For most track and field athletes, the season is over. Junior Varsity (JV) competed at their last meet, JV Classic 8 Conference, on May 15th at Oconomowoc High School. Varsity athletes have an extended season as they vigorously compete for a place at the WIAA track and field state Meet. This state meet will be held this Friday, June 1st and Saturday, June 2nd at UW-Lacrosse. Qualifying Arrowhead varsity athletes will be traveling to state on Thursday, May 31st after school.

Competing at a state meet, game, or match is one of the highest athletic honors among high school student-athletes. These qualifying athletes will get the chance to showcase the skills they’ve been working hard to perfect all season. For track and field, athletes must finish in the top four of their regionals to move on to sectionals. This year’s sectionals was held at Arrowhead High School, where other athletes from Milwaukee King, Nicolet, Germantown, Hamilton, Homestead, Watertown, Pewaukee, Whitefish Bay, Oconomowoc, Menomonee Falls, Milwaukee Vincent, Milwaukee Marshall, Milwaukee Riverside, and Milwaukee Washington high schools were able to compete to be in the top 3 of their event to move on to state.

Qualifying athletes for Arrowhead girls are the following: senior Abigail Bartelson (1600m relay), senior Sarah Edwards (300m hurdles, triple jump, 1600m relay), senior Tatum Radke (pole vault), senior Caley Susitti (1600m relay), senior Kayla Vogt (3200m relay, 400m dash, 1600m relay), junior Rachel Diel (high jump), junior Anna Schueth (3200m relay, 800m run, 1600m relay), junior Annetta Stelter (3200m relay), junior Grace Mandick (triple jump), sophomore Elise Schneider (discus throw), sophomore Jane Straka (3200m relay), sophomore Madeline Walsh (1600m relay), freshman Elizabeth Olshanski (3200m relay), and freshman Emma Vorpagel (3200m relay).

Qualifying athletes for Arrowhead boys are the following: senior Jacob Biewer (110 hurdles, 800m relay, 400m relay), senior Cody Clauer (1600m run, 3200m relay), senior Thomas Mengwasser (110m hurdles, 300m hurdles, 1600m relay), senior Zachary Hastings (800m relay and 400m relay), senior Maxwell McQuestion (shot put), senior Matthew Prendergast (300m hurdles, 1600m relay), senior Joel Shelp (800m relay, 400m relay, 1600m relay), senior Robert Tetzlaff (800m relay, 400m relay, 1600m relay), senior Tyler Zimmermann (800m relay and 400m relay), junior Elijah DeVries (3200m relay, 3200m run), junior Elijah Jones (3200m relay), junior Adam Klauk (3200m relay), junior Christian Peterson (1600m relay), sophomore Griffin Gohde (800m relay), sophomore Sam Gomon (3200m relay), sophomore Noah James (400m relay), Benjamin Nelson (1600m relay), sophomore Christian Porter (discus throw), and freshman Seth Ray (3200m relay).

Many of these athletes have competed at the state meet in prior years. Sophomore Anna Schueth ran in the 3200m relay and the 1600m relay last year. With her help, her relay teams finished third and second respectively.

She says, “I feel very prepared for my races. I know we’re going to have to work really hard and nothing will come easy. We have a good chance to podium for the 4×400, and for the 4×800 the podium is obviously the goal as well. I’m excited to see what I can do in the open 800. It may be the hardest race I will ever run, but I have to be willing to hurt to find my full potential. Overall, I am super excited to run.”

Similar to prior years, the state track and field meet falls on the same day as Arrowhead’s graduation. Seniors who qualify will miss Friday, the last day of school and be late for graduation on Saturday. Depending on the results of the meet, they could potentially miss it entirely. For some seniors this situation is upsetting; however, others have a different outlook.

Senior Kayla Vogt says, “Honestly, I like that state is on the same day as graduation. That way I can accomplish so many great things in one day.”

Vogt hopes to get personal records in her events and end her final high school season of sports on a high note.