BANGOR — This year has been a transition season for the Hillsboro track and field teams.
With rosters loaded with newcomers and underclassmen, the Tigers haven’t experienced much team success in terms of trophies and plaques.
But last week the quartet of seniors Michaela Bach and Shauna Parish, junior April Thornsen and freshman Lydia Benish teamed up to win a conference title in the 4x800 relay at last Tuesday’s Scenic Bluffs Conference Championships at Bangor High School.
The Lady Tigers ran to the gold medal with a winning time of 11:00.72, nearly 13 seconds better than runner-up team from Brookwood (11:13.16).
Parish also finished fouth in the 800 (2:46.81), while Thornsen placed fifth (2:50.92).
Thornsen, senior Macey Brown, and sophomores Belinda Griffin and Kailey Preuss won a bronze medal in the 4x200 relay (1:54.93).
Junior Zea Woods finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles in 19.20 seconds.
Reese (6:19.23) and Benish (6:37.61) placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 1,600.
Bach finished fifth (13:51.41) in the 3,200, while Reese was sixth in the event at 13:57.35.
The Hillsboro girls scored 68 points, 33 of those in four distance events (800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x800 relay).
Cashton dominated the girls’ competition, scoring 215 points to win the team title. The Eagles have won each of the last four SBC girls’ titles. Brookwood finished second at 139, while Bangor finished third with 99.
Boys finish seventh
Bangor repeated at the SBC boys’ champion scoring 175.5 points to hold off Brookwood (157.5). Royall (102) finished third, followed by Wonewoc–Center (59), Necedah (56) and Cashton (37).
The Hillsboro boys finished seventh with 36 points.
Sophomore Zach O’Hair turned in the Tigers top performance running to a bronze medal in the 3,200 in a time of 11:12.85.
O’Hair won a second bronze medal, along with senior Avery Rueckheim, and juniors Adrian Marquez and Skyler Fisher, in the 4x800 relay (9:38.19).
Rueckheim, sophomores Justin Muller and Preston Kaus and freshman Riley Boldon finished fourth in the 4x400 relay (4:08.50).
Kaus also finished fourth in the 200 in 25.60 seconds.
The Tigers took part in the 10-team Division 3 Onalaska Luther Regional on Tuesday. The top four finishers in each event advanced to Friday’s D3 Bangor Sectional. The top four finishers in each event at sectionals will qualify for next week’s WIAA State Championships, that will be held June 5–6 at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.
