By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
Back at the start of the 2015 season, Big Foot boys and girls track coach Greg Lueck knew his young squad may have to endure some growing pains.
It’s safe to say the Chiefs have grown up – and in a very big way.
Big Foot is sending its largest contingent in Lueck’s tenure to this weekend’s Division 2 State Meet on the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus with five athletes set to compete in five events.
Representing the Chiefs on the girls’ side are sophomore Brooke Wellhausen in the 400 and the triple jump, the 1,600-meter relay team of freshman Alexandria Demco, sophomore Gloria Esarco, freshman Grace Gillingham and Wellhausen and Esarco in the 800.
Freshman Jackson Enz also is headed to state in the 300-hurdles.
“We’re really looking forward to (state),” Lueck said.
The relay and Esarco both finished second to lead the state-bound Chiefs at the sectional.
Esarco posted a time of 2:23.91 and will run in the first lane of the first heat Friday morning. The top seed is Clintonville senior Allison Johnson with a sectional time of 2:16.94.
“Gloria has been getting with each race,” Lueck said. “(It was) her best time ever in the 800. She has benefitted from a really strong conference in this event.”
The relay team finished in 4:05.76. At state, that foursome will race in the second lane of the second heat in the last event of the day Friday.
Leading that field is the team from Dodgeville-Mineral Point with a time of 4:01.87.
“Our relay is just getting better and better,” Lueck said. “They ran a terrific race. All four girls ran well. We have broken the school record in each of our four past races that team has won.”
Wellhausen finished third in the 400 (59.1) and was fourth in the triple jump (33-11 1/2).
Heading into state, she is set to compete in the sixth lane of the second heat in the 400 preliminaries Friday morning. The top-seeded athlete in that event is Milwaukee North junior Shatara Mitchell with a sectional time of 58.57.
In the triple jump, Wellhausen will compete in the first flight of the finals Saturday. The top seed is Lakeside Lutheran junior Meghan Pingel at 36-3.
“She ran real close to her personal best (in the 400 at the sectional),” Lueck said. “We had a very fast sectional. Brooke is seeded fourth going into state, so even though she finished third, it was a great race for her.
“Brooke (triple) jumped about what she has been doing all year. She will have an uphill battle to get to the finals at state. I’m really proud of her qualifying in three events.”
Also competing at the sectional was the 800-meter relay team of Demco, Gillingham, senior Mari Hubanks and junior Dana Sorensen, ninth (1:49.85).
Big Foot was 12th in the team standings with 27 points. Lakeside Lutheran won the sectional with 100 points, followed by Jefferson with 71.5, Shorewood with 48, Kettle Moraine Lutheran with 41 and East Troy with 38.
Freshman punches his ticket
Enz earned his state meet berth with a third-place time of 31.43 in the 300-hurdles. He will run in the first lane of the first heat Friday morning.
The top-seeded athlete in that event is Two Rivers senior Ethan Willman of 39.36.
“Very few freshman have made it to state in this event,” Lueck said. “He is the ultimate competitor, so I think he will do well at state.
“The sectional race was his fastest time of the year, but he hit quite a few hurdles, and it wasn’t a very good technical race, so we know he can go faster.”
Also competing for the boys were Fletcher Strahan, 13th in the 3,200 (10:56.38); the 1,600-meter relay team of sophomore Connor Kirk, freshman David Martin, sophomore Bernie Lerchegger and freshman Dimitri Demco, 14th (3:44.25); and Enz, who was 14th in the 110-hurdle preliminaries (16.51), but did not qualify for the finals.
Big Foot was 22nd overall with six points. Milwaukee Lutheran won the team title with 95 points, followed by Brown Deer with 57, Catholic Memorial with 54, East Troy with 53 and Shorewood with 51.
