Returnees boost Greendale's track fortunes

A large group of returnees - highlighted by five athletes who competed in the 2012 WIAA Division 1 state meet - gives the Greendale track and field teams optimism for this season.

"We are very excited about the season," boys head coach Katie Matel said. "We have a lot of returning athletes, five of them state participants, in addition to many new track participants.

"We also have a full staff of six coaches who each bring enthusiasm and experience to the program.

"Our goals this year are to help each athlete reach his or her potential. We hope that we can return those five athletes to state and introduce a few more to the experience."

The five state qualifiers are Sam Bauer and Tyler Voss for the boys and Abby Jankowski, Alyssa Docter and Chelsey Heiden for the girls.

Bauer took 19th place in the 100-meter dash, Voss 27th in the 200 dash, Jankowski 17th in the discus, Docter a tie for 19th in the pole vault and Heiden 18th in the 3,200 run.

They performed well as Greendale opened the season at the Pius Developmental Meet on March 14.

No team scores were kept.

Heiden won both the 800 run in 2 minutes, 44.64 seconds and the 1,600 run (5:48.19), Docter won the high jump with 4 feet-8 inches and placed second in the pole vault with 8-6 and Bauer claimed the 55 dash (6.96 seconds) and the 200 dash (24.68).

Paige Dellfish won both the 200 dash (30.55) and the 55 low hurdles (10.67) and took second in the 55 high hurdles (10.93), while Emily Perszyk won the triple jump with 32-6 and finished second in the long jump at 13-8½, Hannah Polenske claimed the 3,200 run (15:26.9) and took second in the 1,600 run (6:41.44) and Kacee Ochalek took second in both the 400 run (1:13.28) and 800 run (3:08.37).

For the boys, Joey Unrein won both the 800 run (2:21.61) and 1,600 run (5:06.51), Joe Pokrzywa won both the 55 high hurdles (8.98) and the triple jump at 39-9 and Dan Gnadt won the 400 dash (1:01.43).

Also winning were the four-lap relay of Mike Scheidt, Gaelan Seibold, David Michaels and Bauer (1:21.93) and the 4 x 800 relay (9:50.57). Names were not available.

Also taking second were Nikki Price in the girls 55 dash (8.36), Madison Williams in the girls 3,200 (17:48.4), the girls 4 x 160 relay (1:40.36), the girls 4 x 240 team (2:48.42), Thomas Bell in the boys long jump at 18-9 and the boys 4 x 240 relay (2:17.52).

Whitnall takes third

The Falcons started the season with a triangular meet at West Allis Central on March 12, taking third place with 40 points.

Winning individual events were Jenny Lawton in the 55 high hurdles (10.2) and the 55 intermediate hurdles (10.5) and Jasmine Van Tine in the 3,200 run.