Port, Grafton track face tough opponents

The Grafton High School girls’ track and field team qualified four events for state, and the Port Washington girls are sending two to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse this weekend.

Port’s Alexis Reichardt qualified in the 800-meter run by taking third place in a personal record 2 minutes, 19.74 seconds — nearly matching the school record — and in the 1,600 by taking third in a PR 5:22.88.

“That’s not an easy double to pull off, especially in 85-degree weather and with 45 minutes in between races,” coach Joe Adamak said.

In the 800, Reichardt edged out Alyx Evans from Hartford by .14, who had beaten her in the regional meet two days earlier.

That was big, since only the top three finishers qualify for state.

“It was a close race at the end,” Adamak said.

Last year, Evans and Beaver Dam’s Jada Donaldson beat out Reichardt at the sectional, but Reichardt turned the tables this year. Donaldson took fifth in 2:26.87.

Both the 1,600 and 800 will be run on the same day at state.

“We’re going to take one more shot at the school record (in the 800),” Adamak said.

“That’s a premier event just to make it there,” he said of the state meet.

Grafton’s Abby Cibulka qualified in the long jump by taking second with a leap of 16 feet, 11 inches, and she helped two relay teams make it to state.

The 1,600 relay team of Delaney Reindl, Cibulka, Morgan Ruona and Kate Senczyszyn took second in 4:04.14.

The 800 team of  Reindl, Senczyszyn,  Kirsten Van Ryzin and Cibulka took third in 1:47.25.

Julia Wille qualified in the 3,200 by taking third in 12:02.6.

“Abby started the tone for the meet with qualifying for the long jump and that seemed to get things going,” coach Kevin Kriegel said.

“It was a great way to cap the season with having numerous state qualifiers. It is so nice to see the end result for the girls to qualify for state, and I am very excited and happy for them.”

The Grafton and Port girls each scored 32 points to take ninth place at a Division 1 sectional meet at Hartford last Thursday. West Bend West won with 109.

For the Grafton boys, Ethan Lang just missed qualifying by taking fourth in the 400 in a PR 51.74.

No Port boys qualified for state, either. The 3,200 relay team of Zach Wehner, Zach Gephart, Brett Grisar and Zach Miller took fourth in 8:20.56.

The Grafton boys scored 17 points to take 14th in the 17-team meet. Port scored 15 points for 15th place. Slinger won with 115.