Leader Staff
Gresham-Bowler high school senior Drew Payne earned a fifth-place finish in the opening day of the WIAA Division 3 Track and Field State Championships at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse on Friday.
Payne (42 feet, 10 inches) earned four team points with his finish in the triple jump, which was won by Alex Idonije (44-6.5) of Wayland Academy. Payne’s finish put the Gresham-Bowler boys team in a tie for 19th in the standings with Reedsville, Crivitz and Alma-Pepin heading into the tournament’s second day.
Princeton-Green Lake led the field with 19 points. Boscobel was second with 16.
Menominee Indian senior Gordon James (22.92 seconds) was eighth in the 200-meter dash in the opening day, with Athens’ Aaron Wickman leading the field at 21.73.
In the second day, Payne will compete for the state title in the long jump. Most events are to be decided Saturday. Payne is in the second flight.
Menominee Indian senior Alphonso Smith is in the first flight for the shot put.
Competition resumes at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.