Suring girls, Lena/STAA boys win M&O team track and field titles

Area track and field teams had strong days at the Marinette & Oconto Conference Meet on May 17 in Suring.

The Suring girls team finished first with 180 points, while the Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas Academy co-op secured first with 149 points.

The Gillett girls placed second with 118½ points, while Lena/STAA was fourth with 91 points. The Suring boys placed fourth with 97 points, and Gillett came in sixth with 91 points.

Suring

The Suring girls claimed four first-place finishes at the meet.

Christine Sleeter won the high jump after clearing 5 feet, 4 inches.

Olivia Noack placed first in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 37.71 seconds.

The girls 4x200 relay (2:02.13) and 4x400 relay (4:41.01) teams also came in first.

Birdee Cramer placed second in the 100 hurdles (17.87) and 300 hurdles (54.21). Sleeter came in second in the pole vault (8-6), while Macie Reed finished second in the shot put (31-9½).

The girls 4x800 relay team had a time of 11:48.57 was also good enough for second.

Placing third for the Suring girls was Noack in the 1,600 (5:50.97) and 3,200 (13:50.35), Sleeter in the 400 (1:06.4), Lily Hakes in the 200 (29.5), Kaylee Otradovec in the 300 hurdles (56.5) and Harlee Wolf in the discus (95-9).

“After getting conference champ in high jump, I needed that confidence for the rest of my events,” said Sleeter. “Pole vault, I got second place and that also gave me so much confidence. Then I ran a PR (personal record) in my 400 and that made me super happy. I definitely couldn’t have done it without the best coach ever, Mrs. (Heidi) Gerndt. She pushed me so much and she was one of the reasons I did so well.

“All the girls on my team cheered me on throughout the whole meet. It was amazing running and being able to hear them from the sidelines. I love my team and my coaches and I’m so glad that we got conference champs.”

Jeremy Hensel posted both of the boys team’s top finishes, winning the 400 (55.23) and pole vault (12-9).

Jackson Schaal took second in the shot put with a toss of 41-1½. He placed third in the discus (107-6).

Trent VanDenElzen claimed third in the high jump (5-4) and pole vault (10 feet), while Ashtyn Edwards was third in the 300 hurdles (48.18).

Lena/STAA

The Lena/STAA boys team was powered by first-place finishes from its 4x100 relay (45.56) and 4x400 relay (3:56.07) teams.

Sidney Sylvester placed first individually in the triple jump (39-11).

“The strong finish in triple jump gives me a lot of confidence going into regionals,” said Sylvester. “I have high expectations and I hope I can preform to my best and make it to state in triple jump.”

The team’s 4x200 relay (1:43.69) and 4x800 relay (9:36.84) teams came in second. Braeden Neta placed second in the 400 (56.58).

Placing third for the boys team was Max Beyer in the triple jump (38-6) and long jump (18-10½), Sylvester in the 400 (56.66), Bladyn Anderson in the 3,200 (11:25.79), Sam Marquardt in the 200 (24.2) and Lane Whiting in the 100 (11.97).

“Our boys team is like no other,” said Sylvester of the team’s conference title. “We always challenge each other to be our best and that is what ultimately pushes me. We took on a few athletes this year from the baseball team and that helps a ton. There is never a lack of support and I couldn’t trade any of them.”

Natalie McNurlen led the girls team with a top finish in the triple jump (34-5¼).

McNurlen placed second in the 400 (1:06.38), while Eva Brooks was second in the high jump (5-3). McNurlen claimed third in the long jump (16-1), with Brooks third in the triple jump (30-5½).

The team’s 4x100 relay (58.04), 4x400 relay (4:47.7) and 4x800 relay (12:04.47) teams all took third.

Gillett

Carleigh Kaczmarek won the 1,600 (5:44.23), while Ryann Wagner came in first in the 3,200 (12:38.69) to lead the Gillett girls.

The girls team’s 4x800 relay was also first with a time of 11:28.5.

Kaczmarek placed second in the 800 (2:41.46) and 3,200 (13:04).

“My strong finishes definitely make me feel like I can compete with some of the best,” said Kaczmarek. “It also tells me that I need to keep believing in myself and working hard to be better. Very excited to see what the end of the season has for my teammates and I.”

Angela Mosconi finished second in the 1,600 (5:44.25).

The girls 4x200 relay (2:08.21) and 4x400 relay (4:46.71) also placed second.

Alaina Herzog finished third in the high jump (4-6).