HURLEY -- Seven area athletes qualified for the WIAA State track meet at La Crosse, Wis., on Friday and Saturday.

Hurley junior B.J. Wesenberg and sophomore Mike Leinon qualified. Mercer senior Eric Snow and juniors Vinny Ranallo, Matt Klopatek, Joe Lambert and Nici Roeder will also make the trip to the state tournament.

Wesenberg qualified in the 200-meter dash by placing fourth at the sectional meet in Colfax, Wis., May 22.

"I am really not nervous at all," Wesenberg said. "I am really excited. My favorite memory from track is finding out that I made it to state."

Leinon qualified in the high jump after placing third at sectionals.

"I am pretty excited," Leinon said. "My family is going down to watch."

Snow, Ranallo, Klopatek and Lambert qualified in the 800-meter relay with a school record 1:36.18.

"The boys have been improving steadily," Mercer boys coach Ken Roeder said. "They have broken the school record three times in the last three meets. They have been running faster every time."

Roeder said that the team was behind in the race at sectionals.

"They were sixth, when Joe Lambert got the baton," Roeder said. "He passed two guys and leaned to get fourth. Fifth place was about three or four-one-hundreths of a second behind."

The Tigers will have to finish in the top eight in Friday's preliminaries in order to advance to Saturday's final.

"We'd like to advance to the final, top eight," said Renallo. "Maybe make it to the podium, top six."

"The kids are ready and fired up," Roeder said.

Senior Shawn Sabec will travel with the relay team as an alternate.

Nici Roeder qualified in the discus by finishing fourth at the sectional.

"I think it was a great goal that she set for herself," Mercer girls coach Robyn Schoeneman said. "She is a hard worker and deserves every second of it. Watching her qualify for state was both gratifying for me and for her.

She is one of the most hard working people that I have ever coached."