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Komprood races away with Lady Redbirds first-ever state medal
Mendez places 23rd for Darlington in D3 girls race
Darl GXC Mendez color
DARLINGTON JUNIOR Ilse Mendez (#30) finished off her season by placing 23rd overall in the girls Division 3 state race in 20:32.16.

    WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Darlington senior Reghan Komprood capped a successful career with the Redbirds’ cross country team by earning the program’s first-ever individual state medal in her final prep race at the 2017 WIAA State Cross Country Meet held at The Ridges golf course in Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday, Oct. 28.
    Komprood covered the 5,000-meter state course in a time of 19:55.57 to place 10th overall and medal in the girls’ Division 3 state race.
    “I was in 14th-place most of the way. I wanted to medal so bad that I pushed and pushed to move up, and I finally got up into 10th-place. It’s exciting because I have had so much fun these past four years,” said Komprood, who placed 20th overall as a junior while helping the Lady Redbirds claim the state team title. “I could not have done it without my teammates. They’re the ones who have pushed me the most. I wish they were all here with me today.”
    Redbird junior Ilse Mendez, another member of the 2016 state championship team also participated as an individual, placing 23rd overall in 20:32.16.
    “Both Reghan and Ilse got off to good starts. Ilse kept moving up throughout the race and had a strong finish. Reghan started in the top five, but dropped to 12th or 13th in the middle of the race. To her credit, she held there until the finish when she put on a monster kick to place 10th,” said Darlington head coach Arnie Miehe. “So many times you see individuals run poorly at the state meet because they no longer have the team aspect pushing them, but both Ilse and Reghan ran tough and ran smart and had strong races. It was a great way to finish their seasons and, for Reghan, her career.
    Edgar sophomore Marissa Ellenbecker was crowned the D3 girls’ individual state champion after turning in a winning time of 18:56.33.
    Lancaster junior Lydia Murphy was runner-up for the second year in a row in 19:12.68 while guiding the Flying Arrows to a runner-up team finish as well with 97 points behind first-time state champion Dodgeland (56).
    Marshall, which edged out Darlington for the second team state berth at last week’s Fennimore Sectional, placed third overall with 108 points.

2017 WIAA DIVISION 3 STATE MEET
Girls Team Scores: Dodgeland 56, Lancaster 97, Marshall 108, Auburndale 114, Palmyra-Eagle 135, Lourdes Academy 161, Bonduel 188, Aquinas 223, Glenwood City 251, Cashton 262, Phillips 277, Cameron 280, Oostburg 285, Rosholt 315, Chequamegon 326, Weyauwega-Fremont 336.

Darlington Results (5,000-meter): 10- Reghan Komprood, 19:55.57; 23- Ilse Mendez, 20:32.16.
At Wisconsin Rapids, on Saturday, Oct. 28