Sectional - Varsity = 4th, AJ qualifies as an Individual for State

Sectionals is about the top two teams and next five best individuals as they earn the right to compete at the WIAA State Meet. Some years we are looking to qualify as a team, some years we are trying to get individuals through and some years we are getting the opportunity to run one more race as a varsity program. It is so much more fun when guys are competing for the chance to go to state but that also opens up the opportunity for disappointment. We were not strong enough this year to make it out of our sectional but I hope the guys remember that disappointment a little bit in the off-season because six of our seven competitors and both alternates are underclassmen and can make the trip back to state as a team a reality as soon as next season. Today we had multiple individuals trying to get one of those five qualifier spots and were lucky enough to snag one this year.
Every year this meet has a Big 8 spin on the competition as all 5 Big 8 schools finished in the top 6 (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 6th). Today we got out a little slow and were playing catch up the second half of the race. Last week we were able to beat Verona but today they had our number and out lasted us. Middleton and West showed why they will have a chance to earn a trophy at state. We competed great against Verona and showed why both of our teams are ranked in the state and East only got beat by Monona Grove. On the individual sides DeForest got 1 runner, Verona got 2 runners, and AJ earned the 4th spot just ahead of Monona Grove's 1 runner. We met our team goal this year by putting 5 runners under 17:30 by sectionals and with each of these guys returning next season that goal will change and hopefully be enough for us to be one of the top two teams
AJ ran a great last mile finishing in a season best time of 16:48. Aidan P had his season best time today to be our #2 runner in 17:05. Dylan and Bobby crossed the line together in 17:16. Jake Z rounded out our scorers finishing in 17:30. Henry B ran 17:46 and senior Brett N finished out his career at sectionals in 18:05. Brett will be missed running in this group but I hope the underclassmen feel like they have some unfinished business they need to come back and complete starting next season and going forward for many future seasons. We turn our focus towards getting AJ reading for his first state meet competition and hopefully many Spartans can journey up to Wisconsin Rapids to cheer him on. It is fitting to have a runner representing our team at the state meet and look forward to adding more runners next year.

AJ kicks to finish 11th Overall & 4th Best Individual - 16:48

RESULTS
Madison West Sectional
All Sectional Results

NEXT MEET
Saturday November 2nd (AJ - individual)
WIAA State Meet @ Ridges GC - Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Bus - TBA
12:00 pm - First Race
12:40 pm - Girls D1 Race (Annika & Natalie)
2:35 pm - Boys D1 Race (AJ - Lane 8) (2018 Results)
4:30 pm - Awards - Top 2 teams & 10 individuals

NEWS & NOTES
State Meet - Spectator Information - Parking & Shuttles
Come to Wisconsin Rapids to cheer on Annika, Natalie, & AJ...cost is $8 per person

Team Banquet - Nov 7th @ Rocky's - RSVP to jmmcc@rocketmail.com

If you have pictures please sent them to Casey on a memory stick ASAP
Clean out lockers in the team room (JV Runners)
Get $ to your captains for Coaches Gifts/Thanksgiving Baskets ($10) or Team Shirts ($20)

UPCOMING OFF-SEASON RUNNING OPTIONS
Badger Track Club Fall Cross Country - Wednesdays at Elver
Nov 3rd - Wisconsin USATF Cross Country Meet - Yahara GC - Madison, WI
Nov 10th - NXN Hearland Regional - Sioux Falls, SD
Nov 28th - Berbee Derby - Fitchburg, WI
Nov 30th - Footlocker Midwest Championships - UW Parkside - Kenosha, WI
Dec 14th - USATF National Cross Country Meet - Yahara GC - Madison, WI (must qualify on 11/3)