WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Platteville seniors Dan Iselin and Brelynn Updike capped their standout careers, while sophomore Jace Serres wrapped up his breakout season at Saturday’s WIAA cross country state championships.
Iselin battled with the lead pack throughout the boys’ 5,000-meter Division 2 race, reaching the awards stand with a ninth-place finish out of 151 runners.
He crossed the finish line at Wisconsin Rapids’ Ridges Golf Course in 16:26.78.
“Dan ran the race of his career at the state meet,” said Platteville head coach Rob Serres. “Dan is extremely focused and set his mind to being a medal winner at the state meet. We had discussed Dan trying to make his way into the top 20 and possibly top 15. But then, a couple of day before the meet Dan decided that he was going to get into the top 10 and become a medalist. Dan was outstanding.”
Iselin, who finished second at conference two weeks ago, finished his career as a three-time first-team All-SWC selection and a three-time state qualifier. He placed 94th at state in 2013 as a freshman when the Hillmen qualified as a team and placed sixth, then finished 27th at last year’s state meet with a time of 17:04.09.
Meanwhile, Serres finished 47th in his first trip to state with a time of 17:19.05.
“Jace’s focus was to run a smooth strong race,” said coach Serres. “It is easy to get swept up in the start of the race and go out too fast at the state meet. Jace’s goal was to be in the top 50 of the race and feel like he was in control.”
The talented sophomore, who finished eighth at conference two weeks ago will be relied upon to take the reigns as Platteville’s number one runner next year once Iselin graduates.
Updike closed out her record-setting career at Platteville with a 52nd-place finish in the girls’ Division 2 race.
She crossed the finish line in 20:41.93 in her first trip to state, an incredible achievement for someone who only ran cross country her junior and senior seniors. Updike played volleyball as a freshman and sophomore.
“I am extremely proud of Brelynn for setting a goal two years ago to compete in the state championships and achieving it,” said Serres. “Brelynn was extremely determined to compete at the highest level. Brelynn got a bit stuck in the back at the start of the race and was in the 70’s for the first mile. But she continually worked her way up through the pack and closed strong and finished 52nd. Brelynn has been a great role model and has left a legacy that we will have our future runners emulate in the years to come.”
Updike finished her career as the Platteville girls’ 5,000-meter record holder with a time of 19:48.4 set at last week’s D2 Platteville sectional.
WIAA Division 2 State Championships
(from Saturday, Oct. 29 @ Wisc. Rapids)
(Girls, 5,000 meters)
Team scores: 1.East Troy 88, 2.Luxemburg–Casco 108, 3.Freedom 113, 4.Wisconsin Lutheran 119, 5.Wisconsin Dells 137, 6.Cedar Grove–Belgium 167, 7.McFarland 190, 8.Westby 202, 9.Dodgeville/Mineral Point 209, 10.Plymouth 257, 11.Grafton 265, 12.Lakeland 375, 13.Clintonville 286, 14.Saint Croix Central 316, 15.Deerfield/Cambridge 316, 16.Northwestern 372.
Top finishers: 1.Dana Feyen (Gale–Ettrick–Trempeleau) 18:21.48, 2.Laura Beghin (Wisconsin Dells) 18:34.14, 3.Audrey Janik (Wisconsin Lutheran) 18:53.65, 4.Annie Higgins (Xavier) 18:54.8, 5.Kara Pyatskowit (Clintonville) 19:00.23.
Platteville: 52.Brelynn Updike 20:41.93.
(Boys, 5,000 meters)
Team scores: 1.Lakeland 105, 2.Valders 112, 3.Wisconsin Lutheran 114, 4.Monroe 117, 5.Dodgeville/Mineral Point 118, 6.Omro 162, 7.Shorewood 212, 8.Lakeside Lutheran 212, 9.Oconto Falls 227, 10.Cedar Grove–Belgium 232, 11.Notre Dame Academy 239, 12.East Troy 265, 13.Viroqua 280, 14.Sparta 322, 15.Northwestern 329, 16.Osecola 375.
Top finishers: 1.Luke Bailey (Xavier) 15:44.8, 2.Clarke Otte (Sheboygan Falls) 15:56.46, 3.Dustin Hatfield (River Valley) 16:05.9, 4.Trevor Wenzel (Valders) 16:10.46, 5.Miguel Mathias (Nekoosa/Port Edwards) 16:14.91.
Platteville: 9.Dan Iselin 16:26.78, 47.Jace Serres 17:19.05.
