The varsity meet at Oriole Park Friday April 19 cancelled for weather and not to be rescheduled, the varsity Oriole track team nonetheless got competition in at Neillsville four days earlier on Monday April 15. With the boys placing first out of eight teams and the girls placing second at Neillsville, finishing behind Bloomer. Orioles head coach Robert Seidl had more to say after results were in.
“There was not a lot of competition at this meet for the boys, so we did not see very many PR’s,” he said. “This was the first time we have competed on Neillsville’s track in years. They ran a good meet but the kids were off slightly in their performances”
Among the best performances of the day at Neillsville was a senior Henry Koch with 40-3 in shot-put,
“He is moving to the next level with his throws,” Seidl said of Koch. “We need that.”
Also, of note at Neillsville was senior Chase Sturm, who scissor stepped 5-8 to take second in the high jump.
“High jump is an area we need to be more competitive in and this helps,” Seidl said.
Coach Seidl also said Lucas Walker for a notable finish.
“Lucas Walker ran a really tight race against a kid from Bloomer,” he said. “They tied for first. Great effort.” Walker took second in the 3200-meter run with 4:34.90.
Also in boys results from Neillsville, Madden Mahr took first in the 100 meter dash with 11.30, Cole Brenner taking second with 11.52.
Mahr also took first in the 200-meter dash with 11.30, Brenner taking second in the same event with 23.36. Mahr took first in the long jump with 18-9.75, while Caleb Westrom took second in the 400-meter dash with 56.42. Ayyden Marten took second in the 300 meter hurdles with 44.17, while the boys relay team took first in the 4 x 100 meter relay (44.21), second in the 4 x 400 meter relay (3:53.68), and third in the 4 x 800 meter relay (10:00.08).
As for the girls team, Seidl said the team was competitive.
“Bloomer really dominated the meet but our girls were really competitive in a number of events,” he said. “We did not have enough girls to run a 3200-meter relay or a 1600 meter relay. We did well in our running events but we need to see more improvement in our field events. We are trying to find a strategy to be competitive and this has placed a lot of responsibility on the girls that we have, many who are in four events per meet.”
Among the best performance for Stanley-Boyd at Neillsville was a 1:03.73 second place finish by Beth Pilgrim in the 400-meter dash, as well as second in high jump at 4-8.
“Her improvement on the team deserves attention,” Seidl said. “She also was part of the 4x200 relay that placed first and she placed second in the high jump.”
Placing first in the 300meter hurdles was Lula Chwala, finishing with a time of 52.26 seconds.
“Lula Chwala won the three hundred hurdles,” Seidl said. “She continues to be one of the area’s best hurdlers.”
Other notable results from the girls team at Neillsville include Macie LaGrander with 13.70 in the 100 meter dash for second, Elena Trevino with 6:27.54 in the 1600 meter run for third, Addison Mahr with 15:12.35 in the 3200 meter run and 54.66 seconds in the 300 meter hurdles (both for second). Additionally, Chwala went 31-9 for second in the triple jump, LaGrander taking third with 31-6. Mallory Alger took third in discus with 81-4.5, and the Orioles took first as a team in the 4 x 200 relay.
The Orioles next track meet is on Thursday April 25 at Bloomer. Start time is 4 p.m.
