Algoma’s Kennedy Blahnik cemented her status as a Wisconsin preps track and field legend with three-peat state titles and new state championship records in the Division 3 discus and shot put events. (via www.greenbaypressgazette.com)

LA CROSSE — De Pere High School freshman Kylie Swiekatowski led a slew of qualifiers from the city schools in the WIAA Division 1 track and field state meet last week. Swiekatowski soared to third place in the girls pole vault at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Veterans Memorial Stadium. She was the top finisher among six girls who had a final clearance of 11 feet, 6 inches. Ashwaubenon senior Alex Flucke, the two-time defending state champion in the event, also cleared 11-6 and finished fifth. (via www.greenbaypressgazette.com)

LA CROSSE — When most track and field athletes finish competing, they put on their warmups, be it athletic shorts, sweatpants and sweatshirts, and so on. When Ozaukee senior Josh Werner finished his time on the Division 3 high jump at the WIAA State Track and Field Championships Saturday, he donned faded blue jeans with a leather belt, and his camouflage cap. (via www.sheboyganpress.com)  

LA CROSSE — Elizabeth Pospyhalla crossed the finish for the final time as a high school track runner, and three teammates walked toward her with arms around each others’ shoulders. Then they embraced. An era had ended. (via www.wausaudailyherald.com)  

LA CROSSE — Bonnie Draxler didn’t take in her usual haul of gold at the WIAA state track and field meet Saturday. Instead of leaving the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Memorial Field with two state championship medals around her neck for a third straight season, the Wrightstown junior was wearing three.Instead of leaving the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Memorial Field with two state championship medals around her neck for a third straight season, the Wrightstown junior was wearing three.    (via www.greenbaypressgazette.com)  

Results from the WIAA Track and Field Championships in La Crosse. Results appear with most recent events listed first, except for notable accomplishments. (via www.postcrescent.com)

The 118th Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Track and Field Championships and the 43rd Girls Track and Field Championships will be h... (via www.wiaawi.org)

BOSCOBEL — Daniel Sweeney has a few more hurdles to cross before calling an end to his high school sports career. Sweeney, a lanky senior at Wisconsin Dells High School, became the Chiefs’ only qualifier for the WIAA Division 2 state track and field meet on Saturday, thanks to his impressive performance in the Boscobel Sectional.(via Wiscnews.com)

A pair of Whitnall seniors are making sure their high school track careers end on the state’s biggest stage. Needing to place in the top three of their respective events to qualify for next week’s WIAA Division 1 State Track and Field State Meet, Meredith Heller and Sam Mentkowski erased all doubt by posting victories at the Wisconsin Lutheran Sectional on Thursday. (via Greenfield Patch' )

Two Greendale Panthers will be making return trips to next weekend’s WIAA State Track and Field Meet. Senior Chelsey Heiden will be finishing her prep career on the state’s grandest stage, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Veterans Memorial Stadium, after she took second in the 3,200-meter run at the Wisconsin Lutheran Sectional on Thursday. Heiden’s time of 11 minutes, 23.35 seconds was behind only Racine Horlick senior Ally Anich’s 11:15.16.

GOING TO STATE Area track and field athletes qualified for the WIAA state track and field meet, May 31-June 1 in La Crosse:(via www.wausaudailyherald.com)

Green Bay Preble High School honored a pair of Hall of Fame coaches on Saturday. They dedicated their track to the late Jack Drankoff and the field at Gauthier Stadium to Pat Prochnow. (via WLUK TV)

BARABOO — Much like all the other track and field teams in the area, the Wisconsin Dells High School boys and girls teams have freshmen and sophomore who shine as varsity competitors in every meet (via Wiscnews.com)

Kelli Klitzke (via madison.com)

This article is Wisconsin D2 High School Girls Honor Roll as of April 27, 2013

Portage Warriors senior’s early-season outside work pays off as he wins the discus at the McFarland Invitational, days after setting a school record in the event. (via madison.com)

Carl Hirsch, a senior at Brookfield Central, was selected as a 2013 scholar athlete by the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association.  Thirty-two scholar athlete finalists, both boys and girls, were chosen from among 750 seniors nominated by more than 375 high schools in the state.  Hirsch, along with the other finalists, will be recognized at an awards ceremony Sunday, May 5 at the Jefferson Street Inn in Wausau. Wisconsin Badger and Green Bay Packer Bill Ferrario will speak at the ceremony.  (via Brookfield Patch' property='og:site_name)

The Monroe distance runner and Madison Memorial sprinter each post victories against elite competition at UW-Whitewater. (via madison.com)

If the 24 state championships in three sports don’t indicate the level of talent Bonnie Draxler has, the number of recruiting letters that have come through her family’s mailbox will. (via www.greenbaypressgazette.com)    

This article is the Honor Roll as of March 26, 2013 for Wisconsin High School Boys Track & Field.

This article is Wisconsin High School Girls Honor Roll as of March 26, 2013

Diffee was a bright spot for his squad at the 76th annual Madison West Relays, a week after La Follette claimed the City Indoor title. Running without a full roster, though, the Lancers could not recapture last weekend’s magic, running to a 12th-place finish at the Camp Randall Memorial Sports Center. Stevens Point claimed the Class A title for the first time since 2010, edging two-time defending champion Hartland Arrowhead by three points. Read more: http://host.madison.com/sports/high-school/track/prep-track-and-field-la-follette-s-chandler-diffee-bests/article_5a9338de-99b9-11e2-9668-0019bb2963f4.html#ixzz2PAszwdqQ. (via madison.com)  

James Frederickson, Senior at Racine Case signs on to run distance for Lewis University (Romeoville, IL). James was a D1 State Qualifier in cross country and 1600m event. He also was the SEC Boys Individual Champion 2012 Cross Country and D1 Sectional Boys Individual Champion.  

    Athlete: Valerie Thames High School: Milwaukee Riverside University Division: 1 Plans 2013-14: Southern University [Baton Rouge, LA] Events: Hurdle and sprint relay athlete   Full Story on www.wisconsintrackonline.com...  

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- It has nothing to do with lumber, but there is a 2x4 relay team on a Wisconsin girls track team that is playing pretty hard to catch! The girls who comprise the 1600 meter relay team at Riverside High School have a lot in common. First of all, they can fly — having set a record at state last year. Secondly, they are unified in seeking to improve their time this year. “We’re trying to work hard and beat our title right now, and set a new record,” Helen Thames said. The lead-off runner in the record books is Angel Malone. Number two is Helen Thames. Number three: Valerie Thames, and the anchor runner is Crystal Malone.... (via FOX6Now.com)  

Mace, Metcalfe lead talented girls squad; boys team depends on youth to climb out of South Central Conference cellar. (via Wiscnews.com)

State Qualifier in the Long Jump, Micaela Creighton of South Milwaukee High School signs with Auburn track and field program for the 2014 season.

November 24, 2012 - Live Interviews following Foot Locker's Midwest Regional in Kenosha, WI Anna Rohrer of Mishawaka, IN - 1st place with new FL Midwest Course Record of 16:54 Taylor Werner of Sainte Genevieve, MO - 2nd place in 17:08 for Girls Seeded Race Jake Leingang of Bismarck, ND - 1st place in Boys Seeded race in 14:56 Sam Wharton of Tipp City, OH - 2nd place in 14:56 for Boys Seeded Race Nick Raymond of Erie, MI - 3rd place in 15:02 for Boys Seeded Race Samuel Prakel of Versailles, OH - 6th place with time of 15:04 in Boys Seeded Race   Girls Seeded Championship Race Footage Girls Seeded Race PICS - link here Boys Seeded Championship Race Footage Boys Seeded Race PICS - Link here Freshman / Sophomore Boys Race Pics

Foot Locker Midwest Regional Coverage - GIRLS SEEDED RACE Michiwaka, IN Sophomore, Anna Rohrer wins Foot Locker's Midwest Regional CC Championships in new FLMW course record of 16:54 at the UW-Parkside National Course in Kenosha, WI. Results Below Girls Seeded Race Championship Footage Link to Girls Seeded Race PICS here Link to Interviews with Winner Anna Rohrer and 2nd place Taylor Werner

Foot Locker Midwest Regional Coverage - BOYS SEEDED RACE North Dakota's Jake Leingang outsprints Ohio's Sam Wharton for a 14:56 win of Foot Locker's Midwest Regional CC Championships in Kenosha, WI. Results Below Boys Seeded Race Championship Footage Link to Boys Seeded Race PICS here Link to Interviews with 1st place Jake Leingang, 2nd place Sam Wharton, 3rd place Nick Raymond and 6th place Sam Prakel.

Foot Locker Midwest Regional Coverage - Freshman / Sophomore Boys Race Link to Fr / So Boys Race PICS here Results Below  

  Kenosha, Wis., November 20, 2012–  275 Wisconsin high school athletes are slated to compete at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships Midwest Regional race on Saturday, Nov. 24 at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha, Wis. Several high school runners are returning to yet again compete against some of the best runners in the region for a coveted spot in the national finals. 

  Alexandria Fons Competes at Foot Locker Cross Country Championships Midwest Regional   Kenosha, Wis., November 20, 2012– Alexandria Fons will compete at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships Midwest Regional race on Saturday, Nov. 24 at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in Kenosha, Wis. Alexandria Fons of Franklin, WI, returns to compete against some of the best runners in the region for a coveted spot in the national finals. Fons, a senior, placed 15th in last year’s national race.  

  The Wayne E. Dannehl course is a dedicated cross country course on the west side of the UW-Parkside campus in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It has hosted every Foot Locker Midwest regional ever held, as well as 27 NAIA Championships (22 straight from 1981 to 2002). It’s a classic midwestern course, not far from Chicago and very close to the Lake Michigan shore. The start is in a wide clearing, which gradually narrows and eventually becomes just a tunnel through the trees. The course is rolling, and the university course maps even include an elevation profile. This is not a great course for spectators; the sylvan nature of the course makes it difficult to see much of the race. It is, however, the place where every midwestern high schooler with big-time dreams has come to run since 1979. A course preview video, again from Flotrack: Full Story on The Track & Field Superfan Blog...

  Open for a prediction of the Nike Cross Regionals - Heartland (11/11) qualifiers to Nike Cross Nationals

    WAY TO GO, ARROWHEAD GIRLS!!! Heartland (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin) 1. Arrowhead (WI) 2. Neenah (WI) 3. Eagan (MN) 4. Wayzata (MN) 5. Dowling Catholic (IA) 6. East Ridge (MN) 7. Rapid City Central (SD) 8. St. Thomas Aquinas (KS) 9. Bishop Carroll (KS) 10. Brookfield Central (WI)

Benton High School - Benton, WI Number of years coaching: 31 years coaching high school Track and Field. At a glance: In the 1980’s, Coach Paul Raley lead a strong track program at Benton High School before leaving to pursue other job opportunities. The program that he championed eventually folded, so when he retired from teaching he returned to Benton High School to revive the program that he loved so dearly. For the first four years, he funded the program on his own and continues to work for free as the volunteer head coach. Now as he faces his own personal medical struggles, he continues to coach as much as possible, so he can pass his joy of running and coaching advice onto his athletes.  

RUNNERS TO WATCH in this fall season of Cross Country from Metro Milwaukee's high school teams (via www.jsonline.com)

A dedicated ESPNHS team managed the Gatorade State Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year selection process, resulting in winners based on the program's three pillars: athletic production and impact in the 2012 season, high academic achievement and exemplary personal character.  ESPN's High School 2012 Wisconsin Boys Track & Field Athlete of the Year Winner: Carl Hirsch  

A dedicated ESPNHS team managed the Gatorade State Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year selection process, resulting in winners based on the program's three pillars: athletic production and impact in the 2012 season, high academic achievement and exemplary personal character.  ESPN's High School 2012 Wisconsin Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year Winner: Kennedy Blahnik  

Name: Matt Williams School: Waunakee Year: Senior Sports: Track and field, football, basketball Track and field highlights: Matt was a four-time letterwinner and a three-time state qualifier competing in the triple jump and long jump. As a senior, he placed fifth at the WIAA Division 1 state meet in the long jump and ninth in the triple jump. A team captain, he was also named the team’s Most Valuable Performer. He was a four-time individual conference champion – winning the long jump and triple jump his senior year -- and a member of two conference team championships. He also competed at state in the triple jump as a junior and in the long jump as a sophomore.  

  Haley Johnson finished her career at Plymouth High School as the only female runner in the area in at least the last 17 years to accomplish two things. First, she broke the 11-minute barrier in the 3,200 — first at the WIAA Division 1 State Meet last year and then again this year — to win state gold in her senior season. Second, she became the only runner in area history to break 5 minutes in the 1,600 with a time of 4:58.60 — good for third place at State. The Sheboygan Press All-Area Athlete of the Year helped lead a strong Panthers showing at State along with fellow seniors Niki Rhyan and Jenni Rathsack. Johnson won the 3,200 on Day 1 while Rhyan took home gold in the 800 on Day 2 in 2:13.80, which is the fastest time in at least 17 years in that event. The trio led Plymouth to a second-place finish as a team, the area's best team finish in Division 1 ever.  

It was a great 2011-2012 in both cross country and track across the Badger State. Many of our seniors will soon be on their way to start their college careers both athletically and academically so we wanted to salute them one more time in this special feature.

Four local prep track and field standouts competed for Team Wisconsin in the 14th annual Midwest Senior Spotlight track and field meet on Saturday. The meet is an invitation-only all-star meet for the best seniors in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Fifty-five athletes from Team Wisconsin took part in the competition, which was hosted by the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill. Jessie Reineck of Fox Valley Lutheran ran the final leg on three relay teams, two of which took first place in the girls competition. The 400-meter relay team took first in 49.51 seconds, the 800 relay took first in 1:44.89 and the 1,600 relay took second in 4:00.38, just behind the winning team from Iowa (4:00.36). Brett Pozolinski of Kimberly took sixth in the triple jump and seventh in the high jump in the boys’ competition. He jumped 43 feet, six inches in the triple jump and 6-4 in the high jump. AJ Scarbrough of Team Illinois won the triple jump with a leap of 46-11½. Logan Hovie of Neenah competed in the high jump and took eighth, one spot behind Pozolinski with a jump of 6-2. Kevin Spejcher of Team Illinois won the event with a jump of 6-10.  

JOLIET, Ill. — Tessa Thurs continued her remarkable spring at the Senior All-Star Spotlight meet at St. Francis University this past weekend.   The meet features senior athletes from Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois.   Thurs, who won the 100 and 300 hurdles, respectively, and the triple jump, won the 400 hurdles at the all-star meet in 1 minute, 5.0 seconds, won the long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 2 1/4 inches, and took third in the triple jump (35-10 1/2) and 100 hurdles (16.02).   For good measure, Thurs, who is headed for the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the fall, teamed with some fellow Wisconsin athletes to finish second in the 1600 relay.   In another outstanding performance, Wausau West’s Sarah Poirier, headed to Marquette, dominated the 3200-meter field, winning in 11:25.94, more than 40 seconds ahead of second place.

Shortly after she won her third state title this month, a reporter asked Milwaukee Bradley Tech standout Elexis Fuller-Stewart if she could have pictured a better end to her high school career. "Having a team behind me, yeah," she said. "It would have been a lot better than to be by myself." Indeed the 2012 season was an adjustment for the senior who for the previous three seasons was a part of state championship and record-setting teams. Instead of being a cog in the machine this year, she was a one-person wrecking crew. The Journal Sentinel's track and field athlete of the year brought home three state titles, winning the 100 and 200 meters in Division 1 and repeating as the 100 high hurdle champion. And she did it all while nursing hip and knee injuries that appeared to hamper her production. The 100 and 100 hurdles is a combination rarely seen because the races are run back to back. At state, Fuller-Stewart had about 20 minutes between the events. That, however, was a piece of cake compared to the regional meet, where she had preliminary heats in the 100 and 200 and finals in the 100, 200 and 100 hurdles, or the state indoor, where she had to run three heats of the 55 and 55 hurdles to win titles. Despite the unique challenge and her nagging injuries, Fuller-Stewart dominated...

More than 50 of Wisconsin’s finest track and field athletes competed in Saturday's 14th annual Midwest Senior Spotlight Track and Field meet, held at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Ill.  Here are results for those standout seniors sent to represent Wisconsin at this Midwest regional meet: http://www.wistca.org/spotlight/2012results.htm

    LA CROSSE -- Tyler Schwartzman experienced the lowest of lows and the highest of highs Saturday at the WIAA state track and field meet. Seeded second in the 110 hurdles in the Division 3 competition Schwartzman was disqualified. The Tri-County junior redeemed himself in the 300 hurdles, winning the state title in 39.94 seconds, edging Marathon's Cody Ewert and giving him three medals for the weekend. "I was even more determined in the 300s after how disappointed I was after the 100s," said Schwartzman, who was also on the Penguins' fifth-place 800 relay team and earned a bronze in the triple jump on Friday. "This was my first state championship and I want to come back and do it again next year."  

Boys Track: Brook East wins WIAA State T&F Championships   While Brookfield East (39 points) beat out La Crosse Central (35) for the WIAA State Track & Field Championship on Friday and Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, perhaps the biggest surprise was the third-place finish by coach Mark Pulkownik's Brookfield Central team.   "What a great weekend the athletes had," Pulkownik said. "To finish third was a great accomplishment for the kids that went to state and to finish with a state record (3,200 relay) as well. It was truly a state meet to remember."   (See separate story on Carl Hirsch and the 3,200 relay team.)   Three competitors who competed but didn't score in their individual events were junior Elliot Yanasak and seniors Nick Petersson and Amir Alwan. Petersson and Alwan were part of the record-setting 3,200 relay, however (see separate story).   Yanasak finished 12th in the pole vault with a leap of 13 feet, 6 inches, while Petersson was 12th in the 3,200, finishing with a time of 9:38.25. Alwan finished 15th in the 800 (1:56.58).

Name: Leigha Hodge School: Madison La Follette Year: Senior Sports: Track and field, basketball, cross country, volleyball Track and field highlights: Leigha is a four-time letterwinner, competing as a sprinter in the 400 and the 400- and 800-meter relays. As a senior she qualified for the WIAA Division 1 state meet as a member of the 400- and 800-meter relays and was a team co-captain. The Lancers won Big Eight Conference and regional titles in the 400 and 800 relays and the sectional title in the 400 relay. She competed at state in the 3,200 relay as a junior and the Lancers finished ninth. She also competed in the 400-meter dash as a sophomore and the 400 and 800 relays as a freshman. She was voted the team’s Most Valuable Performer as a sophomore and Top Sprinter as a junior and freshman.      

  It was a dominant performance by an exceptionally talented group of runners. Not only that, it set a new state record in the process. At Friday's WIAA state track and field championships in La Crosse, the Neenah High School girls’ 3,200-meter relay team powered their way to victory. It was the second consecutive state title for the Neenah foursome of Alison Parker, Claire Knaus, Jessica Parker and Jennifer Parker. The Rockets demolished the rest of the state field in the Division 1 3,200 relay by setting the state record with a time of 9:00.42. Their closest competitor was Arrowhead with a time of 9:19.48, more than 19 seconds behind Neenah’s mark. “We knew we wanted to do it this year,” Knaus said. “We’ve come so close in other state meets of almost making it. There were no second chances this year. We were going to come out and do the best we could do, with no regrets. And I think we accomplished that.” All four splits are essential in a relay, but Knaus knew she had to get the Rockets off to a solid start. Neenah came in with a modest seed time of 9:55.15, but windy conditions in last week’s sectionals skewed many of the times.  

LA CROSSE — As he accepted congratulations from teammates and competitors after winning the boys 800-meter run at the WIAA state Division 2 track and field meet on Friday, Monroe sophomore Ethan Moehn appeared stunned. With good reason. Showing poise beyond his years, Moehn ran the perfect race, eclipsing a talented field that included the defending state champion and breaking the state record of 1 minute, 54.30 seconds set by Waunakee’s Mike Raemisch in 1986. When Moehn saw his time of 1:54.00, he knew precisely the significance of the moment. “To hold that for 25 years, it’s a great record,” he said. “I hope it holds up 25 more.” Moehn eclipsed his previous best time by 2.65 seconds.  

New WIAA State Meet Records » The Edgar girls set a state record in the 400 and 1,600 relays, breaking both marks that the program set in 2010. » University Lake School senior Molly Seidel won the Division 3 girls 3,200 for the fourth consecutive year and did so in a division record time of 10:21.93 » The Neenah girls 3,200 relay team of Clarie Knaus, Jennifer Parker, Jessica Parker and Aliscon Parker set a state Division 1 record with a time of 9:00.42. The previous mark of 9:03.38 was held by Marinette since 1994. » Two-time state champion Alex Flucke of Ashwaubenon and Arrowhead's Cami Gilson, the Division runner-up, both tied the state pole vault record with a height of 12-6. Ashwaubenon's Ashley Alme also reached that height in 2003. » Algoma's senior Zach Blahnik won the Division 3 boys discus with a throw of 175-6, and his sister, Kennedy, a sophomore, set a mark in winning the girls shot put in 47-11.0.  

  Friday saw many student-athletes from Northcentral Wisconsin bring home the hardware at the State Track and Field Championships in La Crosse. Champions include Kyle Schueller of Edgar, Darren Hudziak, and Jena Heidman of Edgar. Top finishers as well as a plethora of other sFond du Lac High School had three top-10 finishes from athletes at the first day of the WIAA Division 1 State Track & Field Meet in La Crosse. The best Fondy finish came from senior discus thrower Emily Riese, who threw 123 feet, 11 inches for fourth place. Riese was the top seed going into the event with a qualifying mark of 129-7. Madison Memorial’s Corinne Franz won with a 137-4 toss. Riese will compete on Saturday in the shot put along with senior Shavana Talbert, who is the event’s top seed. The Cardinals got two ninth places from other individual girls competitors.andouts took part in the D2 and D3 portion of Friday's meet.  

  Friday saw many student-athletes from Northcentral Wisconsin bring home the hardware at the State Track and Field Championships in La Crosse. Champions include Kyle Schueller of Edgar, Darren Hudziak, and Jena Heidman of Edgar. Top finishers as well as a plethora of other standouts took part in the D2 and D3 portion of Friday's meet.  

LA CROSSE, Wis. --The Platteville girls 4x800-meter relay team once again put on a performance that will be hard to forget, and in doing so, nearly broke the state meet record. The relay team featuring senior Tricia Serres, juniors Laura Donovan and Julia Lawinger, and newcomer freshman Allie Serres came 17 one hundredths of a second of breaking the record, while coming from behind for a first-place finish that drew the attention of the entire Veterans Memorial Stadium at the WIAA state track and field meet Friday afternoon.  

Blahnik won his first state title in the discus and did it in record fashion, throwing the disc 175 feet, 6 inches. The previous record was 175-3 by Wild Rose's Jeremiah Rolfs (1999). Neehah Girl's 3200 Meter Relay also sets Division 1 State Record. The Rockets relay team won the event by 19 seconds and all four runners return next season.

  LA CROSSE — Two weeks ago, there was no certainty this day would come for Kennedy Blahnik. A WIAA Division 3 shot put and discus champion as a freshman, the Algoma standout sophomore sat in a doctor's office the day after the Algoma regional not knowing if her season would be over after a meniscus tear in her left knee. Although Blahnik initially was told she wouldn't be able to compete in the throws at sectionals or state, she was cleared in time to defend her titles at this weekend's WIAA state track and field meet at Veterans Memorial Stadium.  

Kennedy Blahnik is halfway to her goal of becoming an eight-time state champion, but the Algoma sophomore almost didn't get a chance to participate in the state track and field meet which was held this past weekend at Memorial Stadium at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. (via )

LA CROSSE - Yes, there was pain. Of course there was. You don't win a state championship in the grueling 800-meter run (some would say dash) without that key ingredient. (via )

LA CROSSE -- An overview of Saturday's competition at the WIAA state track and field championships at Veterans Memorial Field. (via )

2012 Sectionals saw lots of familiar faces qualifying for the WIAA State Meet in La Crosse. There were also some surprises. Here's the rundown of who's running this weekend at Veterans Memorial Stadium:

All it took was a few missed from the competition at 10 feet.   And just like that, Sauk Prairie’s Katrina Fuchs was going to the state meet. As soon as she cleared the mark, Fuchs said she was overcome with a good feeling at Thursday’s WIAA Sectional meet in Middleton. Fuchs said the feeling was especially good because of the bad luck she’s had the past three years. “Working with Katrina for the last four years and the struggles she’s had, to see her finally make it really made me happy,” Sauk Prairie track and field coach Andy Sherman said. Fuchs is one of four Eagles who qualified for the WIAA Division 1 state meet this Friday and Saturday at Veterans Memorial Field on the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus in La Crosse.  

  ASHWAUBENON — Last year was all about the chase for Spencer Turriff. From the start of the track and field season, the West De Pere standout's goal was to bring home the WIAA Division 1 state championship that eluded him in 2010 in the 300-meter hurdles. After Turriff captured the 2011 title, however, he felt a greater motivation to defend it entering his senior season. Turriff ensured himself of that opportunity during a windy Thursday afternoon at the D1 Ashwaubenon sectional, where he won the 300 hurdles in 39.09 seconds to earn his third trip to state. As a sophomore two years ago, Turriff took fourth in the event before coming within a few tenths of a second of breaking the D1 state record in the event last year en route to the title in 37.87 seconds. Although he's the one with the target on his back, it's a role Turriff has embraced leading up to next week's state track and field meet in La Crosse. "It's been tough, but it...    

MIDDLETON — MIDDLETON — Gina Sereno ran in just one event Thursday at the WIAA Division 1 Middleton track and field sectional. And the Madison West junior didn’t even win it. But the Regents’ distance runner gained something more rewarding from her runner-up finish in the 1,600-meter run: The satisfaction of having made a good decision. A year ago, Sereno was a midfielder fighting for playing time on the girls soccer team. This year, she earned another week of time on the track by finishing between track veterans Sarah Heinemann of Waunakee and teammate Olivia Pratt in the 1,600 to qualify for next week’s WIAA state meet at UW-La Crosse. “It’s overwhelming,” said Sereno, whose twin brother Jeff advanced to state on a sectional-champion 3,200 relay. “I’m really excited. I never thought (qualifying for state) could happen my first year.”  

Track and field highlights: Alex is a four-time letter winner competing in the 400-meter dash, 800-meter run and 1,600- and 3,200-meter relays. As a senior, he set school records in the 800 (1 minute, 55.51 seconds) and on the 3,200 relay (7:53.89). The 3,200 relay won the City Indoor meet title and established a new meet record. A co-captain as a junior, he competed on the 3,200 relay that placed eighth at the WIAA Division 1 state meet. As a sophomore, he ran on the 3,200 relay that placed 13th at state.    

Track and field highlights: Elena is a three-time letterwinner competing in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs and the 3,200-meter relay. A three-time City Meet champion, she won titles in the 3,200 outdoors as a freshman, the 3,200 indoors as a junior and the 1,600 indoors as a senior. She qualified for the WIAA Division 1 state meet in the 3,200 as a sophomore. She won the 2,000-meter steeplechase in 7 minutes, 35 seconds at the Kansas Relays as a senior. Her personal-best time in the 3,200 is 11:07.    

PLATTEVILLE — PLATTEVILLE — Jen Wellnitz was a blur Monday night. First up, there were the triple jump trials, followed by trials for the 100- and 200-meter dashes. After securing first-place finishes in the finals in all three events, the Black Hawk sophomore wrapped up the evening by winning the long jump title. Wellnitz’s 40-point effort fueled Black Hawk’s third-place finish at the Six Rivers Conference meet at Ralph E. Davis Stadium.  

MANITOWOC — The Green Bay Preble boys track and field team took home the Fox River Classic Conference Meet title for the 13th time in the past 14 years on Tuesday afternoon, winning nine events at Ron Rubick Municipal Field. Jake Wallenfang posted two conference meet records; one in the 200 meters (21.80 seconds) and the other in the pole vault (14 feet). Robert Starnes also had a big day for the Hornets with a conference meet record-tying long jump of 21-8¼ and also winning the high jump (6-4). Green Bay Preble swept the relays. (Pic and article courtesy of Green Bay Press-Gazette )  

The Mauston High School track and field team traveled to Pioneer-Westfield High School for the 2012 South Central Conference track and field championship meet. The weather gods were very kind so the conditions were really good for some great track and field action. It was a good night for the MHS Golden Eagles. The MHS girls team was able to use their outstanding team depth and talent to win the 2012 SCC team championship scoring 196 points, the third highest point total by a MHS girls track and field team at the SCC meet. (via )

Crowning six event champions along the way, the Reedsburg Area High School boys and girls track and field teams earned third- and fourth-place finishes, respectively, in Tuesday’s Badger North Conference meet at Waunakee. (via )

  Wisconsin Girls High School  ALL-DIVISION Track and Field Honor Roll Week 11 May 21 - May 26, 2012 http://wisconsintrackonline.com/pdf2012/d123_week11

Wrightstown's Bonnie Draxler made the most of her night at the Olympian Conference quadrangular at Brillion on Thursday. Draxler won the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.36 seconds, the seventh-fastest time in that event in Wisconsin this season. The sophomore won the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.61, the third-fastest time in the state this season.

Monona, WI - Baumann won the shot put title with a toss of 56 feet, 5¾ inches and kept his lead in the discus after uncorking a throw of 181 feet on his last effort in the preliminary round to sweep both events and earn the field event performer of the meet award.. (via )  

Chris Solinsky, former Stevens Point High School star and former UW-Madison Badger speaks about running professionally.

WEST BEND – WEST BEND – Beaver Dam’s boys track and field team won six events and established three meet records in capturing the Little Ten Relays title on Thursday afternoon.    

CEDARBURG — Cedarburg High School Senior in his quest to win State in both the long and triple jump events... (via )

  Monona Grove senior Theron Baumann registered the fourth-longest discus mark in state history Friday when he won the Fort Atkinson Invitational with a toss of 195 feet, 8 inches. The mark trails Valders’ Sean Pruitt (215-7 in 2005), Oshkosh North’s David Niemuth (200-10 in 1982) and Luke Sullivan (198-11 in 1994) on the state’s all-time list in the event.    

Enjoy this candid interview with Elizabeth Flatley of Brookfield Central. As a Sophomore, she led her team to a State Championship in Cross-Country with her 7th place personal finish. Continuing on her successes, she posted the 3rd fastest indoor time in the State this Spring for the 1600 Meter Run in 5:11.77.

Runner Profile:  Interview with Brookfield Central Junior Standout, Carl Hirsch. Carl was 5th at the Wisconsin D1 State Meet in 15:50 and had the 2nd fastest 3200 Meter Run in the State this spring.

UW-Stout's Tim Nelson and Michael Lihrman were named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) track and field athletes of the week after their record breaking performances last Friday. Nelson set a new mark in the 5000-meter, while Lihrman raised the standard in the hammer throw. (via )

Another year, another track title for the Milwaukee Marquette boys and Wisconsin Lutheran girls at the Viking Invitational on Saturday at Wisconsin Lutheran. The two programs have dominated the event for years. Wisconsin Lutheran won its sixth straight title. Marquette took first for the second time in three years and the fifth time since 2005. However, as these traditional powers were doing their things, a fresh face continued his emergence on the high school scene. Wisconsin Lutheran's Eric Brown looks every bit the freshman with his skinny arms and legs and baby face. On the track, however, he is displaying the potential to be something special. Saturday he pulled off...(via www.jsonline.com)

Kewaunee boys track and field coach Joe Kassner is hoping that there is strength in numbers. For the second straight year, the Storm boasts a roster of 30 members, which should help offset the graduation loss of arguably the program's best all-time performer, Jordan Schmidt. Schmidt, who is now competing at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, left holding four school records and was a two-time WIAA Division 2 state champion in the 110-meter hurdles. He also qualified for state in three other events last season. This year the Storm will be powered primarily by six juniors and 15 sophomores. Kassner said his team is probably a year away from competing for the Packerland Conference title. He feels the intra-squad competition this season is making everyone better for a run at that championship.. (via Green Bay Press Gazette)

MADISON, Wis. -- After two days of competition, the Wisconsin women’s track and field team’s trio of multi-event athletes found themselves in a very familiar position Thursday -- at the top of the Big Ten and the record books. After strong performances in the heptathlon at the Mt. SAC Relays/California Invitational Combined Events, the Wisconsin athletes also landed themselves in favorable position for postseason competition. Senior Jessica Flax, junior Dorcas Akinniyi and sophomore Deanna Latham all scored top-10 finishes. Flax earned the Badgers’ top finish with a second-place showing and moved closer to an Olympic trials berth in the process by compiling a score of 5,662 points -- a total that is not only the Big Ten’s best mark this season, but also the best in Badgers history. The defending Big Ten champion’s school-record effort surpassed the previous UW mark of 5,637 set by Melissa Talbot in 2007. It also moved Flax to fourth nationally in the heptathlon and surpassed the “B” qualifying standard for this summer’s USA Olympic Trials.(via www.uwbadgers.com)

Lucy Schmitz was the lone first-place finisher for the Roncalli track and field teams on Thursday at the Xavier Invitational at Rocky Bleier Field in Appleton. Schmitz had the winning time in the 1,600 meter run, finishing in 5 minutes, 35.62 seconds. The boys team scored 43 points, finishing sixth in the eight-team field, while the girls team scored 71 points, good for seventh place. The 3,200-meter relay team of Meghan Jacoby, Andrea Lohr, Mary Cvetan and Shelby Thompson finished second (10:54.94) and Kayla Palowski took third place in the discus with a throw of 69 feet. On the boys side... (via Herald Times Reporter)

MARSHALL – Columbus’ track and field team had two winning performances at Saturday’s Marshall Invitational. The Cardinals’ 400-meter boys relay team of Bryan Rhode, Josh Ritchie, Jack Basten and Justin Roche captured the win in 47.57 seconds. They also took second in the 800 relay (1:36.23). Justin Maier was second in the pole vault (13-3) as was Ryan Prosser in the 3,200 (10:31.26). For the girls, Angie Miller won the triple jump with a leap of 35 feet, 3.75 inches. She was also second in the long jump (16-6) and the 800 relay (1:50.27) along with Lena Mason, Emma Severson and Madeline Tompach. Tompach and Mason worked with Emilie Boomsma and Alyssa Grimes to take second in the 3,200 relay (10:47.03). (via Wiscnews.com)

COLUMBUS – Columbus edged the Lake Mills boys, 76-69, in Tuesday’s Northern Capitol track and field dual meet while the girls dropped a 95-51 decision to the L-Cats. Brent Schmidt swept the hurdles by taking the 110 meter highs in 15.92 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 44.54. Ryan Prosser won the 1,600 run (4:45.26) and the 3,200 run (10:37) while Jeremy Johnson claimed the 200 (23.75) and the long jump (18 feet, 8 inches). Josh Ritchie posted wins in the 100 dash (11.36) and the 400 relay (with Justin Maier, Jack Basten and Bryan Rhode in 46.42) while Maier took the triple jump (39-8). Basten, Rhode, Ritchie and Johnson won the 800 in 1:35.68. Madeline Tompach led the girls by winning the 100 dash (13.03) and the 400 (1:01.46). Columbus heads to Friday’s Daily Citizen Invitational at Beaver Dam.l (via Wiscnews.com)

The Sheboygan Falls girls track and field team took first place Tuesday in the Eastern Wisconsin Conference relays at Plymouth. The host Panthers took second in both the girls and boys brackets. Waupun took first for the boys. Falls' Samantha Reilly took first in the girls discus throw relay, finishing with a 107-9. Teammate Jessy Liebelt won the long jump relay (14-9 ½), and Maria Mueller took first in the 900 hurdles relay (53.56). For the Plymouth boys, Evan Guell... (via Sheboygan Press)  

As Sarah Poirier considered her college offers of where to continue her track and cross country career, she always knew in the back of her mind where she felt the most comfortable -- Marquette University. The Wausau West senior made her commitment official as she signed a letter of intent Monday afternoon with the Big East school that felt like home to her in some ways.   It's easy to see why.   Both of Poirier's parents -- Rich and Jane -- are Marquette graduates, and that played into her decision, but wasn't the only factor. "I'm familiar with the school and (Marquette) has always been in the back of my mind," said Poirier, who also considered offers from the University of Wisconsin, Iowa State, Wofford (S.C.) College as well as interest from a number of Division II and Division III schools. "I like that it is strong in academics as well as athletics. The combination of the two put it up high for me. (Courtesy of the Wausau Daily Herald)

  The weather was perfect for track and field and a large crowd was on hand to witness the first home track meet held at Royall High School in twenty years. The Brunner family provided the funds necessary to build a new track and field facility that replaced the former outdated dirt and cinder track. The Royall Panther track team had been 'on the road' for 20 years since their last home meet in 1992. (via www.wisconsintrackonline.com)  

The Algoma boys and girls track teams are once again well worth watching. The Wolves, anchored by throwers Zach and Kennedy Blahnik, won both Packerland Conference boys and girls meet titles in 2011. The boys also tied for the WIAA Division 3 sectional championship and finished third at state. "Where we're strong, we're strong," Algoma coach Steve Schmiling said. "We also have some good up-and-coming kids." (via Green Bay Press Gazette)

The Raider track and field teams continued to make their presence known on the state honor rolls last week. Both the Raider boys’ and girls’ 4x100 meter relay teams posted the fastest times of any Wisconsin school at the Hastings Triangular meet last week. (via www.hudsonstarobserver.com)

  Elexis Fuller-Stewart didn't just go back-to-back in the 55-meter hurdles, she went to back-to-back, period. The Milwaukee Bradley Tech senior repeated as the high hurdles champion at the WTFA state indoor meet at Kachel Fieldhouse on the UW-Whitewater campus Saturday, winning the race in 8.06 seconds to break a meet record that stood since 1986. Then she walked back to the starting line, stepped back into the blocks and won the 55 dash in 7.27 seconds, a time that would have ranked fifth among all times in the state entering the day. She ran a 7.21 in that event in the semifinals. That's right. Two events, two first-place finishes - in less than 5 minutes. It's a feat we probably won't see Fuller-Stewart try again, at least that's her hope. "Absolutely not," she said with a smile. For her work, Fuller-Stewart, who also led off the 800 relay to a third-place finish in 1 minute 51.78 seconds, was named the girl's athlete of the meet.. (via www.jsonline.com)  

Wausau East senior Ashley Eckhoff has aspirations of being an All-American runner in college. The Lumberjacks' standout wants to be pushed to her maximum potential, and when looking for the school to help her with that, she searched from North Carolina to Oklahoma to Colorado for the right place. When she finished looking, she found the right place just down the road in Madison at the University of Wisconsin, where Eckhoff signed recently to join its cross country and track and field teams. (via Wausau Daily Herald)

The Honor Roll has been updated with marks from last week and over the weekend, and the second printable Honor Roll of the season for both boys and girls is available for download.   | 4/9/2012 (via www.wissports.net) http://images.wissports.net/trackcc/2012/boys_week4.pdf http://images.wissports.net/trackcc/2012/girls_week4.pdf

STEVENS POINT -- Tyler Kraeger had the night of his life on the biggest stage he's been on. The Stevens Point Area Senior High junior vaulted a personal best 14 feet to win the pole vault and help lead the Panthers boys to the team title with 171 points Tuesday during the Wisconsin Valley Conference Indoor Championships held at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Health Enhancement Center. (Read full story on the Wausau Daily Herald)

PLYMOUTH – Waupun’s boys track and field team won 10 events while taking Tuesday’s Eastern Wisconsin quadrangular. (via Wiscnews.com)

Wisconsin Girls Weekly Feature on Track and Field. Brookfield Central won the GMC Indoor Meet for the fith year in a row by outscoring runnerup Menomonee Falls and third place Brookfield East.(via www.wisconsintrackonline.com)

NEKOOSA -- Raquel Ebbe rocked Veterans Memorial Stadium last June with a historic performance. (via Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune)

During the first practice of the season, Nick Marcelle looked squarely at his team and spelled out his plans for the Green Bay Preble boys track and field program. (via Green Bay Press Gazette)