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Craig boys track point to state

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Janesville Craig’s Rutger Meister, left, battles Wilmot’s Justin Schweitzer in the 110 high hurdles during the Division 1 Waterford Sectional Track and Field Meet on Thursday. Meister contributed to the Cougars’ sectional team title.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig’s Ian Reinicke soars to a first-place finish in the triple jump at the Waterford Sectional.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Milton High’s A.J. Natter unleashes a discus throw during the Division 1 Waterford Sectional Track and Field Meet on Thursday. Natter won the event.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Janesville Parker’s Kristin Zeilinger clears the bar during the pole vault competition at the Waterford Sectional on Thursday.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig's Tommy Meister is helped up by teammate Evan Lalor after Meister finished first in the 1600 meter and collapsed at the end of the race at the Track and Field Sectional in Waterford.

WATERFORD — Tommy Meister was catching his breath, coming off a gritty win in the 800 meters Thursday in a WIAA Division 1 sectional track and field meet at Waterford.

Meister had earlier won the 1,600 and anchored Janesville Craig's winning 3,200 relay team.

So it was understandable why those in attendance, be it competitors or even working media, were impressed by what Meister had done over the course of the day.

But Meister wasn't necessarily impressed by himself.

"I'm not sure I'm so excited about today as you guys are," observed the Craig senior and Duke University track recruit.

It's not that Meister wasn't happy with winning two individual events and being part of a winning relay team. He was just concerned that his times, especially in the 800, won't seed him as highly as he wants as he prepares to defend his state title in the 800 and add a title in the 1,600—he finished second last year—in the state meet June 1 and 2 at UW-La Crosse.

That was a common theme Thursday for those who advanced to state.

With unseasonable humidity and whipping winds that made running the backstretch of Waterford's track feel like someone was holding you by the back of the shirt as you ran, competitors yielded results that left them wondering where they'll stack up with other sectionals when they're seeded for state.

"We're just hoping the entire state's kind of going through the same kind of thing, so we see similar times out of all the sectionals," Craig boys coach Jeff Deininger said. "It's difficult. The wind is tunneling down through the backstretch, and those runners have a difficult time getting through there."

Janesville Parker senior and Auburn University track recruit Brad Money, who qualified for state in an entertaining 800 by taking third with a time of 2 minutes, 0.98 seconds (Meister won in 2:00.67), assessed the conditions succinctly.

"Oh, it was horrible," Money said. "I just really worked my arms and legs to get through that wind."

Nonetheless, the Craig boys team had an outstanding day, claiming five winners.

Meister ran a blazing anchor leg to secure the 3,200 relay title for the Cougars' first win. The team included Spencer Hrycay, Evan Lalor and Joseph Sarow and ran a time of 8:02.02. Then in the 1,600, Meister pulled far away from the field to breeze across the finish line in 4:26.4.

The Cougars' 800 relay squad of Thomas Gabower, John Olsen, Ryan Kind and Calvin Coleman won with a time of 1:30.91, and Craig also received a first-place finish from Ian Reinicke in the triple jump (46 feet, 9.75 inches).

Craig finished first among the 17 boys teams, and coupled with the Craig girls' second-place finish, the Cougars placed first in the combined team standings. Though team standings aren't the main goal at sectionals, Craig still relished the accomplishment.

"We pay attention a lot to the team aspect of it," Deininger said. "At the end of the season, we're ending up fairly well."

Parker, meanwhile, had two competitors claim sectional titles, as Shawn Bohler won the 300 hurdles (40.41) and Trevor Steinke captured the shot put (54-1).

Milton's A.J. Natter was the discus champion with a throw of 155-9, while Riley Kovars won the long jump (22-5.75) for the Red Hawks.

In the girls field, Craig sophomore Allison Calkins had a superb triple jump, winning with a mark of 37-4.5, and also took second in the long jump (16-8.25).

"She had a great day, breaking the school record (in the triple jump)," Craig girls coach Mark Marsden said of Calkins. "Maybe the best jump in the state right now."

Coming off an illness she was suffering during the conference meet, Craig's Maggie Slatter was able to take second in both the 100 dash (12.62) and the 200 dash (26.55).