Conditions were terrible for some events and ideal for others.
Through it all, the Poynette boys’ and girls’ track and field teams finished fourth out of 13 teams at Friday’s Pardeeville Invitational.
“It rained for about the first two-thirds of the meet, which had a significant effect on the field event and sprint performances, including the cancellation of the pole vault for both the boys and girls,” said Pumas’ head coach Kevin Frehner. “On the other hand, the temperature was just about perfect for distance events and the performances showed. We knew the weather was going to be a factor at the meet and talked in practice of just coming to compete regardless of the conditions. I thought we did a really good job of that overall.”
Distance runners for Poynette enjoyed themselves.
“Of the 15 season-best performances on the evening, 12 were in events of 400m or longer,” said Frehner. “We did have five event winners on the night. For the boys, Alex Graeme won the 110m hurdles and Avery O’Dea won the long jump. On the girls’ side, Mercedi Lapacek won the high jump. Our 4x800m and 4x400m relay teams were also victorious on the girls’ side.”
Puma runners shined in one particular event.
“The 1,600 run was an especially impressive event for us, as all six competitors (Harley Seas, Mae Larson, Maddie Lee, Wyatt See, Tanis Crawford, and Brady Cox) ran to season-best times,” said Frehner. “Wyatt See ran a career-best time. Our 3,200 runners were also successful with three of the four competitors setting season-best times, and the fourth running within one second of a season best. The times for all of these distance runners were a reflection of their determination to race well mentally as much as physically.”
A Poynette relay team sent a message at Pardeeville
“For the girls team, the ‘Feet of the Meet Award’ on the track went to the 4x400m relay team of Emma Yelk, Piper Johnson, Geneva Ritzke, and Zayne Hushagen,” said Frehner. “They were seeded fourth coming in but set a seven-second season PR to win the event. In the field, Hope Wadzinski won the team award for a season best in the long jump despite the poor conditions. The ‘Feet of the Meet’ winners for the boys were Alex Graeme for his victory in the 110m hurdles and Avery O’Dea for the same feat in the long jump.”
Capitol Conference Quadrangular
Competing at home on Tuesday, April 23, the Pumas scored against Columbus.
“Both of our teams were beaten by Columbus, though we did have a very solid meet based on performance,” said Frehner. “Overall, we had 24 season-best performances from the boys’ side with five lifetime bests and 13 season bests for the girls who also had five lifetime bests.”
Some Poynette girls had big meets.
“Leading the way on the girls’ side were Evelyn Hafeman (100m dash, shot put, and discus) and Mercedi Lapacek (100 hurdles, high jump, and long jump), who each had three season bests,” said Frehner. “All of Mercedi’s performances were lifetime bests while Evelyn tied her lifetime best in the discus. Emma Yelk also had an excellent day with a season best in the 400 dash and leading off our victorious 4x400m relay. She also competed in the triple jump for the first time and earned a team best distance on the season. The ‘Feet of the Meet Award’ for the field went to Emma. On the track, the award went to freshman Cora Larson. Cora was a member of our winning 4x800m relay team, set a personal record in the 800m and also ran her best 4x400m relay split on our JV squad.”
There were plenty of highlights for the Poynette boys, too.
“The boys team did a great job in the sprints and jumps of taking advantage of a nice tailwind to earn multiple season-best performances,” said Frehner. “We had six boys set season bests in multiple events. They were: Errol Borchardt (100m dash, 200m dash, long jump); Avery O’Dea (100m dash and long jump); Jacob Trudell (200m dash and triple jump); Jacob Digman (1600m run and 800m run); Jack Nehls (shot put and discus); and Chris Schwenn (long and triple jump). Avery O’Dea had lifetime bests in both of those events and also moved up to seventh on the all-time personal record list for that event. Three of our four relay teams also had season-best times. Freshman Errol Borchardt received the ‘Feet of the Meet Award’ on the track as well as Jack Nehls in the field for season bests in his only two events for the day.”
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