Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Bonduel High School high jumper Lucas Nolan clears the bar Tuesday afternoon at Shawano Community Middle School. He tied for eighth place.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School sophomore Logan Stefl competes in the long jump Tuesday at Shawano Community Middle School. He jumped 18 feet, 1 inch, good enough for fourth place.
As the end of the season draws near, local track coaches have one thing on their minds.
At the nine-team Shawano Invitational on Tuesday, the results were secondary to the preparation required for conference meets later this week.
Lakeland won the boys and girls titles Tuesday. The Shawano boys and girls both placed fourth. Bonduel was fifth in both meets.
Shawano is getting consistent performances from its senior class, led by Zeke Gueths, Erika Dunnam and Kristy Kurtz.
The challenge, though, is for them to help the younger athletes get up to speed.
“It’s hard for them to be leaders when you have all these younger kids,” Shawano assistant coach Tom Egan said.
Shawano got top finishes Tuesday from Gueths in the discus and Dunnam in the shot put, along with its girls 4x100 relay team. The Hawks also took the top two spots in the pole vault, with senior Kurtz clearing 9 feet, 6 inches and Hannah Wendorff finishing second at 9-0.
“They are as ready as they are going to be,” Egan said. “Now, we are just backing off on everything so that their times should improve.”
Bonduel is still moving some athletes around to find the right fits prior to Saturday’s Central Wisconsin Conference-8 meet.
“You had some other kids run some different races to try to figure out what for conference,” Bonduel head coach James Westrich said. “And they competed hard. I’m really happy with all the kids.”
Emily Sorenson was Bonduel’s only individual first-place finisher, jumping 18-4¾. The Bears’ boys 4x200 relay team raced to a title in 1:35.84.
Westrich is seeing more consistency from his throwers, Perry Spencer and Christie Sell, and Trebor Rueckert has shown great strides after missing part of the season.
“I think they are just figuring out how to run the races better,” Westrich said. “Some of the kids are starting to figure it out. Everything is coming together.”
Shawano Invitational
May 10
Shawano Community Middle School
Boys team scores: Lakeland, 212; Seymour, 155; Antigo, 69; Shawano, 67; Bonduel, 65; Coleman, 53; Clintonville, 46; Menominee Indian, 34; Gresham/Bowler, 15.
Local event winners:
4x200 relay: Bonduel, 1:35.84.
200: Armando Rodriguez, Menominee Indian, 25.13.
Discus: Zeke Gueths, Shawano, 146-11.
Girls team scores: Lakeland, 183.5; Seymour, 126; Clintonville, 96; Shawano, 92; Bonduel, 89.5; Antigo, 50; Coleman, 35; Gresham/Bowler, 29; Menominee Indian, 4.
Local event winners:
100 hurdles: Allysin Booth, Clintonville, 16.70.
200: Jessie Barker, Clintonville, 27.43.
1,600: Kara Pyatskowit, Clintonville, 5:25.77.
3,200: Pyatskowit, Clintonville, 11:36.42.
4x100 relay: Shawano, 59.87.
Pole vault: Kristy Kurtz, Shawano, 9-6.
Long jump: Emily Sorenson, Bonduel, 18-4 3/4.
Shot put: Erika Dunnam, Shawano, 34-2 1/2.