For the second consecutive year, Gillett Secondary School seniors Taylor Kohls and Akeem Bates are en route to the WIAA Division 3 state track and field finals in La Crosse.
They will be joined this year by sophomore distance runner Lauren Herzog.
All three qualified at the WIAA Division 3 sectional at Rosholt on Friday.
Kohls broke her own school shot put record for the third time, throwing 37 feet, 5 3/4 inches to take second in the girls meet. Bates, meanwhile, extended his school record in the triple jump.
“(Kohls) had a wonderful performance in the shot put and did very well, and Akeem had a great day,” Gillett coach Bill DeJung said.
Kohl went to state in the discus last year, but finished ninth among 16 competitors Friday.
In addition to taking second in the triple jump (42-02.00), Bates finished third in the long jump (20-03.75) to also qualify for state in that event for the second time. He finished ninth last year at state in the long jump and last in the triple jump.
Herzog took third in the 3,200-meter run, finishing with a time of 12 minutes, 32.95 seconds, eight seconds behind runner-up Brittany Gagas of Rosholt.
DeJung said Herzog was elated to qualify for the state championship.
“She is very pleased that she made it to state, and made it to the cross-country championships last fall,” DeJung said.
DeJung said he will rely on the two seniors to help prepare Herzog for the state meet.
“Taylor and Akeem have been there before, so they know what to expect,” he said. “It is all about preparation leading up to the event.”
Newman Catholic captured the girls sectional championship, accumulating 98 points, with Wild Rose (81) second and Spencer (63) third. Gillett finished in a three-way tie for 14th place with St. Mary Central and Assumption with 14 points.
Marathon won the boys sectional with 121 points, Newman Catholic (79) was second and Rosholt (49) was third. The Gillett boys tied with Gresham/Bowler for 11th place among 27 teams with 25 points.
WIAA Division 3 Sectional
Rosholt
Girls team scores: 1. Newman Catholic, 98; 2. Wild Rose, 81; 3. Spencer, 63; 4. Rosholt, 54; 5. Auburndale, 50; 6. Edgar, 44; 7. Iola-Scandinavia, 41; 8. Marathon, 38; 8. Tri-County, 38; 10. Columbus Catholic, 29; 11. Pacelli, 27; 12. Marion, 20; 13. Northland Lutheran, 19; 14. St. Mary Central, 14; 14. Assumption, 14; 14. Gillett, 14; 17. Pittsville, 13; 18. Suring, 11; 19. Tigerton, 8; 20. Lena/STAA, 4; 20. Shiocton, 4; 20. Coleman, 4; 20. Manawa, 4; 20. Wabeno, 4; 25. Three Lakes, 3; 26. Gresham/Bowler, 2; 27. Loyal, 1.
Gillett state qualifiers: Shot put, 2. Taylor Kohls, 37-05.75; 3,200, 3. Lauren Herzog, 12:32.95.
Boys team scores: 1. Marathon, 121; 2. Newman Catholic, 79; 3. Rosholt, 49; 4. Iola-Scandinavia, 46; 5. Loyal, 38; 5. Wild Rose, 38; 7. Coleman, 33; 8. Port Edwards, 32; 9. Assumption, 29; 10. Crivitz, 28; 11. Gillett, 25; 11. Gresham/Bowler, 25; 13. Edgar, 23; 14. Menominee Indian, 21; 15. Valley Christian, 20; 16. Columbus Catholic, 18; 17. Pittsville, 12; 18. Suring, 11; 18. Spencer, 11; 20. Auburndale, 10; 20. Almond Bancroft, 10; 22. Pacelli, 7; 23. St. Mary Central, 4; 23. Tri-County, 4; 23. Manawa, 4; 26. Shiocton, 3; 27. Northland Lutheran, 1.
Gillett state qualifiers: Triple jump, 2. Akeem Bates, 42-02.00; 110 hurdles, 6. Matt Peterson, 16.13; 300 hurdles, 7. Matt Peterson, 42.40; 1,600 relay, 7. Gillett (Matt Peterson, Alex Zeitler, Brett Milhans, Leeland Kahler), 3:42.04; Long jump, 3. Akeem Bates, 20-03.75; 3,200 run, 5. Max Zeitler, 10:21.81.
