This story is sponsored by Forward Financial Bank
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
The Stratford girls cross country team has went through a lot this season, and were left wondering if its goal of making it to the state meet was still in reach.
The Tigers started the season with one of their top runners out for the season with an illness, a promising freshman was ruled out after the first meet and Nadia King, their second runner early in the season, transferred mid-year to Spencer.
However, Stratford powered through and made the needed improvements at the end of the year to overcome all of that adversity and qualify for Saturday’s 2014 WIAA State Cross Country Championships in Wisconsin Rapids. It is the first time since 1980 that the Stratford girls team has qualified for the state meet.
The Tigers, along with Auburndale freshman Kali Karl and King, will compete in the Division 3 girls race at at 1:30 p.m.
“In the beginning of the year, we felt that is what we wanted to accomplish,” Stratford coach Mark Guderski said. “We felt we had a good enough team to get there. The feeling is unreal with all of the bad luck we have had throughout the season.”
Junior Johnelle Miner and freshman Kaylee Hollatz finished fourth and fifth at last week’s Division 3 sectional at Athens to lead the way.
The Tigers finished fourth at the Marawood Conference Meet two weeks ago, just three points behind Marathon.
Guderski knew the Tigers would be fighting with Marathon for that second spot behind Phillips.
“We figured out where do you have to move up, Johnelle has to pick up a place, Kaylee has to pick up one or two spots,” Guderski said. “We were on the same course (as conference) and we had to pick off some of our conference opponents.
“We told those two that they had to be in the top five and they were. If one of those two had an off night, we were done for. Those two run together for the first 2 ½ miles, Johnelle usually pulls ahead of her after that, but Kaylee was able to stay with her and gave us those high spots.”
The big difference came from Courtney Krall, who improved her time from conference to sectionals by 31 seconds to finish 26th. Sammy Griesbach was 29th and Gabby Leonhard 40th to provide the Tigers with enough to edge Marathon by one point for the final state-qualifying spot.
“We really didn’t think we were going to make it as a team,” said Miner, the Tigers’ top runner all season. “It’s pretty cool since we haven’t made it as a team in quite a while.
“We just wanted to do our best and run hard. We all tried really hard.”
Guderski has high hopes for his top two runners at state.
“We have a young squad with no seniors…nerves might get to them a little bit,” Guderski said. “Johnelle and Kaylee, I would say top 30, the other girls just do the best they can. Have fun, run and enjoy it.”
King, who ran early in the season for Stratford, transferred to Spencer High School earlier this month and came on to the scene late in the year, taking fourth at the Cloverbelt Confrerence Meet on Oct. 18 in Eau Claire, then finishing sixth at the sectional in 21:00.
Karl has been Auburndale’s top runner for much of the season and placed 10th at the sectional in 21:15 to grab the fifth and final individual qualifying spot.
2014 WIAA State Cross Country Championships
Saturday, Nov. 1
At Ridges Golf Course, Wisconsin Rapids
Division 3 boys (Marshfield Columbus Catholic team, Stratford’s Cade Lehman), 11:30 a.m.
Division 2 boys, 12:10 p.m.
Division 1 boys, 12:50 p.m.
Division 3 girls (Stratford team, Auburndale’s Kali Karl, Spencer’s Nadia King), 1:30 p.m.
Division 2 girls, 2:10 p.m.
Division 1 girls, 2:50 p.m.
This story also appears in the Oct. 31 edition of Hub City Times.