The three Division 1 Waukesha schools were slated to compete in the WIAA track and field regional at Brookfield East on May 26, with the sectional to follow Friday at West Allis.
The first four finishers each event at the regional advanced to compete in the sectional, where top-three finishers in each event advance to the state meet, held annually at the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse.
Using the final state honor roll as a guide, the area has a number of noteworthy athletes.
Emma Langer of Waukesha West holds the second-fastest time in the state this year in the 800 with her run of 2:14.52, set back during the indoor season, and Grace Dargiewicz of Waukesha South sits in 13th at 2:20.85. Both will have a realistic chance to punch through to state, with no other honor roll mentions within the Division 1 sectional.
Dargiewicz also holds the 20th-best time in the 1,600 (5:14.93), and she'll be chasing Brookfield Central's Leah Neustedter (5:13.15) and Brookfield East's Rachel Werking (5:14.45), but the third spot is an option.
Freshman Maddie Frey of Waukesha West worked her way onto the honor roll in the 200 with her time of 26.05 seconds in the Classic 8 Conference meet, and she'll have a decent shot at reaching state, with Cheri'A Adams of Wauwatosa West (25.59) posting a faster time on the honor roll this season.
The West 4x800 has the top standing of any area relay, a fifth-best showing of 9:38.83 with the team of Megan Bur, Erica Liesen, Becca Langer and Emma Langer. Other sectional teams within reach are Brookfield Central (9:48.67) and Divine Savior Holy Angels (9:49.30).
The West 4x200-meter relay that went 1:46.30 at the Steinke Invite earlier this year (With Leah Lloyd, Jaya Tolefree, Allie Karnuth and Frey) sits 12th on the honor roll, with Tosa West (1:42.52) holding the state's best time. West would hold the second-best seed time in the sectional, though Brookfield Central (1:46.43) and East (1:46.81) are not far behind.
The West 4x400 (4:06.11 with Samantha Hanson, Emma Langer, Becca Langer, Libby Horan) holds the 13th spot on the honor roll and the top spot in the sectional, with Brookfield east (4:07.49) in shouting distance.
Jessica Kelliher of Waukesha North, sitting at 38 feet, 8 inches in the shot put, will be chasing West Allis Central's Ella Schultz (40-2) and trying to stay ahead of Kettle Moraine's Brea Perron (38-1) and Tosa West's Alexis Hardy (38-0) as she seeks one of the three state spots.
Madison Ricciardi of North holds the top time in the 100 hurdles and second-best time in the 300 hurdles this year, but she did not compete in the Classic 8 meet after sustaining an injury and will not compete in the postseason.
Pitchford leads boys
Elijah Pitchford of Waukesha South still owns by far the best triple jump in the state this year, a leap of 47-4 3/4 at the Northstar Invite on May 2. It's still more than a foot better than the second-best distance on the docket.
Kendall Gould of Waukesha North (43-6) is also 17th on the list, and he'll be fighting for a state spot with Pitchford, New Berlin EIsenhower's Jordan Canady (43-8) and Kettle Moraine's TJ Lui (43-3).
Waukesha West also has some strong entrants in the field events, notably Dyson Chmura (16th best shot put in 51-7 1/2) and Marcus Kelly (fourth-best in the discus at 171-7). Only Brookfield East's PJ LeClaire (160-5) is even close to Kelly in the sectional, while Chmura will compete with Julio Perez of kettle Moraine (54-0 1/2), Brookfield East's Jack Leonovich (52-2 1/2) and Tosa West's Javaree Jackson (51-5 1/2).
Chmura is also 19th on the discus honor roll at 153-7, but he must bypass at least one of Kelly, LeClaire or Perez (157-1).
West's Devontae Gregory, with a 13-6 in the pole vault, will also be in the state conversation. His opponents include Nathan Scherer of West Allis Hale (15-0), Chad Kluender of Brookfield East (14-6), Josh Dempsey of East (14-0) and Jared Jones of Kettle Moraine (13-6).
Waukesha North's Parker Zitzke holds the ninth-best time in the 300 hurdles (39.72), and that's also the best time in the sectional field. Brookfield East's Mario Carr (40.32) is the closest competition.
Waukesha South's Mikal Merriweather has the 19th-best time on the honor roll in the 110 hurdles (15.15), with Wauwatosa West's Christian Jackson (14.78) and Carr (15.09) the only sectional entrants with better showings.
The South 4x100 (43.69), featuring Chris Schroeder, Anthony Johnson, Tyler Knigge and Merriweather, sits 16th, but it's chasing teams from Kettle Moraine (43.15), Brookfield East (43.2) and West Allis Hale (43.58) for a state spot.
The South 4x800 (8:18.32) has a good opportunity to advance, with no teams in the sectional owning better times. Brookfield East (8:18.56) is the closest, with the 20th best time behind South's 19th. Members of the South relay are Austin Rendon, Tyler Rateike, Brent Schumacher and Carlos Meza.
Novak, relays lead CMH
In Division 2, Catholic Memorial has a number of strong possibilities, where top-four finishers reach state.
Joe Novak is the story for the boys team. His time of 4:17.89 in the 1,600 is by far the best in the state this year, recorded at the Classic 8 Conference outdoor meet May 14. He'll be a major contender for a state title, with Milwaukee Lutheran's James Jenniga (4:27.12) the only runner close in the sectional.
Novak's time in the 800 (1:56.48) is fifth on the honor roll and second in the sectional behind Shorewood's James Douglass (1:56.36). He'll be hunted by Jenniga (1:57.64), Waupun's Bryce Verheyen (1:59.14) and Kewaskum's Jason Hanson (1:59.99).
Tony Balisteri's distance of 53-8 in the shot put is fourth-best on the shot put, but it will be a very competitive field at the sectional. East Troy throwers Jacob Wendt (58-5) and Miles Kilpin (53-10 1/2) have the first and third-best showing on the honor roll, and Kelly Thomas of Racine St. Catherine's (52-10 1/4) and Landon Ellingson of Jefferson (52-8 1/2) are not far behind Balisteri, all top-seven performers in the state.
Eric Fridl has the 20th time in the 400 (51.01), and he'll be competing against Ripon's Evan Long (49.29), East Troy's Charlie Kutchenreuter (40.35), Grafton's Sam Miller (50.44) and Waupun's Adrian Harmsen (50.45) for a state spot.
The CMH 4x100-meter crew is sitting prettiest on the girls side, with a 50.42 time ranking it second in the state on the honor roll. Emily Kolterman, Abby Finnegan, Rachel Mlsna and Maddy Rondeau recorded that time at the Northstar Classic. Teams form Lakeside Lutheran (51.93), Jefferson (51.98) and Grafton (52.21) are the closest competitors.
The 4x200 also has the second-best time in the state (1:45.74, with same crew except Kathleen Hirsch in lieu of Kolterman), but it will be chasing top entrant Lakeside (1:44.98). Jefferson (1:48.39), Ripon (1:48.77) and Grafton (1:48.90) are also in the equation.
The 4x400 (4:09.37) also has a strong chance as the No. 6 team on the honor roll and top member of the East Troy sectional at 4:09.37. Others in the area are Big Fott (4:10.00), Grafton (4:11.17), Mayville (4:11.35) and Lakeside Lutheran (4:12.66). Members on board that crew were Finnegan, Hirsch, Mlsna and Rondeau.
Rondeau's time of 1:00.16 in the 400 ranks her 14th, but she's only listed on relays on the meet sheet.