Tuesday, the Becker Bulldog girls track & field team held their first meet of the season at home. Due to the inclement weather, the girls ran the meet indoors.
It was a dual meet with Princeton. Team scores were Becker 43, Princeton 29.
Senior captain Cassidy Pleoger had an impressive day, taking first in the 55 (7.81), 200 (29.67) and first in the 4x100 along with Paige Maunu, Lauren Woelfel and Regan Hausmann.
Also earning first place at this meet was Meghan Swanson running her first meet and taking the top spot in the 1600 (6:30.43). She was followed by Kayla Gruenes in second (6:31.55) , Olivia Babler third (6:31.95) and Brooklyn Karel fourth (6:35.95).
Seventh-grader Katelyn Brower won her first race, the 400, with a time of 73.43 and another seventh grader - Naiya Hanson took third (79,17). This was the first ever track meet for the seventh graders.
Captain Grace Schendel also had a good start to her season, placing first in the shot put with an effort of 25’ 3” and senior Emma Borrego placed third (22’1”).
Regan Hausmann captured second place in the 55 hurdles (10.04) and third and fourth in the long jump from Paige Maunu (14’ 3 1/2” ) and Captain Jessica Gruenes (13’ 4 1/2”).
Becker’s 4x800 relay started off the meet in strong fashion with a first place finish from the team of Meghan Swanson, Brooklyn Karel, Kayla Gruenes and Lexi Rose.
The girls finished the meet off with exciting and close competition with the 4x400 relay. Brooklyn Karel started off followed by seventh grader Raelee Lyon, and Kayla Gruenes who all ran well and kept the team very close to Princeton, who had the lead until Becker’s fourth runner, Regan Hausmann took the baton! She ran a very aggressive race and passed the Princeton runner on the first backstretch. From there the race was on as they battled it out over the final lap with Hausmann gutting it out for the win.
Becker did not compete in the pole vault, high jump and discus or 3200 as they were indoors and couldn’t bring the pits back in.
“I’m very proud of the entire team on our first competition in two years,” said Head Coach Trish Kealy. “Many of these athletes were competing in a varsity meet for the first time and were very supportive of all our teammates.”
“We always enjoy competing against Princeton as they are well coached and always friendly - love the relationships that can be developed among the kids in this sport!”
Monticello Meet
Becker’s second meet was held Thursday in Monticello at their fine facility.
This was a four team meet and the team scores were Monticello 128.5, Becker 61.5, Princeton 52 and Northwest Nighthawks 2.
Becker’s 4x800 team of Lexi Rose, Katelyn Brower, Brooklyn Karel, and Kayla Gruenes started the running events off with a win running 11:06.9.
Hausmann took second in the 100 hurdles (18.25 her second best time ever)
Sarah Woelfel captured fifth (19.20), Lauren Woelfel followed (20.06) as well as Meghan Swanson (21.17) and Avery Boyer (23.08).
Cassidy Pleoger continues her success by taking first in the 100 meters (13.69) and Paige Maunu finished fourth (14.77).
“Cassidy and the entire first heat of runners had to re-run the race due to a timing malfunction so she bascially had to win it twice,” said Kealy.
The 4x200 team finished third, run by Raelee Lyon, Naiya Hansen, Alea Briggs and Emilia Hanson.
Becker’s 1600 runners all improved their times from the last meet. Meghan Swanson came in fifth (6:03.99) Brooklyn Karel seventh (6:21.62) Kayla Gruenes ninth (6:22.67) and Olivia Babler 10th (6:24.01).
The relay team of Paige Maunu, Lauren Woelfel, Sarah Woelfel and Cassidy Pleoger placed second.
“We have had little time working on exchanges and had one that could be improved upon that will help our future races but the girls ran well,” said Becker’s head coach.
The Bulldog’s 400 race had Katelyn Brower placing fourth (71.49 PR time), Raelee Lyon seventh (80.43) and Annika Howe eighth (29.29).
Instead of 300 hurdles, the host team elected to run a transition race of 200 hurdles because there has been little time for technique instruction yet this season.
Sarah Woelfel placed fourth (35.37), Regan Hausmann fifth (35.73), Lauren Woelfel seventh ( 36.50) and Meghan Swanson eighth (37.18).
Lexi Rose placed third in the 800 with a time of 2:42.20 and Alea Briggs seventh (2:49.84)..
Cassidy Pleoger came in third in the 200 (29.27), and Paige Maunu sixth (31.63).
The 4x400 team ran well and took first with the team of Katelyn Brower, Regan Hausmann, Kayla Gruenes and Lexi Rose (4:45.6 taking 11 seconds off their previous time).
Becker’s field events competitors had a good day as well. In the shot put, Anna Briggs placed third (28’1”) and Grace Schendel sixth (25’5”). In the discus, Schendel placed third (69’ 8 1/2”) and Anna fourth (69’3”).
Anna Kuklok tied for sixth in the high jump (4’2”), In the long jump, Paige Maunu tied for third (13’11”). Lauren Woelfel earned a PR and first place in the pole vault with a vault of 8”6”.
“I am so proud of the team and their willingness to adjust and step in when we need to make changes,” said Coach Kealy. “Also their sportsmanship was much appreciated by the host school who commented on it to me. I also should mention what a great job out managers are doing for us!”
Becker has two meets this week, Tuesday at St. Francis and Friday at Pierz.
