Marshfield’s Scharenbroch, Hoerneman qualify for state with top finishes at WIAA Division 1 cross country sectional

Marshfield runners Natalie Scharenbroch, second from left, and Owen Hoerneman, second from right, earned berths in next week’s state meet after high finishes at the WIAA Division 1 sectional at Menomonie on Saturday. (Submitted photo)

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MENOMONIE – The Marshfield duo of Owen Hoerneman and Natalie Scharenbroch qualified for next week’s state meet with top finishes at the WIAA Division 1 cross country sectional on Saturday at Menomonie High School.

The top two teams and top five runners not on the qualifying teams in both the boys and girls competitions earn berths in the 2023 WIAA State Cross Country Championships, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 28, at Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.

Scharenbroch, a sophomore, will be making her second-straight appearance at state after finishing in seventh place in 18:41.7, in the girls 5-kilometer race.

Hoerneman, a junior, will be making his state debut after finishing 14th in the boys 5K in 16:52.0, wrapping up the fifth and final individual berth.

Hudson had the top four runners in the boys race and won the team title with 20 points, with Eau Claire Memorial second with 72 as both qualified for state. Hudson’s Brock Bjerke won the boys race in 15:52.2, three seconds ahead of teammate Addisu Haverly.

Menomonie and Wausau West grabbed the two girls team state berths. Sara Mlodik of D.C. Everest, the defending Division 1 individual state champion, won the girls race in 18:27.7, 6½ seconds in front of New Richmond’s Marah Benedict.

WIAA Division 1 Cross Country Sectional
Oct. 21, at Menomonie High School
(*denotes state meet qualifier)
Boys
Team scores:
*1. Hudson 20; *2. Eau Claire Memorial 72; 3. River Falls 82; 4. Menomonie 153; 5. Wausau West 175; 6. Chippewa Falls 176; 7. New Richmond 177; 8. D.C. Everest 203; 9. Eau Claire North 206; 10. Superior 275; 11. Marshfield 295; 12. Wausau East 313.
Top 10, state qualifiers and Marshfield finishers: 1. Brock Bjerke (HUD) 15:52.2; 2. Addisu Haverly (HUD) 15:55.6; 3. Ryan Keller (HUD) 16:08.0; 4. Noah Lawrence (HUD) 16:09.9; 5. Will Pongonis (ECM) 16:13.9; 6. *Quinlan Andrews (RF) 16:18.1; 7. Will Sylvester (ECM) 16:22.7; 8. *Josh Neilitz (WW) 16:29.9; 9. *Benjamin Cihasky (CF) 16:33.5; 10. Ethan Eilertson (HUD) 16:37.3; 11. *Jonah Majerus (RF) 16:40.2; 14. *Owen Hoerneman (MAR) 16:52.0; 63. Maxx Oertel (MAR) 19:00.2; 69. Lincoln Berger (MAR) 19:29.2; 71. Alexander Parker (MAR) 19:35.4; 78. Ehmrey Schmoll (MAR) 20:08.5; 81. Willis Weinzatl (MAR) 20:18.8; 83. Paul Ugoretz (MAR) 20:58.4.
Girls
Team scores:
*1. Menomonie 70; *2. Wausau West 79; 3. Eau Claire Memorial 94; 4. Hudson 131; 5. New Richmond 146; 6. Marshfield 152; 7. Chippewa Falls 175; 8. River Falls 224; 9. Superior 235; 10. Wausau East 236; 11. D.C. Everest 244; 12. Eau Claire North 302.
Top 10 and Marshfield finishers: 1. *Sara Mlodik (DC) 18:27.7; 2. *Marah Benedict (NR) 18:34.0; 3. Lauren McCalla (MEN) 19:08.2; 4. Brooklyn Hoff (MEN) 19:17.1; 5. Elexa Marciniak (WW) 19:25.9; 6. *Tayler McMeekin (SUP) 19:31.3; 7. *Natalie Scharenbroch (MAR) 19:41.7; 8. *Jordan Chen (CF) 20:01.1; 9. Celia Sinz (WW) 20:02.3; 10. Lyla Vlcek (HUD) 20:14.6; 15. Adeline Lonsdale (MAR) 20:47.7; 37. Ava Raab (MAR) 21:35.21; 44. Carolina Sullenger (MAR) 21:51.0; 52. Natalie Schmitt (MAR) 22:30.9; 53. Kassidy Christopher (MAR) 22:38.7; 64. Ava Forst (MAR) 23:15.5.

Click here for complete results, courtesy of wi.milesplit.com