By Chris Spangler
Fort Atkinson athletes achieved near their personal bests during the state track and field championships that took place Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium Complex on the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus.
The 125th Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Boys Track and Field Championships and the 50th Girls Track and Field Championships are being held Thursday-Saturday, June 24-26.
Local athletes participating in the Division 1 events on Saturday were Adyn Theriault, Travis Sykes, Drew Evans, Lauren Haas, Jada Zorn and Sophie Chapman. The two relay alternates were Mallory Gasper and Maddy Kontny.
Sykes placed 17th in the triple jump, while Evans took 16th in the shotput and 11th in the discus.
Theriault placed 23rd in the 100-meter dash, and Haas took 18th in the 400-meter dash.
Zorn finished 13th in the 800-meter run, while she, Theriault, Chapman, and Haas earned 21st place in the 1600-meter relay.
“Competing at the state meet for the first time can be a real challenge,” said Fort Atkinson track and field Coach Dennis Schwedrsky. “Kids are competing in front of more spectators than ever before and against the best competition in the state.
“Additionally, Saturday had the added challenge of nearly constant rain, which made the runways, throwing circles and track very difficult to deal with, and made everyone soaking wet all day,” he added.
“Given these challenges, our athletes performed well. All performed near their personal bests, and almost everyone finished better than they were seeded. I was proud of how everyone handled the day.”
To make it to the state meet, the student athletes had to place in the top three at the WIAA Division I Sectionals in Beloit. There, Evans placed first in both the discus and shot put, while Sykes, a senior, captured third place in the triple jump.
Among the girls, Theriault took third place in the 100-meter dash; Haas, a senior, placed first in the 400-meter dash; and Zorn placed third in the 800-meter run.
The 4×400-meter (1,600-meter) relay team that took first in the Sectionals event included Haas and juniors Theriault, Zorn and Chapman. Gasper and Kontny were alternates.
Fort Atkinson High School track and field athletes competing in the state championship this weekend include Lauren Haas, from left, Sophie Chapman, Jada Zorn, Travis Sykes, Drew Evans, Adyn Theriault, Maddie Kontny and Mallory Gasper. File Photo/supplied.
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