Riley, Leurquin individual winners as Fort girls place 2nd at track regional; Stricker leads boys team

STOUGHTON — Junior Ashlie Riley and sophomore Ava Leurquin both won events on the track to highlight the Fort Atkinson girls track and field team’s second-place finish at Monday’s Division 1 regional hosted by Stoughton.

Riley was victorious in the 300-meter hurdles by 65 one-hundredths of a second in 49.10 and finished second in the 100-meter hurdles in 17.02.

“Ashlie knew exactly what she had to do and did it to perfection in both her races,” Fort Atkinson track and field coach Dennis Schwedrsky said.

“The hurdlers might be the most improved event group this year. Out of eight races contested between the boys and girls, there were six lifetime bests and five sectional qualifiers.”

Leurquin won the 3,200 by 1.62 seconds in 13:24.51.

“Ava showed real competitive spirit in the 3,200,” Schwedrsky said. “Even though she knew she had a spot at sectionals secured, she pushed hard at the end to earn a victory and what turned out to be some valuable team points.”

The Blackhawk girls scored 105 points to edge out Janesville Parker (104) for second place behind champion Oregon (158.5).

“For the girls team to finish second was pretty special,” Schwedrsky said. “It was a great complete team performance.”

Fort’s girls added eight more sectional qualifiers via top-four finishes.

Junior Mary Worden finished second in the 800 in 2:24.62. She was narrowly edged out by Oregon senior Delaney Nyenhuis, who won in 2:24.14.

“Mary ran a very controlled race to earn her spot in the 800 run, showing real maturity as a racer,” Schwedrsky said.

Junior Mykenna Gray took second in the discus with a mark of 111 feet, 10 inches and senior teammate Rebecca Christ finished third (111-4).

“Both Mykenna and Rebecca are having historically good seasons and they are seventh and eighth all time, respectively, in school history,” Schwedrsky said. “I am excited to see them continue to throw at sectionals.”

Junior Geneva Fisher took second in the shot put (32-10).

“It was great to see Geneva’s hard work pay off with a huge PR and trip to sectionals in the shot put,” Schwedrsky said.

Sophomore Hannah Baldry took third in the 300 hurdles (50.65) and freshman Ashlyn Holloway finished fourth in the 100 hurdles (17.57).

“Hannah is such a competitor that she willed herself into sectionals,” Schwedrsky said. “I am so proud of Ashlyn, who didn’t place in a single meet all year and then to step up and get two personal bests and qualify for sectionals is pretty special.”

The 1,600 relay team of sophomore Savanna Hendrickson, Baldry, Worden and Riley took third in 4:16.70.

The 3,200 relay team of junior Claire Kucken, freshman Layla Kohl and sophomores Mya Wenhardt and Macayla Graham took fourth in 11:38.66.

Fort’s boys scored 84 points and placed seventh.

Senior Ben Stricker took second in the 1,600 in 4:36.62 and placed second in the 3,200 (9:49.90).

“Ben did yeoman’s work to get through in the two distance races and the distance relay in what might be one of the toughest regionals I’ve seen in a while,” Schwedrsky said.

Sophomore Grant Heagney took second in the 400 in 50.54 and junior Ethan Leslie finished third (51.52).

“I was proud of the way both Grant and Ethan refused to be intimidated by competing against one of the best 400 meter runners in the state in Janesville Parker’s Cayden Brandenburg,” Schwedrsky said.

The 1,600 relay team of senior Payton Wiesen, Leslie, senior Marcus Tesch and Heagney took second in 3:29.74.

“Both our 1,600-meter relays competed very hard and are in for exciting races at sectionals,” Schwedrsky said.

Senior Evan Zachgo took third in the 300 hurdles in 42.56.

“Evan ran like a man possessed to earn his first trip to sectionals,” Schwedrsky said.

The 3,200 relay team of junior Owen Geiger, Leslie, Stricker and Heagney took third in 8:43.18.

“Both the girls and boys 3,200 relay teams had very workmanlike performances to move on to sectionals,” Schwedrsky said.

Sophomore Alex Ehleiter took fourth in the triple jump (39-10 3/4).

Qualifiers for the Blackhawks head to the Beaver Dam sectional on Thursday.

Team scores — boys: Janesville Parker 120, Madison La Follette 100, Oregon 95.5, Janesville Craig 94.5, Stoughton 89, Milton 89, Fort Atkinson 84, Beloit Memorial 23.

Team scores — girls: Oregon 158.5, Fort Atkinson 105, Janesville Parker 104, Milton 74, Janesville Craig 72, Madison La Follette 71, Stoughton 67, Beloit Memorial 27.5.

GIRLS EVENT WINNERS

100 — 1. Alayna West (MLF) 12.60. 200 — 1. West (MLF) 25.93. 400 — 1. Brandenburg (JP) 59.07. 800 — 1. Delaney Nyenhuis (O) 2:24.14. 1,600 — 1. Abi Anderson (JC) 5:43.66. 3,200 — 1. Ava Leurquin (FA) 13:24.51.

400 relay — 1. Oregon 49.73. 800 relay — 1. Oregon 1:46.69. 1,600 relay — 1. Oregon 4:08.00. 3,200 relay — 1. Janesville Craig 10:16.09.

100 hurdles — 1. Anna Johnson (O) 16.20. 300 hurdles — 1. Ashlie Riley (FA) 49.10.

Shot put — 1. Caitlin Zingsheim (M) 36-1. Discus — 1. Zingsheim (M) 111-10. Long jump — 1. Madison Vance (MLF) 16-6.75. Triple jump — 1. Natiya Ballard (S) 32-9. High jump — 1. Louisa Borsutzky (M) 5-2. Pole vault — 1. Bizzy Vieaux (O) 9-0.

BOYS EVENT WINNERS

100 — 1. Paul Kim (JP) 11.15. 200 — 1. Cayden Brandenburg (JP) 22.10. 400 — 1. Brandenburg (JP) 49.36. 800 — 1. Ethan Zywicki (S) 1:58.26. 1,600 — 1. Nico Castellanos (MLF) 4:32.52. 3,200 — 1. Castellanos (MLF) 9:47.22.

400 relay — 1. Janesville Craig 42.80. 800 relay — 1. Janesville Craig 1:29.48. 1,600 relay — 1. Janesville Parker 3:24.95. 3,200 relay — 1. Madison La Follette 8:15.53.

110 hurdles — 1. Mitchell (M) 15.13. 300 hurdles — 1. Jahdiel Guerrero Bastardo 41.61.

Shot put — 1. Jaedyn Coleman (BM) 51-1. Discus — 1. Griffin Rousseau (S) 154-3. Long jump — 1. Mitchell (M) 21-4. Triple jump — 1. Mitchell (M) 42-8.75. High jump — 1. Hans Kiesau (O) 6-3. Pole vault — 1. Jacob Yoerger (O) 14-0.