Each finished third in Division 1 meet this past weekend

AUSTIN BOELDT

Two South seniors, two third-place finishes at the Division 1 State Track and Field Championships.

The Redwings’ Austin Boeldt and Brock Kovacic were the highlights of area athletes at the meet held Friday and Saturday at UW-La Crosse.

Boeldt, despite being seeded 17th, placed third in the 800-meter run with a time of 1 minute 56.25 seconds. Kimberly senior Rowen Ellenberg took first in 1:55.41.

The key for Boeldt, according to South coach Kevin Herber, was his experience at state.

“He came back after last year and I think that helped a ton,” he said. “I think he was a little nervous last year; this year he was able to settle in and run his race, instead of being overwhelmed by the moment.”

Boeldt, who will compete at UW-Oshkosh next year, also came in 16th in the 400 (51.06).

Kovacic, a Wisconsin recruit, was fourth in the pole vault last season and took third this past weekend with a measure of 15 feet. Oconomowoc Senior Maxwell Meyer won with a 15-3.

“He was coming off a shoulder injury,” Herber said. “He actually injured his shoulder a few weeks back and could not even do the conference meet. So he’s been very limited on his practice times. So we were very excited with the third place, just because he hasn’t been able to vault a whole lot the last three weeks.”

North has two compete: Junior Cassius Rohadfox finished the shot put in eighth as a result of his measure of 53-4.75.

Madeline Green, another junior, tied for 17th in the pole vault with a 9-6.

Lutheran led by Schreurs: Competing at Division 3 state, Crusader junior Carly Schreurs finished the triple jump in seventh place with a leap of 36-2.25. She also participated in the long jump and ended 14th with a 15-6.50.

Lutheran senior Aaron TenPas came in 14th in the 400 in 54.36, and he was also on the 17th place 1,600 relay (3:39.58) with freshman Logan Zak and sophomores Matthew Witte and Hans Gruben.

Zak, Witte, Gruben and sophomore Aidan Diener also placed 13th (8:36.93) in the 3,200 relay.