Colfax sends several athletes on to sectional meet

BOYCEVILLE – Nine girls and six boys all took a step closer to the state track and field meet by placing in the top four of their events during a steady rain at the regional meet held in Boyceville May 27. The Colfax girls finished second as a team behind Eau Claire Regis and the boys were sixth with Regis also winning the team title.

Ben Kragness chose a great time to peak in his throwing events by winning both the shot put (47-06.75) and the discus (130-03), while Noah Pretasky had a little revenge on Isaac Tuttle from Glenwood City as he edged him out in the 100m dash (11.57) for second place after finishing behind him a week ago at the conference meet. Pretasky also finished fourth in the 200m dash (24.34) then anchored the third place 4 X 100 relay (46.32) along with Aliymu Davis, Brad Foyt and Andew Adix. Adix continues to surprise everyone with his speed as he placed second in the 200m dash (23.75), while Hunter Lieffort finished third in the pole vault (10-00) which was won by Tuttle (11-00).

Heidi Lieffort managed to soar through the raindrops to win the pole vault (8-00) and the discus (122-08) and came up just short of moving on in the high jump with a fifth place (4-08), losing in a jump off. Dempsey Fogarty claimed a second in the 800m run (2:34.65), a fourth in the 400m dash (1:03.58) and helped the 4 X 800 relay to a second place along with Dannielle Dachel, Courtney Dressel and Abby Schotter (10:20.73). And if anyone thinks an inch here or there in the world of track and field doesn’t matter, Fogarty missed qualifying in the long jump by half an inch, placing fifth (15-02). The 4 X 200 relay with Katie Christoffel, Emily Halpin, Bryana Buchanan and Ally Heidorn took third (1:57.88) and the 4 X 100 relay with the same four runners placed fourth (56.77). Also earning a fourth was Dachel in the 800m run (2:41.32) and Heidorn in the 100m dash (13.82).

Several others came up just short of moving on by placing fifth including Dressel in the 1600m run (5:51.37) and 3200m run (12:48) with her time in the 1600 just 25 hundreths of a second behind the fourth place finisher. Halpin was less than an inch away from qualifying in the discus (96-09). Heidorn just missed in the triple jump (30-09.75) as did Christoffel in the 100m dash (18.15) and for the boys, Jelani Smit in the 300m hurdles (46.35)

Other Colfax athletes finishing in the top ten were: Sixth-Smit, 110 hurdles (19.57), and Marianne Scharlau, discus (95-03). Seventh- Isaac Lee, triple jump (35-08.50), Davis 100m dash (12.00), Tucker Hovde, 400m dash (58.06), and Megan Schleusner who is new to the pole vault (6-06). The boys’ 4 X 200 relay was also seventh with Davis, Lee, Adix and Foyt (1:42.23). Placing eighth was the girls’ 4 X 400 relay with Jezz Tweed, Schleusner, Andrea Scharlau and Erin Nellessen (4:54.26), and Tucker Teige was ninth in the 400m dash (59.82) as was Allison Yingst in the long jump (13-06), Kamdon Quast in the pole vault (7-06) and Schotter in the 800m run (2:52.45).

“This was the definition of a roller coaster night for our girls team,” Colfax girls’ coach Ryan Krall said. “We had so many great performances that came up just short of qualifying for the sectional meet. I feel for the kids that put in so much effort all season to just fall short. To have kids finish fifth in eight different events is something new to me. Heidi did a great job throwing and vaulting under tough conditions and Dempsey gutted out two races to qualify for sectionals. Neither of them would say there marks were their best but we are hoping for their best in the next two weeks. Our 4 X 100 and 4 X 200 relays know they have their work cut out for them but they will work hard to earn a spot at state. Our 4 X 800 relay has been the group we have had the greatest confidence in all year and they have high goals for this year.

BOYS TEAM SCORES: Eau Claire Regis 113, Glenwood City 106.5, Spring Valley 92, Chippewa Falls McDonell 82, Boyceville 74.5, Colfax 72, Eleva-Strum 65.5, Elmwood-Plum City 55.5, Immanuel Lutheran 27, Augusta 11

GIRLS TEAM SCORES: Eau Claire Regis 219, Colfax 109, Glenwood City 71, Elmwood-Plum City 65, Immanuel Lutheran 59.5, Boyceville 50.5, Chippewa Falls McDonell 37, Spring Valley 36, Augusta 31, Eleva-Strum 20