WIAA State Meet - AJ earns All-State Honors

Since 1988 the top runners from the state of Wisconsin converge on the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids for the WIAA State Championships. The course has changed slightly over the years but for the most part remains the same as that initial course. Future olympians, future NCAA champions, and even high school national champions have run this course. It has challenged each and every one of them and has made for great races throughout the decades. On Saturday AJ got to join this long line of runners and challenge himself to end his high school cross country career on a high note. He is the first athlete to wear the VPM jersey at the state meet but he continues a streak of Madison Memorial runners to accomplish great things at the state meet reaching back to the inaugural year of cross country at Memorial HS. You could not ask for a better day to race as the course was firm and fast and the weather was sunny, in the 60's, with a light breeze. The first mile was fast but AJ followed the race plan and settled into a rhythm that took him through the mile in 30th place. He kept passing guys on the hills and improved his position during the 2nd mile. As he approached the finish and the last set of hills AJ found himself in a large pack of guys all kicking for the finish line. AJ reached the line in his 2nd best time of his life running 16:27. This earned him 28th place in the D1 race and All-State Honorable Mention (which honors the top times from all three divisions). AJ's time & place is our best finish at the state meet since Jonah W in 2011. AJ's performance on Saturday and his hard work all year long in the classroom also lands him a spot on the WCCCA Academic All-State team. Congrats on a great season and a great Spartan cross country career.

AJ runs 16:27 for 28th place

RESULTS
D1 Boys Team & Individual
Interactive Results

NEWS & NOTES
End of Season Awards Ceremony - Wed Nov 9th @ 5:30pm in Wisconsin NC at Memorial
 - Family & athletes can attend

 - Present varsity/participation certificates, season recap, team awards

 - "Old" running gear & shirts available (bring cash)

 - Park in the student parking lot & enter near the Welcome Center

Off-season is when good teams become great teams...what will you do to become a better athlete?
$10 to captains for end of year gifts

NEXT COMPETITION
Saturday August 26th - Intrasquad

Will you be ready?

Sectionals - Team = 6th & AJ Qualifies to State as an Individual

 

AJ Qualifies for D1 2022 WIAA State CC Meet

The DeForest Sectional was competed at Linde Soccer Complex to determine which 2 teams and 5 individuals would qualify for the WIAA State Championships. This sectional is annually the toughest sectional in the state and that included this season again. Our team looked to improve upon our performance from Conference and we hoped to keep our streak of individual qualifiers going to make the state meet. The runners were greeted by some late fall heat with temperatures approaching 70 and gusty winds ripping across the wide open fields. The course is a looped course that you do twice and provided many opportunities to see your competition. The standard for a qualifying team to state at this meet has been putting 5 runners under 17:30 and again that is what it took as West qualified with their 5th running 16:44  Middleton having 5 under 17:27. Verona just missed making it as a team by 2 points and their 5th crossed at 17:42. These 3 teams are probably 5 of the best teams in the state it will be exciting to see what they can do at state. Our team was looking to earn a 6th place finish, to accomplish this we would have to beat some teams who had beaten us earlier in the season. The second loop was tough for our guys but we pushed really hard to get to the finish. Jack G stepped up to be our #2 runner, followed by Tommy S and Alvaro S coming in within 25 seconds. Aatman ran a solid finish to be our 5th and final scorer. Finn & Alex came in before 5 teams other #5 runners helping us to beat those teams. Together our team scored 181 points earning a 6th place finish and accomplishing our goal for the day of finishing in the top half of the field. The other goal on the day landed on our #1 runner AJ who looked to earn a return trip to the State Meet. In our sectional this has required on average a 16:45 but is up in the air every year as you don't know the qualifying teams until the race is complete. Our sectional returned 4 individual qualifiers and had multiple new faces running fast times. AJ ran a smart first lap and started to pull away with the front group on the second lap. As we neared the finish he was locked in a battle for 7th place. Not knowing which teams were making it through, we wanted that 7th place (as each potential team had at least 1 runner ahead of AJ...2 would qualify as team runners...leaving AJ in the top 5 of individuals). AJ won that battle to the finish running 16:38 for 7th place. When the final results came in, we learned AJ was the 4th qualifying individual and continued the Madison Memorial streak of qualifying athletes to the state meet going. 

RESULTS
DeForest Sectional
All WIAA Sectionals

NEXT COMPETITION
Saturday October 29th
WIAA State Championships @ Ridges GC in Wisconsin Rapids
Van - 10:30am
12:00pm - 1st Race
1:20pm - D1 Girls Race
3:10pm - D1 Boys Race (2021 Results) (AJ is in lane 27)
4:15pm - Awards - top 2 teams & 10 individuals

SPECTATOR INFORMATION
Come watch some great cross country & cheer on AJ at the WIAA State Meet
Tickets = $9 (+ processing fee)...must be purchased in advanced & on a mobile device
Parking & Shuttles = $5 per car --> Arrive early to park & ride shuttle to the course (come watch all the races too)
Course Map - HERE
Live Results - HERE (available the day of the meet)

NEWS & NOTES
Sectional runners...Monday practice = turn in uniforms, last chance mile, & run with AJ
All runners...get your $$ to captains for 2022 team shirts and coaches gifts
End of year awards ceremony will be Wed Nov 9th...more info to come soon via email

Big 8 Conference Championships - Varsity = 9th, JV1 = 5th, & JV2 = 4th

The 2022 Big 8 Championships saw 11 teams compete at the meet for the first time as Sun Prairie has split into Sun Prairie East & West. The boys toed the line for the final competition of the season for our JV runners. The weather was frigid as we woke to frost and below freezing wind chills. The sun helped warm up the day but most of the races were completed still in the 30 - 40's temperature wise. Sheehan Park provides a nice challenge and our boys rose to the challenge. The varsity started the day with a 9th place finish, followed by our JV1 team taking 5th place, and capped by our best finish of the day as our JV2 took 4th place. Our season saw many ups and downs and our team persevered through them all to make it to this day. Many lifetime PRs were achieved, multiple memories were created, and future goals have been planted. Today we saw AJ earn All-Conference honors with his 8th place finish in varsity. Jack C & Fred S both earned lifetime PRs with their performances. Tommy S returned to competition to earn a top 10 finish in the JV2 race. Our varsity was led by seniors AJ, Alvaro, & Jack G but we have a strong talented group of underclassmen ready to take the reigns for the next season. In the meantime, our varsity prepares for Sectionals at DeForest and a chance to compete at the state meet. 

RESULTS
All results
Varsity - Individual - Team
JV1 - Individual - Team
JV2 - Individual - Team

NEXT COMPETITION (Varsity Only)
Saturday October 22nd
WIAA Sectional @ Linde Sports Complex - DeForest, WI
Bus = 8:30am
10:30am - Girls Race
11:15am - Boys Race (2021 Results)
12:00pm - Awards - Top 2 teams & 5 individuals not on qualifying teams
**We will not stop to eat...arrive back to Memorial around 1:00pm**

NEWS & NOTES
Captain are collecting money $20 for 2022 team shirt & coaches gifts OR just $10 for coaches gifts
Mon Oct 17th - EVERYONE meets at 2:45pm (JV runners turn in uniforms (put in a bag w/name) & short meeting....varsity runners, practice like normal)
Last chance mile for JV runners...FRIDAY 10/21 @ 4:15pm...meet at the track ready to race
End of year awards ceremony...more info to be emailed to parents/athletes when finalized (will be the week of 11/7 but moving from 11/8 due to election day)
Sectionals...everyone should try to come out to DeForest to cheer on the team as we try to qualify for State

Don Loker CC Championships - Varsity = 4th & JV = 3rd

The Madison running community lost a legend, teacher, coach, official, event worker, fan, and friend this past summer with the passing of Don Loker. Don came to Madison in the fall of 1959 to run at the University of Wisconsin after winning multiple state mile championships for Appleton West HS. After completing his Badger running career Don became a high school math teacher and coached cross country and track and field at Madison West. After coaching for 25+ years he continued to give back to the community by working as a meet official, volunteering at multiple athletic events, and helping develop and advance scoring systems locally and for the state. Don expanded his reach helping out at youth events, community events, and UW-Madison competitions. He has coached, assisted, and encouraged countless runners who passed through the Madison area. Whether it was being checked in at the start line, jumping over a hurdle set by Don, competing at a meet that was set up and taken down by him, or running for a coach who was influenced by Don our athletes have benefitted from his endless giving to the sports of cross country and track & field. It is because of this dedication to our Madison running community that the race was proudly named after Don Loker. We missed you at the meet this fall Don but your impact will not be forgotten. THANKS for everything you have done for Madison!

Our varsity started off the day with an outstanding race led by senior AJ K who ran a lifetime PR of 16:23 to take 4th place and earn All-City 1st Team honors. Jack G added another lifetime PR crossing in 17:42 followed closely by Alvaro S who also broke 18:00 with his 17:57 to earn a top 20 finish in 19th. Finn just missed the top 20 but ran a season best coming across in 18:07. Alex B better his lifetime PR by running 18:26 with Aatman close behind crossing in 18:29 equalling his best performance. The teams combined effort earned a 4th place finished and set the tone for the day. We continue to run better each week and I look forward to seeing what we can do at the conference & sectional meets.

Our JV kept the energy going and brought some focused determination to earn a 3rd place in their race. Racing his first CC race Tammo P led our squad with a lifetime best of 18:32. Cole W broke 19 minutes for the first of many times as he ran 18:54. PJ (19:10), Hunter (19:16), and Peter S (19:26) raced to top 20 placing finishes to wrap up our scorers. Nathan F ran a great lifetime PR in 19:27 and Jonathan wrapped up our top 7 runners with his season best time of 19:36. Fred S opened his season with a lifetime PR running 20:09. Liam B chopped over a minute off his lifetime best, while David B chiseled away over a 1/2 minute off his PR. Levi M also took a 1/2 minute PR to drop under 22:00 minutes for the first time. Elijah E ran as lifetime PR of 21:31 and Caleb S was close behind for his lifetime PR of 22:00. Nicholas S also ran to a lifetime best of 22:24 on the day wrapping up our great finish for the team. The JV runners now turn their focus to their season finale at Sheehan Park in Sun Prairie and the Big 8 Conference Championships. I'm excited to see all the hard work showcased at this meet.

RESULTS
JV - Overall - Team
Varsity - Overall - Team

NEXT COMPETITION
Saturday October 15th
Big 8 Conference Championship @ Sheehan Park - Sun Prairie, WI
Bus = 7:30am
9:30am - Boys Varsity (top 7 runners) (2021 Results)
10:35am - Boys JV1 (8 - 14 runners) (2021 Results)
11:40am - Boys JV2 (15 + runners) (2021 Results)
1:00pm - Awards - Top 15 in each race
** We will not stop to eat...plan accordingly - bring snacks or $ for concessions...we should return to Memorial about 2:00pm**

NEWS & NOTES

--> Captains will be collecting money this week for coaches gifts & team shirts...more info to be posted

--> Monday practice - right after school = finished by 5:15pm (practices this week will be a little shorter for JV runners...use this extra time to get caught up on school work and get extra rest)

--> JV Runners will have a required practice on Monday Oct 17th @ 2:45pm...uniforms & other checked out items must be returned at this time. Only varsity runners preparing for Sectionals will have required practice the rest of the week 

Stoughton Invite - Varsity = 5th & JV = 3rd

A dense fog covered the Stoughton athletic complex when our bus arrived early Saturday morning. The sun finally broke through and broke the crisp fall air leading to a mild sunny finish to our racing day. The Spartans raced to a 5th place finish in the varsity race and a 3rd place in JV. Our guys showed up and competed at a high level and now set their eyes on the championship season and the final weeks of the season.

The varsity boys started the day off and AJ did a great job of putting himself in the front of the race from the start. He competed great against some stiff competition and ran one of the top 10 fastest times ever run by a Memorial athlete on this course finishing in 8th place with a 16:48. Seniors Alvaro (18:39) and Jack (18:50) crossed the finish line next for our squad. They were quickly followed by sophomores Finn (18:58) and Jamie (19:10). Our varsity was rounded out by junior Alex B finishing in 48th place. Our team took 5th place just ahead of a couple teams which showed the importance of each runner finishing hard to for each spot on the day. This ability to battle for points will be crucial in the championship season run.

Our JV squad was led by Aatman who ran a lifetime PR to finish 5th overall and earn back a varsity spot. Cole (19:41) and Hunter (19:50) both raced themselves under the 20:00 mark. While Jonathan, Peter, Jack, and PJ were close behind rounding out our top 7 JV runners. Our JV kids really ran tough today in the warmest part of the day. It was great to see them competing to the final straightaway and giving their all. Although the course did not provide a lot of season personal records there were still a lot of guys who ran faster than there season average. This means we are running some of our best racing at the end of the season.

RESULTS
Individual
Team
Interactive

NEXT COMPETITION
Friday October 7th
Don Loker Cross Country Championships @ Lake Farm Park
NO BUS - Early Release = 1:30pm, Arrive by 2:15pm
3:30pm - First Race
4:00pm - Boys Varsity (2021 Results)
5:10pm - Boys JV (2021 Results)
5:45pm - Awards = Varsity = 1 team & 10 individuals, JV = 10 individuals

* Athletes should plan to be at the meet through the team cool down which will conclude around 5:45pm
** WIAA Regulations state NO DOGS at events...please help out with this by leaving your pets at home.

NEWS & NOTES
Monday practice -> right after school...finished up by 5:15pm
JV athletes will have practice through/including Monday Oct 17th
Championship season...JV = City & Conference, Varsity = City, Conference, Sectional, & State