By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STRATFORD – Stratford track coach Mark Guderski isn’t going to win another state title like he did with the boys team back in 2008, but he does have high hopes for his three individuals and two relay teams that will be competing Friday and Saturday at the WIAA State Track and Field Championships at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Ben Robers may have the best shot for a top-six finish and a medal in the Division 3 portion of the meet, as he comes in as the second seed in the boys pole vault after having a vault of 14 feet at last week’s Marathon Sectional.
“He’s only six inches below the No. 1 seed,” Guderski said. “He has done 15 feet in practice before, it’s just a matter of putting it all together. If he does, he has a good chance at winning.”
The Tigers boys team is also sending Matt Zuelke in the 1,600 meters, Andre Tackes in the 100 meters and the 3,200 relay team of Zuelke, Steve Wenzel, Tylyn Hoover and Mark Marquardt to the state competition.
Zuelke, who finished eighth in the 1,600 last year at state, has been near or at the top of most of the meets he has run in this season.Guderski is hopeful the quicker competition will push him a little. He comes in as the eighth seed in the race afer running a time of 4:34.94.
“He wil have to run with the other kids, run with the pack,” Guderski said. “When he has been out setting the pace he has run a little slower. He’ll have to run with the pack so he wil be capable of getting on the podium.”
Tackes is the 13th seed of 17 runners in the 100 at the state meet, but Guderski said is is more than capable of shaving some time off his 11.67 seconds he ran at the sectional.
The 3,200 relay team “is going to have to work at it,” Guderski said.
“We’re hoping to cut two seconds per person and think we can do that,” he added. “Steve Wenzel is battling back from pneumonia and we’re hoping he’s over that now and will be back to normal.”
The girls 800 relay team of Alyssa Fisher, Karissa Kaiser, Josie Kolbeck and Toshia Spindler also has a solid chance at a top-six finish. The team is seeded ninth after a time of 1:51.55 at the sectional.
“They have a good chance to get to the podium,” Guderski said.
