Williamsburg claims boys, girls titles en route to State

A sweep of the team championships and between them an advancement of 22 events to the state meet this week at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

Williamsburg track and field athletes excelled in a Class 2A state qualifying meet last Thursday at Monticello, claiming both the girls' and boys' team titles while moving forward 10 girls' events to state and 12 for the boys.

Junior Derek Weisskopf has the top qualifying height in the boys' high jump at 6-feet 6-inches, and he's seeded fourth in the shot put (54-8) and sixth in the discus (155-10).

Senior Owen Douglas ran the second fastest qualifying times in the 100 (10.97) and 200 (22.33) meter dashes, and Douglas is the anchor of Williamsburg's 4 x 200 meter relay team which also ran the second fastest qualifying time in 1:31.06.

He is joined by senior Carson Huedepohl, junior Braylon Wetjen and sophomore Rayce Heitman.

Wetjen, Heitman and juniors Kellen Cockrell and Clayten Steckly have the six fastest qualifying time in the sprint medley relay in 1:35.44, which breaks their own school record set a week earlier at conference.

"We had another great team effort," said Wiliamsburg coach Matt Matthes "The goal of the state qualifying meet is always to try to qualify as many events as possible, and team accomplished that. At the beginning of the season, winning this meet was one of team's goals, and I'm really proud of their efforts to achieve that. It was also exciting watching the girls win the team title on the same night. We're excited about going to Des Moines. It will be a fun time for Raider Track and Field."

Williamsburg has four girls' events seeded in the top 10, highlighted by the sprint medley relay team of sophomores Makenna Hughas and Ailea Wetjen, junior Shannon Finn and senior Macey Marovets. They ran the third fastest state qualifying time in 4:16.74.

"We had such a fun time as a team," noted Raiders' coach Nick Nordheim. "We weren't completely satisfied a week ago at the conference meet in how we performed. The girls were on a mission and once things started going our way, the momentum carried through to the rest of the night. Great event after great event just kept happening. It just shows how tough not only physically we are, but especially mentally."

Nordheim said Macey Marovets was "absolutely a star tonight. Running three huge 800s and anchoring our 4x4 to the title was amazing. She's never run four events before in a meet and it's unbelievable how she stepped up in the biggest moment and delivered for her team. I'm so incredibly happy for her."

Nordheim also expressed his pleasure in Shannon Finn's performance.

"She had a big night as well with three 400s and a 200. Each one was outstanding, but we've come to expect that from her. She's just always on and can always be counted on to be great."

Makenna Hughes and Ailea Wetjen drew Nordheim's praises as well.

"Mak and Ailea are just so amazing. Meet after meet, they are great each and every time they step on the track. After winning that state title last year, I feel like their confidence is just so high and that spreads to the rest of the team."

Nordheim added this about his senior throwers, Jenna Thurm and Elle Ridgeway.

"Outstanding as usual. I'm so happy for those two to get to state as seniors. They work so hard in all they do and never really ask or get that much credit. They just keep working and it shows."

Senior Tayler Long didn't go unnoticed.

"She continues to be on fire,"Nordheim said. "Each time she steps on the track she seems to

set personal bests. She is going to have a big state meet."

Nordheim went on to say, "There were so many girls that had their best night in the biggest meet

of the year. It was incredible. This is why we do the little things really well all season long. Even

most of the girls that didn't qualify had personal bests and finished their seasons running and

jumping great. It is just so much fun to coach these kids."

Following is a list of Williamsburg state qualifiers, their district placings, times/performances, state seedings.

GIRLS

Discus — Jenna Thurm, 3rd, 116-1.

Shot put — Thurm, 2nd, 36-2; Elle Ridgeway, 3rd, 35-2.

400 — Lilly Andrews, 2nd, 1:03.4.

800 — Macey Marovets, 2nd, 2:23.17.

Sprint medley relay —Elizabeth Stohlmann, Makenna Hughes, Ailea Wetjen, Shannon Finn, 1st, 1:53.12.

4 x 100 relay — Stohlmann, Tayler Long, Hughes, Wetjen, 2nd, :51.44.

4 x 200 relay — Hughes, Finn, Long, Wetjen, 1st, 1:48.33.

4 x 400 relay — Finn, Phoenix Gryp, Long, Marovets, 1st, 4:08.62.

4 x 800 relay — April Phillips, Analise DeWitt, Reagan McMenomy, Marovets, 2nd, 10:02.76.

Distance medley relay — Hughes, Wetjen, Finn, Marovets, 2nd, 4:16.74.

State seedings

Distance medley relay — 3rd.

4 x 400 relay — 5th.

Discus — Thurm, 8th.

4 x 200 relay — 9th.

4 x 800 relay — 9th.

Shot put — Thurm, 16th; Ridgeway, 21st.

800 — Marovets, 6th.

Sprint medley relay — 14th.

4 x 100 relay — 15th.

400 — Andrews, 23rd.

BOYS

Shot put — Derek Weisskopf, 1st, 54-8.

Discus — Weisskopf, 1st, 155-10.

High jump — Weisskopf, 1st, 6-6;

Trey O'Neil, 2nd, 6-1.

Whelchair 100 — Adam Arp, 1st, :28.22.

100 — Owen Douglas, 2nd, :10.97.

200 — Douglas, 2nd, :22.83.

400 low hurdles — O'Neil, 3rd, :57.79.

Sprint medley relay — Braylon Wetjen, Clayten Steckly, Kellen Cockrell, Rayce Heitman, 1st, 1:35.44.

4 x 100 relay — Carson Huedepohl, Steckly, Wetjen, Douglas, 2nd, :44.0.

4 x 200 relay — Wetjen, Heitman, Huedepohl, Douglas, 1st, 1:31.06.

4 x 400 relay — Wetjen, Sam Rich, Cockrell, Heitman, 2nd, 3:27.49.

4 x 800 relay — Calvin Seeman, Jake Buchholtz, Wes Hulseberg, Devin Busch, 3rd, 8:29.55.

State seedings

High jump — Weisskopf, 1st; O'Neil, 10th.

100 — Douglas, 2nd.

200 — Douglas, 2nd.

4 x 200 relay — 2nd.

Shot put — Weisskopf, 4th.

Wheelchair 100 — Arp, 5th.

Discus — Weisskop, 6th.

Sprint medley relay — 6th.

4 x 100 relay — 10th.

4 x 800 relay — 17th.

400 low hurdles — O'Neil, 17th.