We’re a day away from thousands across the state heading to La Crosse.
Athletes and fans of the WIAA state track & field meet will take over the city Friday and Saturday. The meet gets underway at 9:30 a.m. Friday at UW-La Crosse’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.
That’s when athletes from Central, Onalaska and Holmen will compete in mostly preliminaries.
The Red Raiders have seven boys competing, including senior Aaron Poelma in the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles and the high jump.
Onalaska had seven girls qualify. Senior Jenna Richgels is competing in the 100, triple jump and two relays, while teammate Manny Putz, on the boys side, will run in the 1,600, 3,200 and the 3,200 relay.
The Division 2 and 3 sessions begin at 3 p.m. Friday, when Logan and Aquinas will compete.
Rangers senior Julie Yang will run in the 100 and two relays for the girls, while sophomore teammate Andrew Stanton, on the boys side, will run the 400 and in the 1,600 relay.
Saturday, the meet concludes combining all three divisions for the championships, which will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Tickets are $11 a session, plus $1.55 online fee. They can be purchased here. The WIAA site does not state tickets are available at the gate.
Parking in lots around the stadium will cost $8 a day. It can also be ordered online here. On that site, there’s also a map of the area to see each lot clearly.
Here’s a look at who’s competing locally:
DIVISION 1
CENTRAL
BOYS
100: Cade Larson, 10
110h: Aaron Poelma, 12
300h: Carson Jolly, 12
300h: Aaron Poelma, 12
400 relay: Javon Davis 12, Leo Orlikowski 12, Peyton Strittmater 12, Cade Larson 10
HJ: Aaron Poelma, 12
PV: Alex Wagner, 12
LJ: Peyton Strittmater, 12
ONALASKA
GIRLS
100: Jenna Richgels, 12
400: Isabella Malecek, 10
400 relay: Ella Stevens 11, Jenna Richgels 12, Eliana Mascoƫ 11, Makena McGarry 10
1,600 relay: Jenna Richgels 12 Makena McGarry 10 Eva Dryer 11 Isabella Malecek 10
HJ: Kendall Carlson, 9
HJ: Isabella Malecek, 10
LJ: Makena McGarry, 10
TJ: Jenna Richgels, 12
BOYS
400: Kasey Barth, 12
800: Blake Burnstad, 12
1,600: Blake Burnstad, 12
1,600: Manny Putz, 11
3,200: Manny PUtz, 11
3,200 relay: Kasey Barth 12 Manny Putz 11 Drew Symons 12 Blake Burnstad 12
HJ: James Siegel, 12
TJ: Max Erdmann, 12
HOLMEN
GIRLS
100: Lydia Lazarescu, 10
200: Lydia Lazarescu, 10
3,200: Sabrina Lechnir, 10,
HJ: Alexa Szak, 11
SP: Brenna Schmidt, 10
SP: Jadyn Roden, 12
D: Jadyn Roden, 12
BOYS
100: Jewel Jackson, 12
200: Ryland Eickhof, 10
110h: Jakai Ayed, 9
PV: Isaiah Wedan, 12
D: Colin Mosser, 12
DIVISION 2
GIRLS
LOGAN
100: Julie Yang, 12
400 relay: Julie Yang 12 Liberty Sprain 12 Aaliyah Hamiliton 12 Maddy Corne 10
800 relay: Julie Yang 12 Liberty Sprain 12 Maddy Corne 10 Calessa Adams 10
D: Liberty Sprain, 12
BOYS
400: Andrew Stanton, 10
1,600 relay: Gabe Driscoll 9 Jacob Hackbarth 11 Gavin Kreiling 10 Andrew Stanton 10
PV: Brett Jefferies, 11
D: Jacob Hackbarth, 11
AQUINAS
GIRLS
800 relay: Alaina Elias 10 Samantha Davis 10 Maddie Murphy 12 Alexa Myre 10
BOYS
100: David Malin, 12
1,600: Joey Hirschboeck, 12
3,200: Declan Gregg, 11
3,200: Jonathan Skemp, 12
400 relay: Trey Bahr 11 Logan Becker 10 Eli Horstman 11 David Malin 12
800 relay: Trey Bahr 11 Eli Horstman 11 David Malin 12 Logan Becker 10
TOP PHOTO: FILE – The crowd at the Division 3 WIAA state track and field meet in 2021.