying time of 12.12, which ties for the fastest in the event. Aizpurua shares that top seed time with Martins, the 2021 champion in the event, who didn’t qualify in the event a year ago. Two former champions will also contend for the title this season in the 3,200 run. Senior Fran Peterson of Barron is the defending champion returning with an 11:24.42 seed time. Senior Mikaela Helling of Two Rivers possesses the top qualifying time in the event a 10:57.92 after finishing third a year ago and winning the title in 2021. Senior Brie Eckerman of Mauston is another returning champion. She will again contend for the title in the 100 hurdles after recording a time of 15.55 at the sectionals, which ties her for sixth-best in the event. Junior MacKenzie Wissbroecker of Antigo has the best qualifying leap in the long jump with a sectional performance of 17-10 1/2 after she captured the crown a year ago following a third-place finish in 2021. Senior Megahn Schultz of New Berlin West will be defending the title she earned in the shot put last year, coming into the meet with the best qualifying toss in the field with a distance of 45-2 1/4. In addition, senior Ayianna Johnson of Jefferson is poised to defend the title in the discus she won last year coming off a third-place finish in 2021. Johnson’s toss of 156-4 at sectionals is over 25 feet further than the next best qualifying effort.

DIVISION 3 NOTES – BOYS:  Lancaster possesses the most event entries in the division with eight, including five individual events and three relays. Fall Creek, Grantsburg, Luther, Shiocton, Stratford and Winnebago Lutheran each have entries in seven events. There are four individual events and two relays that return champions to the meet this year. Senior Cade Stingel of Shiocton accounts for two of the events as the returning champion in the 110 and 300 hurdles after finishing runner-up in both those events in 2021. He has the fastest seed time in the 110 hurdles at 14.91 and the second-swiftest qualifying time in the 300 hurdles at 39.23. Senior Carson Tait of Regis returns to defend the title he won in the 100 dash last season. He possesses the second-fastest time turned in at sectionals last week at 11.05. Senior Aiden Janke of Athens won the shot put last season, and he should contend for the title again this year with the second-best mark heading into competition at 53-1 1/2. Regis appears to be the quartet to beat in the 400 relay after posting the top seed time at sectionals at 43.44 following last year’s championship performance in the event. Ozaukee is the returning champion in the 3,200 relay. The Warriors qualify this season with a time of 8:21.70, which ranks ninth among qualifying teams this season.

DIVISION 3 NOTES – GIRLS:  Fall Creek and Lancaster has representation in nine events, which leads the division. The Flying Arrows have entries in five individual events and all four relays. The Crickets have entries in six individual events and three relays. Both Dodgeland and St. Mary’s Springs have participants in eight events. The  Trojans have qualifiers in five individual events and three relays, and the Ledgers have representation in four individual events and all four relays. Six individual events, and three relays feature returning champions. In addition one individual event includes two former champions. Senior Ava Washburn of Webster is a returning champion in three events. She won the 100 hurdles after placing sixth in 2021. Washburn has recorded the fastest sectional time this season at 15:01. She won the long jump last season after placing fourth in 2021. Washburn is expected to challenge for the title with her qualifying toss of 18-11 1/2 being nine inches further than the next closest competitor in the event. She is also the returning champion in the triple jump after placing third in 2021. Washburn has the best qualifying mark this season at 37-0 3/4. Senior Kendal Stingle of Shiocton is the two-time returning champion in the 300 hurdles. She enters the meet with the second-best qualifying time of 46.54. In the 100 dash, senior Steffi Siewert of Deerfield dropped to third last year after earning the gold medal in 2021. She returns to event this season with the ninth-best seed time of 12.88. Senior Kallie Volk of Three Lakes/Phelps has earned the opportunity to defend the title she won in the high jump a year ago with the event’s top qualifying height at 5-5. She will need to contend with junior Izzy Bender of Fennimore, who won the 2021 title and placed third last season. She enters with a qualifying height of 5-3. St. Mary’s Springs has the fourth-best seed time in the 400 relay at sectionals with a 51.18 after running to the title in the event in 2022. Lancaster is the two-time defending champion returning in the 800 relay, but the Flying Arrows will need to improve on their sixth-best qualifying time of 1:47.35 to win back-to-back championships in the event. Boscobel is considered a strong contender for a third straight 3,200 relay title, coming into action this week with this season’s fastest time at 9:48.22.

WHEELCHAIR NOTES:  There are three events that return their defending champions this season. The crowns of all three events are in the possession of senior Rachel Cleaver of Turner. She is attempting to win her third straight shot put title, and she enters action with the top qualifying toss this season at 16-6 1/2. She set the State record in the event last year. Cleaver is also the top qualifier in the other two events she won a year ago. She has recorded a 1:29.28 in the 400 race and a 3:00.77 in the 800 race. There are no past boys champions participating in the five events this season.

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 RESULTS?:  Results of the 2023 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. 

PARKING AVAILABILITY:  Parking is available in a number of general public lots surrounding the stadium on event days. Cost of parking is $10 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 2023 State Track & Field Championships. To browse and purchase branded merchandise, visit the WIAA Store at: https://gppsports.chipply.com/wiaastatetrack/. Online purchases will be shipped after the online store closes at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 11.