It is another trip to state for Carly Lemke.
The Oconto Falls High School senior has been to state in volleyball and basketball already this school year. A state qualifier in the high jump a year ago, Lemke will be heading back after a second-place finish Friday at the WIAA Division 2 sectional meet in Freedom.
“I was super happy,” Lemke said. “Going into it, I was kind of nervous. I knew I had to jump really well in order to make it this year.”
Clearing the bar at 5 feet, 3 inches, the senior tied the school record, set by Julie Follett in 1977.
Lemke, who has struggled at points this season, is now jumping her best, coach Tammy Moynihan said.
“I definitely think the warm weather had something to do with it,” Moynihan said. “She likes to jump in warm weather and Friday was a scorcher in comparison to the rest of the season. I think that helped her spirits quite a bit.”
After clearing 4-8 and 4-10 with no problems, Lemke missed her first jump at 5-0. Her second try, though, was more than enough to clear the bar.
“It put her in a groove that helped her move forward,” Moynihan said.
Lemke missed her first two jumps at 5-1, but had already qualified for state because there were only four jumpers left.
“My comment to her was, ‘Everything right now is icing on the cake. Let’s go ahead and see how high you can jump,’” Moynihan said.
Lemke went on to clear 5-1 and 5-2, and then she tied the record with a 5-3 jump.
“At that point it was internal pandemonium for both of us,” Moynihan said. “We knew at that point she had tied the school record.”
“It’s been a goal of mine since freshman year,” Lemke said. “Actually getting to tie it and everything after so long, my senior year, at one of my last meets, it’s an amazing feeling. It’s just awesome in every way.”
Lemke tried to clear 5-4, but couldn’t keep up with Peshtigo’s Nicole Motkowski, who won the event.
“She was exhausted at that point,” Moynihan said. “She had an opportunity at 5-4, but I think she got a little bit tired there at the end.”
Lemke hopes to improve on her ninth-place finish (5-0) at the state meet in 2013.
“This year I just want to reach the podium and hopefully take home some hardware,” she said.
Lemke was the only Oconto Falls athlete to qualify for state.
Sophomore Bailey Wolf beat her personal record in the 1,600 run with a time of 5:22.29 but finished seventh.
“She wanted to go all out for that one,” Moynihan said. “She had nothing left to give at the end of that race; her legs were like Jello. She ended up taking about 10 seconds off of her personal record. It was an excellent race for her.”
WIAA Sectional Results
Girls
Team scoring: 1. Seymour 67, 2. Brillion 60, 3. Two Rivers 49, 4. Nekoosa 43, 5. Wrightstown 38
Boys
Team scoring: 1. Freedom 95, 2. Seymour 93, 3. Little Chute 82, 4. Two Rivers 46, 5. Nekoosa 42
Categories
