KICKAPOO — After five weeks of practice the Hillsboro track team finally opened the season Monday at the Lee Griffin Kickapoo/La Farge Invitational.

Even with a shorthanded team the Hillsboro girls won three events and displayed quality team depth while scoring 144.5 points to finish second to the host Predators (180).

Meanwhile, juniors Matt Bartels and Max Sebranek combined to win five events to lead the Hillsboro boys to a third place finish with 99 points. Necedah claimed the boys’ title with 146 points.

“The girls did reasonably well, about what I expected from them this early,” said Hillsboro head coach Chad Schmidt.

“The boys were not as conditioned as I expected.  It is also the first meet of the year, and we also had several boys and a couple girls absent for state FBLA.

“We have some things to address, but we should work out most of the kinks in a couple weeks. We have to, since the conference meet is only four weeks from now.”

Senior Savannah Noth won the girls’ 400 with a time of 1:09.29, and also tied for fourth in the 100 (14.69) and placed sixth in the 200 (31.07.

Fellow senior Leeta Russell won the 300-meter hurdles (57.02) and placed second in the 100 hurdles (19.24).

Russell also teamed with Mirissa Williamson, Kenzie Sullivan and April Thornsen to win the 4x100 relay in 1:00.92.

Sophomore Michaela Bach finished second in the 3,200 (15:07.19).

Senior Stephanie Munson finished second in the shot put (27’7”).

Senior Hilary Stanek placed third in the long jump (12’8”) and tied for fourth in the 100 (14.69).

Senior Heather Fronk placed third in the 3,200 (15:14.57).

On the boys’ side Bartels won gold medals in the 100 (11.70), 200 (23.92) and the triple jump (38’10.5”). He also placed fifth in the 400 (1:00.28).

Sebranek won the 110 hurdles (18.28) and the 300 hurdles (43.42), and finished second in the 100 (11.93) behind Bartels.

Fellow junior Logan Rohn placed second in the 3,200 (11:28.72).

The quartet of Scott Sobczak, Adrian Marques, Nolan Hammer and Layne Hammer finished second in the 4x100 relay with a time of 52.86.

Hillsboro will return to action  Saturday at the Cashton Eagle Invitational. Monday the Tigers will compete at the Boscobel Bulldog Relays, and Tuesday they will take part in the Necedah Cardinal Invitational.