Two Stanley-Boyd Track team members are headed to State!
Macie LaGrander and Lula Chwala both qualified in sectionals at Chilton May 29. Chwala placed fourth in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 46.67 while LaGrander placed third in the long jump with a mark of 17-01.25.
The two now advance to State competition June 6 and 7 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse.
Orioles head varsity head track coach Robert Seidl shared more on the achievement.
“They had to be in the top four at Waupaca to advance to Chilton and they had to be in the top four at Chilton to advance to State,” he said. A total of sixteen had advanced to regionals, with results at Waupaca narrowing this some more before the final cut.
Seidl shared more on how things went at sectionals.
“The D2 Sectional Track meet was held at Chilton, WI., which is near Green Bay,” he said. “I’m not sure why the WIAA decided to send us to the eastern side of the state. We felt as if we didn't belong, but at the start of the track Meet the conditions were the same. We were still running on a 400 meter track and the measurements used to advance the top four athletes in every event was also the same. We told our athletes that if they wanted to make it to the State meet in LaCrosse, that they would have to have personal bests. At this level, everyone is good.
“The boys had a tough day. Jesse Allard broke his pole and had an ankle injury, he was forced to scratch his PV and hurdle races.
“Hunter Gadke had to begin jumping at 11'6,” which would have been a PR for him. He made it and then went out at 12’0”. He had a very good senior year.
“John Smit ran his best time in the 1600 meter run (4:54.58 - 11th) and the 3200 (10:48.03 - 11th) meter run. He is a very good freshman runner. He just needs more experience and growth. 
“The girls also had a tough sectional. Jocelyn Hager broke the school record in the 100 meter dash (12.64) but only placed 7th. In the 200 meter dash she placed 6th (26.30). She needed to break her own record of 25.98 to make it to State. She worked hard all year but she did not qualify in any of her four events. Lucky for her, she is a sophomore and will be back next year for another opportunity.
“Macie LaGrander also didn’t qualify in the 200 meter dash, but jumped 17'1.25" in the long jump, placing third and returning to the State meet to better her jumps.
“Lula Chwala did not make the finals in the 100 meter hurdles but did place 4th in the 300 meter low hurdles (46.67) which was a PR for her. She improved by nearly a second, but will have to do it again at the State meet in LaCrosse to make the finals. Both girls are not seeded high, but as they have shown, they can improve and take their talents to another level. We will all be rooting for both of them.
“One other senior girl competed for the last time and ended her track experience. Bea Bluhm pole vaulted 8’6” to end her jumps. This was her personal best and a great way to end her vaulting career.” All told, the girls placed 19th of 31 teams.
As for the Waupaca regional prior, the meet was split over two days for weather. The girls team took second at Waupaca with 102 points and the boys took sixth with 53 points.
Top individual finishes at Waupaca include Hager first in the 100 meter dash with 12.91and second in the 200 meter with 25.98. Chwala finished fourth in the 100 meter hurdles with 17.69 and third in the 300 meter hurdles with 47.56. LaGrander took fourth in the 200 meter dash with 27.57 and second in the long jump with 17-07.50.
Mariah Wehling finished fourth in the 1600 meter run with 6:05.91, while Beatrix Bluhm took first in the pole vault with 8-03. Adasyn Charles took second in the pole vault with 8-00, while the girls 4x100 relay team finished third in 55.91. The girls 4x400 relay team finished fourth with 4:34.54.
As for the boys at Waupaca, Jesse Allard took second in the 110 meter hurdles with 17.32, third in the 300 meter hurdles with 44.97, and third in the pole vault with 11-06.
John Smit finished fourth in the 1600 meter run with 5:05.06 and third in the 3200 meter run with 10:56.94. Hunter Gadke took fourth in the pole vault with a height of 11-00.