Pulaski’s Opolka 88th at state cross-country championships

Pulaski senior Angela Opolka capped her high school cross-country career by placing 88th during the Division 1 girls race at the 2022 WIAA State Cross Country Championships on Oct. 29 at The Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids.

Opolka completed the course in 20 minute, 50.9 seconds.

“It’s definitely a tough course,” said Opolka. “The first mile is pretty easy, but after that, it’s just hills and hills. But I just tried to use the hills to my advantage. I just tried to keep it going the whole time.”

Opolka completed the first mile in 6:21 and was in 87th place at the time. She had a mark of 6:56 at the 2-mile marker, when she was in 88th place. She had a mark of 7:36 on the final mile-plus to maintain that spot.

“It was amazing; I’m so happy I was able to come,” said Opolka on making state as a senior. “I feel like I’ve worked really hard for this, and it’s really been a journey since freshman year — and even before then, middle school. I’m just happy that this could be my last race. It was really an amazing experience.”

“It means everything. I don’t think anything could have gone more perfect. When my coach told me after sectionals that I made it to state, we were just jumping around. It was the most perfect ending to any experience.”

Full state results can be found at www.wiaawi.org/Portals/0/PDF/Results/Cross_Country/2022/d1gstateresults.pdf. More photos from the D1 girls race can be found on the NEW Media Inc. Sports Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NewMediaIncSports.

sports@newmedia-wi.com