Hard work is propelling Cadott athletes to their specialty

Cadott freshman Beau Steinke rounds a corner April 9, in the 3,200-meter run at Gilman, keeping up a pace that earned him second in the event. Photo by Nathaniel Underwood

By Ginna Young

The Cadott track program was on the road for three meets, which gives needed experience for a home meet later this week.

April 9 Eleva-Strum Meet

To begin their week, the Cadott athletes were off to Eleva- Strum, which was a success overall for the team. The girls especially had a good day, with their team placing first, while the boys were third.

Included in that, the 4x400-meter relay team of seniors Emma Kowalczyk and Jaycee Stephens, junior Mia Weggen and sophomore Taylor Hager, claimed first place, in a time of 4:38.67.

Individually, for the girls, sophomore Iszy Sonnentag took first in the 100-meter hurdles (16.73), 300-meter hurdles (47.83) and long jump (15-00.75), while sophomore Haley Mathison also was first in the shot put (31-07.25) and discus throw (109-09).

Sonnentag also placed second in the 200-meter dash (26.53), with junior Lyla Weggen second in the 1,600-meter run (6:32.29) and junior Cortney Weggen placing second in the 3,200-meter run (14:10.55).

Taking third, was Stephens in the 100 hurdles (17.52) and 300 hurdles (53.49), while Hager was third in the 800-meter run (2:51.09) and freshman Ali Blum placed third in shot put (29-01.75). Coming in fourth, was freshman Tessa York, in the pole vault, with a height of 6-06.

On the boys side, freshman Kaden Roen was first in the 400-meter dash (54.41) and placed fourth in the 200 dash (24.31). Taking second, was senior Wyatt Engel in the 300 hurdles (47.76) and 110-meter hurdles (17.91), while freshman Beau Steinke was second in the 3,200-meter run (11:02.38) and high jump (5-06).

Engel was also third in the triple jump (35-07.25) and fourth in the long jump (17-02.5), and sophomore Saibyn Will placed third in the 1,600 run (5:06.16).

“It was great having our first outdoor meet,” said coach Pat Rothbauer. “The athletes are working very hard and getting a better feel for the best events to participate in.”

April 11 Gilman Meet

A couple days later, the Hornets were off to Gilman, also seeing success, as the girls came in second and the boys were seventh.

Second place also came in the 4x400 relay for the boys (3:51.89) and 4x800-meter relay (9:26.12). The girls also took second in the 4x800 (12:04.41).

On the individual side, Sonnentag again claimed first in the 100 hurdles (16.46) and 300 hurdles (47.49), as did L. Weggen in the 3,200 run (14:42.51) and Mathison in the discus (113-7). Sonnentag also placed second in the lomg jump (15-5), with Mathison second in shot put (32-8) and C. Weggen in second in the 1,600 run (6:1713).

Placing third for Cadott, in the shot put event, was Blum (29-3), while junior Adrianna Goodman took third in the triple jump (61-6.5) and Stephens came in fifth in the 800 run (2:43.99).

For the boys, Engel was second in the 110 hurdles (17.27) and Steinke was part of a four-way tie for third in the high jump (5-6), while senior Eli Burich placed fifth in the 3,200 run (12:42.74).

April 15 Edgar Meet

After a weekend off, the athletes were on the road to Edgar, in perfect weather for an outdoor meet.

The girls again made a good showing, claiming first place, with the boys taking eighth. Also placing first for the girls, was the 4x400 relay team of Stephens, Hager, Kowalczyk and sophomore Lilly Spaeth (4:31.55).

“Half of our relay teams ran a season best time,” said Rothbauer.

Mathison kept up with her winning ways, placing first in the discus throw (117-00.5) and shot put (34-06), while Sonnentag placed first in the 100 hurdles (16.76) and third in the long jump (15-05.75). Stephens finished in second in the 100 hurdles (17.77) and Goodman also placed second in the triple jump (31-11.5).

Coming in third, was Stephens in the 300 hirdles (52.69) and C. Weggen in the 3,200 run (14:19.34), with L. Weggen in fourth in the 800 run (2:51.62). Spaeth placed fifth for Cadott, in the 400 dash (1:09.25), with L. Weggen in fifth in the 1,600 run (6:28.94) and Blum was fifth in the shot put (29-08).

Placing second for the boys, was Will, in the 1,600 run (5:00.78), while Roen was fourth in the 200 dash (24.35) and 400 dash (53.56), and fifth in the long jump (17-00.75).

“The athletes are really working hard and showing good improvements,” said Rothbauer.