Pansegrau wins state title in the 3,200
LA CROSSE – In her previous appearance at the WIAA Division 1 state track and field meet as a freshman, Lauren Pansegrau had to settle for second-best, with a runner-up finish in the 3,200-meter run.
The Middleton junior distance star added to an already impressive résumé, though, by reaching the top of the podium in her return engagement at state.
Pansegrau, who had earlier placed second in the 1,600, left no doubt who was top dog in the 3,200, easily claiming her first state track and field title in a time of 10 minutes, 21.6 seconds at the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex last Saturday.
Onalaska senior Kora Malecek was second in 10:29.33.
Cardinals’ sophomore Zaira Malloy-Salgado finished 11th in 11:18.57.
“I’ve been working real hard this year,” Pansegrau said. “It’s been a long season, especially not getting to run track my sophomore season. It’s been really fun.
“It’s been so long since we’ve had track, I didn’t know how much faster I had gotten. But I’m very happy with how I’ve done over the season.”
Pansegrau, who won the WIAA alternate state individual cross country title and led the Cardinals to the team state championship this spring, was eager to run against Kora Malecek, who won the Division 1 state cross country title last fall.
“I was really excited to race her,” Pansegrau said. “It’s always fun to race someone good, especially because we didn’t get to run against each other in cross country season.”
The duo were neck-and-neck through the early stages of the 3,200 race before Pansegrau took control.
“You could tell by about three laps left that Lauren was feeling strong,” Middleton track coach Jay Schweitzer said. “She had almost already had (the win) by then. It was pretty excellent to see.”
In her state debut in the 1,600, Pansegrau was second in 4:56.90 in a race that was run in a steady downpour.
“I just wanted to focus on one race at a time and then hopefully do well in both,” Pansegrau said. “During the 1,600, it was pouring rain so it was nothing like I had ever experienced. But it cleared for the two-mile and it was fun doing both in one day.
“Everybody was experiencing the same thing. It was just on how you handled it.”
Schweitzer said Pansegrau’s performance in the two races, which are normally held on different days when the meet is a two-day event, was impressive.
“It’s pretty incredible for her,” Schweitzer said. “During the mile, it was really pouring. It looked like a steeplechase out there. I’d swear there were puddles out there they had to run through. She still ran an excellent time and had a great finish.
“To come back and then be able to run in the two-mile in an excellent race and get the win, it was very exciting. We’re so proud of her.”
Joining Pansegrau in making a trip to the awards podium was Middleton’s 1,600-meter relay of seniors Kenzie Nickels, Brielle McDonald, Kiara Malloy-Salgado and Kaitlyn Peters, which finished fourth in 4:05.30
“All of the girls ran their best 400 of the season,” Schweitzer said. “It was amazing to see four seniors, friends, who have trained together for so long and then to be able to get on the podium and run their best.
“You couldn’t ask for anything better than that. It was a picture-perfect moment. They did their best. It was so awesome to see.”
Entering the meet as the fifth seed, the Cardinals were confident the final race of their collective careers would be a memorable one.
“It felt amazing running for the last time on the track with a podium finish,” said Peters, who also won three medals in swimming for the Cardinals in the alternate fall season this spring.
“Finishing together and going to that next stage of life was amazing. There were happy tears after, when we realized we placed on the podium. We were all very proud. It was amazing and happy and sad all at the same time.”
Nickels, who was seeded 24th in the 200 and finished 23rd in 27.09, was happy to end her prep career on a high note, running the lead leg.
“All season I really wanted to make it to state,” Nickels said. “I’m glad I got to do that. As I was lining up for my last race ever, there were a lot of emotions there. It was pretty exciting.”
Other performances at state included:
• The Cardinals 3,200 relay of McDonald, senior Bella Chirafisi, Zaira Malloy-Salgado and Peters was seeded eighth and placed ninth in 9:49.38
• Senior Kobi Davis was seeded sixth in the shot put and finished 10th with a throw of 36 feet, 1.75 inches. Her best throw was her last attempt in the finals. It was the first time all year she didn't win the competition.
• In the discus, Davis finished 23rd with a throw of 76-6 in the prelims.
“When you have a difficult meet like that and it’s your last meet, it’s hard,” Schweitzer said. “But she had such an incredible year. It hurts to see it end on that note.
“But I’m extremely proud of Kobi. She would have been a conference champ. She had an incredible season, and I’m proud of all the work she’s put in for three years as our senior. She’s been incredible.”
Sophomore Maddie Vander Sanden was seeded 18th in shot put and finished 15th with mark of 33-10.25, which came on her second throw in prelims. She just missed surpassing her qualifying mark of 33-11 from sectionals.
Kiara Malloy-Salgado was seeded 21st in the 300 low hurdles and placed 16th in 48.77.
“A lot of people competed real well under difficult conditions,” Schweitzer said. “They did well, and overall I’m extremely pleased. I don’t think everyone did exactly the way that they had hoped.
“But overall, it was a tough meet and the girls performed really, really well. I’m extremely pleased and happy for them.”
Middleton cracked the top 10 in the team standings, finishing ninth with 23 points.
“When you get 18 points from Lauren (Pansegrau), that’s pretty awesome. That helps a lot,” Schweitzer said. “The girls had a great season.
“It’s been a joke the last couple of weeks that it’s been one of those days, weeks, months, years, so go figure that we have a monsoon at our state meet. It was just unreal. Overall, it ended on a great note.”
GIRLS
Team scores: Schofield D. C. Everest 46; Muskego 46; Kaukauna 35; Onalaska 33; Waunakee 32; Chippewa Falls 26; Whitefish Bay 26 ; Wauwatosa East 24; Middleton 23; Mequon Homestead 22; Wisconsin Lutheran 22; Fond du Lac 20; DeForest 20; Kimberly 18; Oak Creek 16; Brookfield Central 16; Sun Prairie 16; Pewaukee 15; Wales Kettle Moraine 15; Hartland Arrowhead 15; Monona Grove 13; Appleton North 12; Green Bay Notre Dame 12; Madison Memorial 11; Mukwonago 11; Madison La Follette 10; Merrill 10; Bay Port 9.5; Hudson 8.33; West De Pere 8; Eau Claire North 8; Janesville Craig 8; Oconomowoc 7; Milwaukee Divine Savior Holy Angels 6; Slinger 6; River Falls 6; Menomonie 6; Glendale Nicolet 6; West Bend West 6; Appleton West 6; Lake Geneva Badger 5; Milwaukee King 5; Waterford 4; Union Grove 4; Sussex Hamilton 4; Hartford 3; Franklin 3; Oregon 3; De Pere 2.5; Westosha Central 2; Sauk Prairie 2; Waukesha West 2; Oshkosh North 2; Watertown 1; Sheboygan North 1; Ashwaubenon 1; Stevens Point 1; Beaver Dam 0.33.
100 meters: 1, Mays, Wauwatosa East, :11.86; 2, Kolawole, Whitefish Bay, :12.34; 3, Sandvig, Chippewa Falls, :12.43; 4, Roble, Schofield D.C. Everest, :12.66; 5, Weyenberg, Appleton North, :12.70; 6, Zagel, Slinger, :12.73; 7, Anderson, Westosha Central, :12.74; 8, Spicer, Sheboygan North, :12.76.
200: 1, J. Mays, Wauwatosa East, :24.59; 2, Kolawole, Whitefish Bay, :25.6; 3, Sandvig, Chippewa Falls, :26.08; 4, Weyenberg, Appleton North, :26.286; 5, M. Mays, Wauwatosa East, :26.287; 6, Elford, Fond du Lac, 26.288; 7, Taylor, Milwaukee Rufus King, :26.65; 8, Hogan, Monona Grove, :26.74.
400: 1, Sandvig, Chippewa Falls, :58.57; 2, Bova, Waunakee, :58.59; 3, Larsen, Waunakee, :58.64; 4, Kolawole, Whitefish Bay, :59.61; 5, Kinas, Kaukauna, :59.62; 6, Taylor, Milwaukee King, 1:00.04; 7, Hogan, Monona Grove, 1:00.58; 8, Beadles, Stevens Point, 1:00.70.
800: 1, Malecek, Onalaska, 2:11.36; 2, Coleman, Janesville Craig, 2:15.06; 3, Neustedter, Brookfield Central, 2:16.05; 4, Fauske, Kaukauna, 2:16.67; 5, Schmidt, Merrill, 2:17.02; 6, Finger, Oconomowoc, 2:17.21; 7, Helm, Muskego, 2:17.57; 8, Geyer, Ashwaubenon, 2:18.15.
1,600: 1, Fauske, Kaukauna, 4:56.54; 2, Pansegrau, Middleton, 4:58.90; 3, Desotell, Green Bay Notre Dame, 5:00.21; 4, A. Malecek, Onalaska, 5:00.32; 5, Finger, Oconomowoc, 5:00.44; 6, Schmidt, Merrill, 5:03.95; 7, Kuehn, Wisconsin Lutheran, 5:06.68; 8, Martens, Muskego, 5:07.62.
3,200: 1, Pansegrau, Middleton, 10:21.6; 2, Malecek, Onalaska, 10:29.33; 3, Jacobsen, Menomonie, 10:57.93; 4, Junig, Muskego, 11:00.08; 5, Thompson, Sun Prairie, 11:01.5; 6, Schuster, Slinger, 11:02.18; 7, Kriegel, Whitefish Bay, 11:04.08; 8, Desotell, Notre Dame Academy, 11:07.63.
100 hurdles: 1, Johnson, Wales Kettle Moraine, :14.21; 2, Arndt, Fond du Lac, :14.58; 3, Malone, Glendale Nicolet; 4, Hogan, Monona Grove, :14.95; 5, Ashworth, Madison Memorial, :15.11; 6, Crosby, Sun Prairie, :15.12; 7, Szepieniec, DeForest, :15.43; 8, Kleinhans, Arrowhead, :15.82.
300 hurdles: 1, Szepieniec, DeForest, :45.61; 2, Crosby, Sun Prairie, :46.02; 3, Arndt, Fond du Lac, :46.42; 4, Booker, Lake Geneva Badger, :46.69; 5, Lamers, Union Grove, :47.12; 6, Thuecks, Hartford, :47.22; 7, Kruchoski, Wales Kettle Moraine, :47.32; 8, Brandenburg, Homestead, :47.61.
400 relay: 1, Muskego (Buckmaster, Reedy, Lundie, Refinski, Kandziora, Seawright), :50.07; 2, Homestead, :50.24; 3, Mukwonago, :50.64; 4, Oak Creek, :50.66; 5, Schofield D.C. Everest, :51.16; 6, Pewaukee, :51.42; 7, River Falls, :51.47; 8, West De Pere, :51.58.
800 relay: 1, Muskego (Doerr, Reedy, Lundie, Refinski), 1:44.59; 2, Pewaukee, 1:45.66; 3, Homestead, 1:46.12; 4, Mukwonago, 1:46.41; 5, River Falls, 1:46.51; 6, Wales Kettle Moraine, 1:47.01; 7, Hudson, 1:47.60; 8, Sun Prairie, 1:47.85.
1,600 relay: 1, Muskego (Doerr, Helm, Lundie, Refinski, Enerson, Reedy), 4:01.89; 2, Waunakee, 4:03.45; 3, West De Pere, 4:05.05; 4, Middleton (Nickels, McDonald, Malloy-Salga, Peters, Bristol, LaRico), 4:05.3; 5, Pewaukee, 4:07.16; 6, Merrill, 4:08.23; 7, Bay Port, 4:08.35; 8, Brookfield Central, 4:08.6.
3,200 relay: 1, Onalaska (A. Malecek, K. Malecek, Lonning, L. Malecek), 9:10.34; 2, Kaukauna, 9:33.55; 3, Muskego, 9:40.20; 4, Brookfield Central, 9:45.27; 5, Arrowhead, 9:45.39; 6, Appleton North, 9:45.99; 7, Green Bay Notre Dame, 9:46.07; 8, Whitefish Bay, 9:49.17.
High jump: 1, Saleh, Waunakee, 5-4; 2, Seidl, Kaukauna, 5-2; 3, A. Williams, West Bend West, 5-2; 4, Thomas, Bay Port, 5-2; 5, E. Williams, Waterford, 5-2; 6, Meeuwsen, Bay Port, 5-0; 6, Butrym, De Pere, 5-0 (tie); 8, Mahowald, Hudson, 5-0; 8, Burchardt, Beaver Dam, 5-0 (tie); 8, Campbell, Reedsburg, 5-0 (tie).
Pole vault: 1, Moore, Hartland Arrowhead, 12-8; 2, Sweet, Madison Memorial, 12-3; 3, Berryman, Homestead, 12-3; 4, Jenks-Recker, Monona Grove, 12-0; 5, Keane, Brookfield Central, 11-6; 6, De Leo Lopez, Oak Creek, 11-6; 7, Hahlen, Muskego, 11-6; 8, Aitken, West De Pere, 11-0.
Long jump: 1, Hopf, Wisconsin Lutheran, 19-1; 2, Blaskowski, Oak Creek, 18-0; 3, O’Brien, Milwaukee Divine Savior Holy Angels, 17-11½; 4, Lehrke, Schofield D.C. Everest, 17-9; 5, Sandvig, Chippewa Falls, 17-5; 6, Arndt, Fond du Lac, 17-4¼; 7, Kolawole, Whitefish Bay, 17-2¼; 8, Sandeman, Sauk Prairie, 17-1¼.
Triple jump: 1, Hopf, Wisconsin Lutheran, 38-4; 2, Szepieniec, DeForest, 37-4; 3, Reichenberger, Kimberly, 37-3¾; 4, Rajek, D.C. Everest, 36-8½; 5, Olejnik, Sussex Hamilton 36-5; 6, Septon, Franklin, 36-2½; 7, Rakovec, D.C. Everest, 36-1¼; 8, Sandeman, Sauk Prairie, 35-2.
Shot put: 1, Langseth, Schofield D.C. Everest, 46-9; 2, Davis, Eau Claire North, 42-1½; 3, Hatfield, Hudson, 41-1¼; 4, Walker, Madison La Follette, 39-10½; 5, Behnke, Kimberly, 38-10½; 6, Wannebo, Oregon, 34-8½; 7, Falk, Oshkosh North, 37-5; 8, Quinn, Watertown, 37-0¾.
Discus: 1, Langseth, Schofield D.C. Everest, 143-3; 2, Behnke, Kimberly, 134-4; 3, Linsey, Appleton West, 132-5; 4, Walker, Madison La Follette, 122-10; 5, Pavlovich, Schofield D.C. Everest, 117-2; 6, Gallagher, Green Bay Notre Dame, 113-6; 7, Chandler, Waukesha West, 113-1; 8, Grisham, Schofield D.C. Everest, 112-7.
