The week featured elite sprint races, nationally competitive distance marks, dominant throws, and several major breakthrough performances as athletes continued sharpening form ahead of the state series. Meets such as the FRCC Championship Meet, Badger Conference Championships, Woodland Conference Championships, and RunningLane Track Championships produced many of the strongest marks seen statewide this season.
Sprints & Hurdles
The boys sprint events were highlighted by a razor-close trio of performances in the 100 meters. Carter Gabrielse (Sheboygan North) led the state for the week with a 10.76 victory at the FRCC Championship Meet, narrowly edging Andrew Russell (Prescott), who ran 10.77 to win the Middle Border Conference title. Bennett Bradley (Greenfield) followed closely behind with a 10.81 win at the Woodland East Conference Championships.
Bradley also returned to dominate the 200 meters, winning in 21.86 at Woodland East. Gabe Radcliff (Altoona) and Riley DeMoe (Osceola) pushed each other to strong finishes at the Middle Border Conference Meet, running 22.00 and 22.08 respectively.
The boys 400 meters featured one of the week's tightest finishes. Benjamin Dean (Eastbrook Academy HS) won the Lake City Conference Meet in 48.79, narrowly ahead of Jabari Freeman (Dr. Fuller Collegiate Academy) at 48.88. Brody Oleson (Saint Thomas More) also dipped under 49 seconds with a 48.85 victory at the Metro Classic Conference Championships.
The hurdles produced several elite performances across the state. Rylee Wendt (Greendale/Martin Luther) won the Metro Classic Conference title in 14.21, while Tyler Hancock (De Pere) followed with a 14.31 victory at the FRCC Championship Meet. Wendt also returned to win the 300-meter hurdles in 39.77.
Several athletes also posted major breakthrough performances throughout the week. Jackson Magee (River Falls) dropped over a second in the 110-meter hurdles at the Big Rivers Conference Championship Meet, improving to 16.08 while also setting a personal best in the 300 hurdles.
Kona Eby (Elkhorn Area) delivered a pair of sprint breakthroughs at the SLC V Championship, lowering his 100-meter best to 11.16 while also improving to 53.69 in the 400 meters.
On the girls side, Sydney Knautz (Dominican) produced one of Wisconsin's top sprint doubles of the week, winning the Metro Classic Conference Championships 100 meters in 12.09 before returning to place second in the 200 meters in 24.71.
The girls 200 and 400 meters were dominated by Sydney Falkowski (Kettle Moraine Lutheran), who swept both events at the Glacier Trails Conference Meet. Falkowski ran 24.36 in the 200 before returning with a state-leading 54.69 victory in the 400.
The girls hurdles featured multiple standout performances and close races. Elletta Uddin (Osceola) won the Middle Border Conference 100-meter hurdles title in 14.05 before returning to win the 300 hurdles in 43.40. At the SCC Championship Meet, freshman Selci Sirrell (Berlin) captured the 100 hurdles title in 14.56 while also winning the triple jump later in the meet.
Several girls also delivered major breakthroughs during conference competition. Pra'ier Phillips (Martin Luther) set a school record in the 100-meter hurdles at the Metro Classic Conference Championships, improving to 15.30 for the victory.
Naima Brooks (Beloit Memorial) lowered her 100-meter best to 12.56 at the SLC V Championship, placing second in a competitive sprint field.
Distance
Grady Lenn (De Pere) delivered once again. He performed one of Wisconsin's top distance doubles of the week at the FRCC Championship Meet, winning the 800 meters in 1:54.84 before returning to capture the 1600 meters in 4:15.29.
The boys 800 meters also featured a tight Woodland East Conference battle, where Ryan Optekar (Shorewood) edged teammate Benny Bejma 1:55.42 to 1:55.72 for the title.
The boys 3200 meters produced another strong set of performances led by freshman Owen Drier (Richland Center), who won the SWC Championship Meet in 9:43.31. Austin Jarmuz (University School of Milwaukee) followed closely with a 9:44.38 victory at the Midwest Classic Conference Meet, while Elijah Judd (Stoughton) ran 9:44.63 to win the Badger Small Conference title.
On the girls side, Ruah Franzmann-Simmert (Unattached WI) posted the week's top 800-meter performance, running 2:12.75 for fifth place at the RunningLane Track Championships.
The girls 1600 meters featured one of the deepest races of the week at the Cloverbelt Conference Meet, where teammates Ciara Hartman (Bloomer) and Sophie Strand finished 1-2 in 4:57.03 and 5:01.17 respectively.
Hartman also returned in the 3200 meters, where she placed second behind teammate Aliya Hartman, who won in 10:38.92. Addy Duellman (Cochrane-Fountain City) also broke 10:40 with a 10:39.98 victory at the Chuck Walek Invitational.
The week additionally featured several major distance breakthroughs. Jenna McDaniel (Marshfield) improved nearly 50 seconds in the 3200 meters at the Wisconsin Valley Conference Meet, running 11:44.54 to place second as one of the state's top freshman performers.
Jumps
Isaac Ziegler (DeForest) led the boys long jump performances with a 22-4.5 victory at the Badger Large Conference Championships, narrowly ahead of Marshel Woyak (Wautoma) at 22-3.5.
The boys triple jump featured another close competition, with Vander Heyden Noah (De Pere) winning the FRCC title at 44-4, just ahead of Ethan Potthast (Brookfield Academy) at 44-2, and freshman Dearius Gray (Wisconsin Lutheran) at 44-1.5.
In the high jump, freshman Aiden Hansen (Oregon) cleared 6-7 to win the Badger Large Conference Championships, one of the top marks in Wisconsin this season.
On the girls side, Elletta Uddin added a long jump victory to her hurdle sweep after jumping 18-4.5 at the Middle Border Conference Meet. Grace Krejci (Bloomer) followed closely behind at 18-3.5 during another strong Cloverbelt Conference showing.
Freshman Selci Sirrell (Berlin) highlighted the girls triple jump competition with a 37-2 victory at the SCC Championship Meet, while freshman Lexie Olmstead (Lancaster) jumped 35-11.5 to win the SWC Championship Meet.
The pole vault featured Lera Black (Ashwaubenon), who cleared 12-0 to win the FRCC Championship Meet.
Throws
Brent Weeden (New Glarus) won a loaded Capitol Conference Championship shot put competition with a throw of 59-10, narrowly ahead of Wyatt Graffin (Columbus) at 58-6.5. Richie Flanigan (Notre Dame Academy) also surpassed 57 feet with a 57-9.5 victory at the FRCC Championship Meet.
The discus featured elite statewide marks, led by Aidan Scholze (Watertown), who launched 186-2 to win the Badger Large Conference Championships. Ben Ugorji (Waterloo) followed closely at 179-9 during his Capitol Conference victory, while Andrew Markham (Milton) threw 178-2 for second place at Badger Large.
Several athletes also delivered major breakthroughs in the throws. Nic Busalacchi (Monona Grove) improved over 15 feet in the discus at the Badger Large Conference Championships, throwing 166-10 to place third and move into the rankings as one of the state's top sophomore throwers.
Tyler Budtke (Stratford) set a school record in the shot put at the Marawood Conference Meet, improving to 52-11.5 while finishing second in a competitive 28-athlete field.
On the girls side, Eva Akpandja (Madison Edgewood) won the Badger Small Conference shot put title with a throw of 44-9.5, while Lily Rogers (Baraboo) produced one of the week's top overall throws performances after winning the discus at the Badger Large Conference Championships with a mark of 157-8 and placing second in the shot put.