This story is sponsored by: The Marshfield Tiger Booster Club
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
STEVENS POINT – Marshfield senior Morgan Irish had a career-best time and the fifth-fastest finish in the program’s history at the WIAA Division 1 cross country sectional on Saturday at Standing Rock Park.
Irish finished in 22nd place in 20:22 to lead the Tigers’ girls team, which finished in ninth place in the standings.
The top two teams in the team standings and top five individuals not on those teams qualify for the 2015 WIAA State Cross Country Championships at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Appleton North and Pulaski nabbed the two girls team spots, with Stevens Point and D.C. Everest taking the boys berths.
Irish missed out on a state spot by 29 seconds.
Dani Bender finished 39th for the Tigers in 21:23.
“Morgan, Courtney (Brown) and Julianna (Kollross) all ran their best time of the year,” Marshfield coach Dan Akin said. “Six of seven girls ran better at this course than they did the last time they ran here.
“This has been one of my most enjoyable years coaching and the kids on this team and our coaching staff have made it so.”
The Marshfield boys also finished ninth. Sophomore Jordan Dzikowich led the Tigers, taking 37th in 18:09. Freshman Carter Chojnacki (18:32) and sophomore Jared Oemig (18:33) were 46th and 47th, respectively.
“Five of our seven boys ran better at this course than they did six weeks ago at the Panther Invite,” Akin said. “Four of the boys: Jordan, Jared, Sam (Huettl) and Eli (Swanson) ran their best time of the year. The boys made improvements over the course of the season and we couldn’t be happier with the team we had this year.”
Hannah Lohrenz of Hortonville (19:01) and Anthony Anderson of D.C. Everest (15:55) were individual sectional champions.
2015 WIAA Cross Country Sectional
Oct. 24, at Standing Rock Park, Stevens Point
*State meet qualifier
Girls
Team scores: *1. Appleton North 47; *2. Pulaski 87; 3. Stevens Point 97; 4. Wausau West 140; 5. D.C. Everest 147; 6. Wausau East 163; 7. Appleton West 163; 8. Hortonville 170; 9. Marshfield 235; 10. Rhinelander 261; 11. Wisconsin Rapids 286; 12. Merrill 372; 13. Tomah 392.
Top 10: *1. Hannah Lohrenz (HOR) 19:01; 2. Annika Linzmeier (PUL) 19:05; *3. Brooke Jaworski (WW) 19:13; 4. Sydney Squier (AN) 19:14; 5. Dakota Holzem (AN) 19:19.3; 6. Katie Brockman (PUL) 19:36; *7. Maddy Vantassel (AW) 19:37; *8. Autum Shurbert-Hetzel (SP) 19:45; *9. Malorie Schmoll (DC) 19:53; 10. Payton Fors (AN) 19:57.
Marshfield finishers: 22. Morgan Irish 20:22; 39. Dani Bender 21:23; 53. Sophia Schrodi 22:01; 54. Julianna Kollross 22:03; 67. Courtney Brown 22:39; 69. Lilly O’Brien 22:49; 75. Jocie Anderson 23:15.
Boys
Team scores: *1. Stevens Point 45; *2. D.C. Everest 65; 3. Wausau East 69; 4. Appleton North 124; 5. Wausau West 124; 6. Wisconsin Rapids 144; 7. Appleton West 202; 8. Hortonville 237; 9. Marshfield 248; 10. Pulaski 281; 11. Rhinelander 285; 12. Tomah 296; 13. Merrill 354.
Top 10: 1. Anthony Anderson (DC) 15:55; 2. Ricky Perez (SP) 16:04; 3. Logan Spooner (DC) 16:23; 4. Derek Franz (SP) 16:32; *5. Axel Treinen (WE) 16:42; *6. Joe Comeau (WR) 16:43; *7. Brody Olson (PUL) 16:59; *8. Stephen Dinkler (AN) 17:02; *9. Bryan Lemmer (WE) 17:08; 10. Liam Belson (SP) 17:11.
Marshfield finishers: 37. Jordan Dzikowich 18:09; 46. Carter Chojnacki 18:32; 47. Jared Oemig 18:33; 56. Sam Huettl 18:47; 62. Paul Fischer 18:57; 66. Eli Swanson 19:05; 69. Jacob Dick 19:12.