The spring of 2023 was a favorable season for the Marshall track & field program. The Cardinals were represented at the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) state meet after missing the event entirely in 2022. A move down to Division 3 paid dividends as both the boys 4x100 and 4x200 meter relay teams qualified, as did one field event.
Prior to the state meet, Marshall’s boys won a regional title and both the boys and girls competed fiercely at the Capitol Conference meet. Some vital members of last season’s team have graduated, namely Peyton Colden, Grant Chadwick, Taylor Michalak, and Cortney Checky. The cupboard is far from bare, though, as a strong contingent of talent returns.
Colden anchored the the state-qualified 4x100 and 4x200 meter relay teams. The three other members all return in juniors Max Timpel and Fernando Campos as well as sophomore Carter Pettit. They’ll bring some vital experience to the squad this season as they search for a fourth member.
Another athlete returns for Marshall’s boys with state experience. Junior Brady Stensven placed third in the triple jump to punch his ticket to state. There, he finished 13th in the state with a distance of 39’9.5”.
Outside of the state tournament, there are still plenty of athletes returning that qualified for WIAA sectionals last season and bring experience and leadership back to the program.
The field portion of the program should be in good hands with a trio of stellar senior pole vaulters. Marshall sent a pair of girls to sectionals last season with Wynn Held came just short of qualifying for state, finishing tied for fifth at sectionals. Lizet Lopez-Montes also placed fourth at regionals to advance to the next round. As for the boys, Tucker Cobb was also a sectional participant after finishing second at regionals.
Stensven isn’t the only talented triple jumper on the team, either. Fellow junior Daniel Nickel also qualified for sectionals last season after finishing fourth at regionals.
Seniors also headline the throwing groups. Paige Billig leads Marshall’s girls as a regional runner-up in the discus last season. Peyton Gundelach leads the boys as a sectional-qualified shot putter.
This wealth of experience extends into the track, as well. In addition to being a talented pole vaulter, Held is also vital to the sprints. She qualified for sectionals last season in the 100 meter dash and also ran the anchor leg of Marshall’s sectional-qualified 4x100 and 4x200 meter relay teams. Senior Sydney Denniston and Kierstin Hoel also return from that 4x100 relay team.
Hoel is also a talented hurdler. She placed fourth at regionals in the 100 meter hurdles to punch an individual ticket to sectionals. The boys also sent a hurdler to sectionals last season as senior Caden Norquay also placed fourth in his event, the 300 meter hurdles.
The boys also have a distinct advantage in the distance runs. One of the state’s best cross country athletes, senior Jaxon Hornby, is back. He placed second in the 1,600 meter run at regionals last season and also put up a third place effort in the 800 meter run. Fellow senior distance runner Huston Siedschlag also qualified for sectionals last season after finishing third in the 3,200 meter run.
Marshall head coach Eric Cobb is also optimistic about the youth within the program. Sophomores and freshmen like Kiera Hellenbrand, Paige Colden, Summer Hellenbrand, Tori Justmann, Javon Williams, Jayden Young, Elijah Hall, Nora Jiannacopoulos, and Blake Stapelmann should be important contributors.
The Cardinals have already gotten down to business this spring. They participated in a pair of indoor invitationals, first at Ripon College on Thursday, March 14 followed by another at UW-Platteville on Saturday, March 16. The regular outdoor season kicks off on Friday, April 5 with Marshall’s annual Dana Waddell Invitational.
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