This story is sponsored by Forward Bank
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MERRILL – For the first time since 1973, the Marshfield girls track team is the champions of the Wisconsin Valley Conference.
Following a second-place finish last season, the Tigers cracked the top spot with two event victories and 163 points, to outdistance D.C. Everest (137) and Stevens Point (126) for the title.
The Marshfield girls had 11 top-three finishes in all to claim its first championship in 49 years.
Stevens Point won the boys title for the 10th-straight time and 19th time in the past 21 conference meets. The Panthers won six events and finished with 197 points, with D.C. Everest second with 135.5, Wausau West third with 125, and Marshfield fourth with 74.
“What an outstanding night for an amazing group of female athletes,” Marshfield coach Ali Luedtke said. “This was a complete team effort with girls scoring in all 18 events on the track and in the field. Our depth was our strength. Our solid places pulled us through. These ladies are simply unbelieveable. They just never stop showing up.
“It still doesn’t feel real – it’s been a dream of our team’s for years and to watch it come to fruition in a day and age of so many options and distractions truly speaks to the desire, focus, integrity and discipline of these athletes.”
Sophie Nikolay won the pole vault with a vault of 10 feet, 6 inches, and Michaela Dick took first in the 300-meter hurdles in 48.42 seconds for the Marshfield girls.
The Marshfield boys lone win came from the 3,200-meter relay team of James Ketterer, Owen Hoerneman, Jesse Messman and Graham Lonsdale, who finished in 8:13.33.
Aubri Brown picked up a pair of second-place finishes for the Marshfield girls as she was the runner-up in both the discus (114-10) and shot put (35.10.5).
The 800 relay team of Olivia Page, Ayana Bousum, Ryann Kilty and Emma Ridgway (1:49.96), and the 400 relay team of McKenzie Holm, Alyssa Foemmel, Kaylie Charron and Nikolay (53.43) also placed second for the Tigers.
Dani Minsaas was third in both the triple jump (33-1) and shot put (33-5), Ashley Grancorvitz was third in the long jump (15-6.75), Lizzie Hanson took third in the 100 hurdles (16.88) and Meghan Jaeger finished third in the 800 (2:31.26) as well for Marshfield.
The Marshfield boys also had three third-place finishes from Lonsdale in the 800 (1:59.02), Trevor Foemmel in the 110 hurdles (16.02) and Carson Kvernen in the 300 hurdles (42.59).
Marshfield will compete at a WIAA Division 1 regional at Wausau West on Monday and will host the sectional meet on Thursday, May 26, at Heiting Community Stadium.
2022 Wisconsin Valley Conference Track Meet
May 17, at Merrill High School
Girls
Team scores: 1. Marshfield 163; 2. D.C. Everest 137; 3. Stevens Point 126; 4. Wausau West 111; 5. Wausau East 61; 6. Merrill 57; 7. Wisconsin Rapids 41.
Boys
Team scores: 1. Stevens Point 197; 2. D.C. Everest 135.5; 3. Wausau West 125; 4. Marshfield 74; 5. Wisconsin Rapids 68; 6. Wausau East 64.5; 7. Merrill 34.
Click here for complete results, courtesy of performancetiming.com.