BOSCOBEL – On a picture perfect day on the Zimple farm, the Darlington boys’ and girls’ cross country teams were all business as they ran away with the sectional titles for the fourth year in a row.
    Both Redbird squads placed all five of their team-scoring runners among the top 14 finishers in their respective races to sweep the championships at the 2011 WIAA Division 3 Sectional Cross Country Meet held at the Ryan Zimple Memorial Course in Boscobel on Saturday, Oct. 22.
    The Lady Redbirds opened the day by winning the girls’ sectional title with a 36-point performance for their fifth straight state berth, and the Redbirds followed by capturing the boys’ title with a 28-point showing for their fourth straight state berth.
    “We have been fortunate to have a group of kids who are willing to do the extra work necessary to maintain that level of excellence. They didn’t win the meet on Saturday. They won it in June, July and August when they were out putting in the miles and doing the push ups and crunches that made them good,” said Darlington head coach Arnie Miehe.
    “That attitude has been passed down from year to year and each group knows what needs to be done. I told them after the meet to not only enjoy what has happened, but to also appreciate what they accomplish and understand what has gotten them there. It was a very proud day for me as a coach, watching each team go out and take control of each race. Their effort was impressive.”
    The host Bulldogs finished second in both meets– with 71 points in the girls’ race and 64 points in the boys’ race– to earn state team berths and give the SWAL a full sweep on the day.
    Boscobel freshman Keely Foley won the individual sectional title in the girls’ 4,000-meter race with her time of 15:18.
    Junior Christa Wamsley was second overall in 16:02 and senior Hannah Robiolio followed in third in 16:03 to jump-start Darlington’s title run. Senior Amy Jorgenson and junior Harley Douglas came in ninth and 10th, respectively, with identical times of 16:33, while freshman Johanna Meister locked up the crown by placing 12th in 17:02.
    Juniors Rebecca Mathias and Cheyenne Wolfe pulled in 17th and 18th, respectively, in 17:28 for the Lady Redbirds.
    “I was pleased with how the girls went out in the race and then held their positions or improved as the race went along,” Miehe commented. “They are a determined group and are running well together. That is what it takes to do well in the state meet.”
    Sophomore Tyson Miehe guided the Redbirds to the title by winning his second individual sectional championship with his top time of 16:39 in Saturday’s 5,000-meter boys’ race.
    Senior Destin Komprood finished third overall in 17:07, while senior Michael Sinclair came in fifth in 17:17 and senior Kent Miehe placed sixth in 17:24 for the ‘Birds.
    Junior Garth Garrison completed the team scoring by placing 13th in 17:54. Senior Brady McDaniel was 16th in 18:08 and junior Kyle Schulte was 33rd in 19:16 for Darlington.
    “All year we have run solid team races with guys stepping up when someone has an off race, and today was no exception,” Miehe noted. “We are running with a sense of purpose and are looking forward to running at state.”
    The 2011 WIAA State Cross Country Meet will be held at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday, Oct. 29. The girls’ D-3 race will begin at 11 a.m. and the boys’ D-3 race is scheduled for 1 p.m.
     “Our kids are ready to run. They have been focused all season and will run another strong race on Saturday, just as they have all year. We ran with the best in the state at the Midwest meet and now we get to run with the best in the state in division three. They are ready, and looking forward to that opportunity,” exclaimed Miehe.

WIAA DIVISION 3 SECTIONAL MEET
Girls Team Scores: Darlington 36, Boscobel 71, Hillsboro 94, Fennimore 172, Waterloo 178, Belleville 192, Pardeeville 202, Lancaster 204, Pecatonica/Argyle 214, Riverdale 219, North Crawford 229, Rio/Fall River 241, Albany, Cassville, Kickapoo/LaFarge, Madison Country Day inc.

Individual State Qualifiers: 5- Sigg, PA, 16:13; 6- Johnson, Pard, 16:17; 7- Elliott, Lanc, 16:25; 8- Hlavachek, Alb, 16:28; 9- Rojas, Water, 16:30.

Darlington Overall Results: 2- Christa Wamsley, 16:02; 3- Hannah Robiolio, 16:03; 10- Amy Jorgenson, 16:33; 11- Harley Douglas, 16:33; 13- Johanna Meister, 17:02; 18- Rebecca Mathias, 17:28; 19- Cheyenne Wolfe, 17:28.  
4,000-meter

Boys Team Scores: Darlington 28, Boscobel 64, Albany 76, Lancaster 105, Belleville 151, Pecatonica/Argyle 164, Hillsboro 170, Fennimore 216, North Crawford 258, Rio/Fall River 276, Pardeeville 290, Waterloo, Cassville, Kickapoo/LaFarge, Madison Country Day inc.

Individual State Qualifiers: 4- Whitehead, Alb, 17:11; 7- Doll, Lanc, 17:36; 8- Massey, PA, 17:38; 9- Ramirez, Alb, 17:39; 10- Rohn, Hills, 17:44.

Darlington Overall Results: 1- Tyson Miehe, 16:39; 3- Destin Komprood, 17:07; 5- Michael Sinclair, 17:17; 6- Kent Miehe, 17:24; 14- Garth Garrison, 17:54; 17- Brady McDaniel, 18:08; 34- Kyle Schulte, 19:16.  
5,000-meter
At Boscobel, on Saturday, Oct. 22