Mercer's Ruiz going to state in triple jump

By JASON JUNO

[email protected]

CAMERON, Wis. --- Ona Ruiz played basketball all her life in Spain. She played it when she came to Mercer as an exchange student.

She’s going to state in track-and-field.

Ruiz started triple jumping about six weeks before the WIAA Division 3 postseason started. She won the regional to advance to sectionals where she then needed a top-four finish to advance to state.

A couple of sleepless nights later, Ruiz crushed her personal best, left the school record in shambles and finished in third place to punch her ticket to this weekend’s state meet at UW-La Crosse. Her best jump at Thursday’s sectional meet in Cameron was 35 feet, 2 inches.

Her previous personal best of 33-8.5 would not have gotten her to state. The previous school record of 33-10 — held by Lexi Engler — would have snuck her through.

The Cameron sectional is one of the best in the state and she’s well positioned to do well in La Crosse on Saturday. She’s seeded sixth at the state meet, which would get her on the podium.

Her first jump at the sectional was 34-8, already far exceeding the school record. She scratched on the second — “I think I was excited and I ran faster” — and the third she cleared 35 feet.

“I was so excited,” Ruiz said. “I screamed.

“It’s super cool because I never thought I was going to do it. I played basketball all my life in Spain. I never thought about doing track. Now doing this and going, it’s a lot and maybe I will do track next year in Spain.”

Mercer coach Robyn Schoeneman said that’s a good idea.

“You came here as a basketball player and now you’re leaving as a track athlete,” Schoeneman said she told her. “We’re pretty excited for her. She’s done a fantastic job.”

Schoeneman said she’s a hard worker and she obviously picked it up pretty quickly. Ruiz said she started in long jump and her coaches suggested giving triple jump a try with few people in the Northern Lights Conference doing it.

She quickly became a force to contend with in the league. She won the event at the Northern Lights championship meet by almost two feet and then had the big tournament week.

“She’s kind of a natural,” Schoeneman said. “She has some great springs and a good stride. She just picked it up really, really fast. It was really good to find something that she felt really positive about and confident in.”

Ruiz doesn’t have any big hopes or expectations for the state meet — she jumps Saturday after the 10 a.m. D-2 event — she just wants an experience to remember. She’s been doing well enough to make some noise anyway. She would have qualified for state even in Division 1 with her excellent sectional performance.

“Just have the experience, have fun, try to do the best I can, try to PR,” she said. “I wouldn’t be sad if I don’t make it in the top four. I went so far without even knowing what I’m doing.”

Schoeneman is her host mom. That makes her host grandpa Bob Schenk, a longtime track coach himself. So she’s learning what to do.

“He has helped me a lot doing it,” Ruiz said.

She was the only local athlete to advance to Wisconsin’s state meet, but others were close.

Teammate Eiley Schoeneman was just 6 feet shy of making it in the discus. She finished in sixth place, two places shy of qualifying.

It was a particularly heartbreaking day for Hurley’s Gavin Moore, who had state-qualifying distance but still didn’t advance. He threw 47-.75, tying for fourth with Glenwood City’s Connor Gross. Gross had a better second best throw to break the tie.

Moore had a great year, winning the Northern Lights Conference championship meet and the regional.

“Gavin was throwing state qualifying distances for the majority of the season,” Hurley coach Melissa DeClaro said. “As he progressed through the season, he got closer to the school record and state qualifying distances. This drove the hunger in him for more.

“Through a series of unfortunate circumstances, he tied for fourth place in shot put but didn’t qualify for the state competition. It was sort of the theme of the day. We believe the athletes who fell short of qualifying for the state meet are inspired to do more to qualify next year.”

Moore is a junior.

The Northstars had 13 athletes qualify for sectionals across 13 different events.

Results

Top 4 in each event advance to state

(except for prelims)

Girls

Team: 1. Fall Creek 72, 2. Cameron 69, 3. Chippewa Falls McDonell Central 41, 4. Cadott 36, 5. Turtle Lake-Clayton 31, 5. Eau Claire Regis 31, 16. Drummond 20, 22. Mercer 10, T26. Hurley 5.5, 36. Solon Springs-Northwood 1.

100 dash prelims (top 9 advance to finals): 1. Audrey Arndt, Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran, 12.58; 2. Rebecca Sturz, Fall Creek, 12.59; 3. Mariah Thill, Turtle Lake, 12.91; 4. Ava Ford, Athens, 12.96; 5. Jessica Bittorf, Turtle Lake, 13.08; 6. Elise Branville, New Auburn, 13.33; 7. Jordyn Lundequam, Cameron, 13.37; 8. Cora Voeltz, Clear Lake, 13.40; 9. Kally Svoboda, Frederic-Luck, 13.48; 10. Jaana Aukee, Hurley, 13.50; 11. Lillian Pullen, Elmwood-Plum City, 13.64; 12. Terah Schreiner, Athens, 13.82; 13. Kylee Schutte, Mellen, 13.87; 14. Kaylen Copenhaver, Gilman, 13.93; 15. Kiana Zierer, Phillips, 14.28; 16. Keileigh Doll, Phillips, 14.75.

100 finals: 1. Sturz, 12.28; 2. Arndt, 12.64; 3. Thill, 12.77; 4. Bittorf, Turtle Lake, 12.89.

200 dash: 1. Audrey Arndt, Immanuel Lutheran, 25.63; 2. Marika Gago, Ladysmith, 26.11; 3. Lexi Kuffel, Cameron, 26.12; 4. Jordan Java, Grantsburg, 26.22; 8. Jaana Aukee, Hurley, 27.28; 15. Ona Ruiz, Mercer, 28.54.

400 dash: 1. Iszy Sonnentag, Cadott, 57.44; 2. Marika Gago, Ladysmith, 58.50; 3. Lexi Kuffel, Cameron, 58.64; 4. Megan Hoffman, Turtle Lake, 59.12; 7. Lynnea Kivi, Hurley, 1:05.10; 13. Kaylee Powers, Mercer, 1:06.56.

800 run: 1. Autumn Michalski, Chequamegon, 2:11.32; 2. Inez Schmidt, Cameron, 2:21.96; 3. Leah Harper, Phillips, 2:23.50; 4. Autumn Lawton, Flambeau, 2:26.17.

1,600 run: 1. Autumn Michalski, Chequamegon, 4:55.05; 2. Inez Schmidt, Cameron, 5:16.85; 3. Zoey Kemmitz, Bruce, 5:31.15; 4. Kaysen Goodell, Colfax, 5:35.73.

3,200 run: 1. Autumn Michalski, Chequamegon, 11:15.50; 2. Zoey Kemmitz, Bruce, 12:00.26; 3. Azul Diaz, Abbotsford, 12:03.29; 4. Kylie Orysen, Prentice, 12:03.45.

100 hurdles prelims (top 9 advance to finals): 1. Iszy Sonnentag, Cadott, 15.62; 2. Andie Otto, Cumberland, 15.95; 3. Audrey Arndt, Immanuel Lutheran, 16.03; 4. Elyse Bushman, Chippewa Falls McDonell Central, 16.11; 5. Abby Biggs, Spring Valley, 16.67; 6. Lauren Hetfeld, Webster, 16.99; 7. Abbey Blechinger, Frederic-Luck, 17.14; 8. Alexis Buhr, Clear Lake, 17.20; 9. Anna Dougherty, Fall Creek, 17.51; 10. Claire Drier, Gilman, 17.55; 11. Addy LaFontaine, South Shore, 17.83; 12. Cassidy Graski, Owen-Withee, 17.96; 13. Jessica Bittorf, Turtle Lake, 18.06; 14. Serena Tauer, Hurley, 19.82; 15. Kaylynn Koenig, Solon Springs-Northwood, 22.22; Jaycee Pomeroy, Phillips, DNF.

100 hurdles finals: 1. Sonnentag, 15.07; 2. Arndt, 15.09; 3. Otto, 15.59; 4. Bushman 15.93.

300 hurdles: 1. Elyse Bushman, McDonell Central, 45.41; 2. Mariah Thill, Turtle Lake, 46.41; 3. Andie Otto, Cumberland, 47.01; 4. Alexis Buhr, Clear Lake, 47.04; 14. Serena Tauer, Hurley, 56.79.

4x100 relay: 1. Frederic-Luck 51.11, 2. McDonell Central 51.27, 3. Eau Claire Regis 51.37, 4. Ladysmith 51.58, 13. Hurley 55.40, 14. Mercer 56.27.

4x200 relay: 1. Regis 1:45.41, 2. Grantsburg 1:45.87, 3. Fall Creek 1:46.15, 4. Cameron 1:46.92, 12. Mercer 1:58.55.

4x400 relay: 1. Cameron 3:58.27, 2. Regis 4:02.13, 3. McDonell Central 4:04.31, 4. Grantsburg 4:06.28, 15. Hurley 5:04.81.

4x800 relay: 1. Phillips 9:55.52, 2. Cadott 10:00.68, 3. Prairie Farm 10:17.79, 4. Webster 10:25.

High jump: 1. Lauren Pearson, Cameron, 5-2; 2. Evelyn Bergeron, Fall Creek, 5-2; 3. Mariah Sloop, Fall Creek, 5-1; 4. Cyleigh Cherney, Cameron, 5-1; T8. Jaana Aukee, Hurley, 4-10; 14. Lynnea Kivi, Hurley, 4-6.

Pole vault: 1. Alena Sanfelippo, Fall Creek, 11-9; 2. Malaina Telschow, Athens, 11-3; 3. Haylie Hannah, Glenwood City, 10-6; 4. Hailey Wilmot, Ladysmith, 10-6.

Long jump: 1. Andie Otto, Cumberland, 17-8; 2. Lauren Pearson, Cameron, 17-.25; 3. Alena Sanfelippo, Fall Creek, 16-11.5; 4. Iszy Sonnentag, Cadott, 16-8.25.

Triple jump: 1. Alena Sanfelippo, Fall Creek, 36-5.75; 2. Anna Thaler, McDonell Central, 36-1; 3. Ona Ruiz, Mercer, 35-2; 4. Mariah Thill, Turtle Lake, 34-.75.

Shot put: 1. Nora Skoraczewski, Drummond, 40-4; 2. Jeanette Hydukovich, Colfax, 38-1; 3. Sy’ Rih Hartwig, Athens, 37-10; 4. Brooklyn Ludescher, Flambeau, 37-3.75; 7. Elloyis Manzer, Hurley, 34-9.25; 8. Eiley Schoeneman, Mercer, 33-1.5; 15. Anya Brandenburg, Mercer, 29-5.25.

Discus: 1. Nora Skoraczewski, Drummond, 128-6; 2. Jeanette Hydukovich, Colfax, 126-9; 3. Shelby Meyer, Clear Lake, 123-8; 4. Avery Hetfeld, Webster, 115-5; 6. Eiley Schoeneman, Mercer, 109-5.

Boys

Team: 1. Grantsburg 53, 2. Solon Springs-Northwood 45, 3. Webster 43, 4. Eau Claire Regis 41, 5. Ladysmith 39, 14. Drummond 20, 21. Washburn 16, 25. Hurley 8.

100 dash prelims (top 9 advance to finals): 1. Alex Figy, Regis, 11.05; 2. Ian Andrews, Regis, 11.27; 3. Trent Nitek, Lake Holcombe, 11.07; 4. Evrett Tait, Regis, 11.29; 5. Payton Merrida, Unity, 11.30; 6. Cade Lisson, Solon Springs-Northwood, 11.45; 7. Caden Wold, Boyceville, 11.51; 8. Brandon Geldernick, Owen-Withee, 11.58; 9. Quintin Bresette, Bayfield, 11.59; 10. Doug Stevenson, Ladysmith, 11.62; 11. Jacob Snyder, Turtle Lake, 11.73; 12. Jeremiah Wallis, Hurley, 11.76; 13. Daniel Mathison, Thorp, 11.85; 14. Chad Konsella, Gilman, 11.87; 15. Evan Hornstein, Cumberland, 13.06; 16. Jarrett Heckendorf, Chequamegon, 13.12.

100 finals: 1. Figy, 10.83; 2. Nitek, 10.85; 3. Tait, 10.99; 4. Andrews, 11.06.

200 dash: 1. Trent Nitek, Lake Holcombe, 22.48; 2. Chase Green, Grantsburg, 23.14; 3. Jj Kurschner, Boyceville, 23.32; 4. Jackson Cramlet, Unity, 23.38; 8. Jeremiah Wallis, Hurley, 23.77.

400 dash: 1. Cade Lisson, Solon Springs-Northwood, 49.83; 2. Trent Nitek, Lake Holcombe, 50.21; 3. Javier LeBouton-Chediack, Washburn, 50.71; 4. Brady Thompson, Glenwood City, 51.34.

800 run: 1. Dylan Taggart, Solon Springs-Northwood, 1:58.93; 2. Mason Gay, Owen-Withee, 2:00.93; 3. Jacob Taggart, Solon Springs-Northwood, 2:00.98; 4. Colton Paczkowski, Owen-Withee, 2:00.99.

1,600 run: 1. Isaac Dickenson, Solon Springs-Northwood, 4:31.10; 2. Connor Quimby, Grantsburg, 4:31.66; 3. Dakota Nelson, Flambeau, 4:31.76; 4. Gavin Stewart, Ladysmith, 4:32.07.

3,200 run: 1. Gavin Esterholm, Phillips, 9:48.56; 2. Connor Quimby, Grantsburg, 9:50.11; 3. Isaac Dickenson, Solon Springs-Northwood, 9:51.13; 4. Gavin Stewart, Ladysmith, 9:51.52.

110 hurdles finals: 1. Alex Tokarski, McDonell Central, 15.33; 2. Dominick Ricci, Webster, 15.40; 3. Isaac Steinke, Fall Creek, 15.86; 4. Robert Schienebeck, Chequamegon, 16.06.

300 hurdles: 1. Dominick Ricci, Webster, 39.03; 2. Alex Tokarski, McDonell Central, 39.13; 3. Holden Erickson, Unity, 42.31; 4. Isaac Steinke, Fall Creek, 42.41; 12. Ayden Hipenbecker, Hurley, 45.80.

4x100 relay: 1. Regis 43.74, 2. Ladysmith 44.72, 3. Cameron 45.10, 4. Owen-Withee 45.20, 7. Hurley 47.16.

4x200 relay: 1. Regis 1:30.98, 2. Owen-Withee 1:32.58, 3. Boyceville 1:33.30, 4. Cameron 1:33.62.

4x400 relay: 1. Washburn 3:30.74, 2. Webster 3:31.74, 3. Unity 3:32.74, 4. McDonell Central 3:32.75.

4x800 relay: 1. Grantsburg 8:20.10, 2. Chetek-Weyerhaeuser 8:27.15, 3. Phillips 8:27.18, 4. Glenwood City 8:28.37.

High jump: 1. Elias Mikunda, Ladysmith, 6-4; 2. Clayton BJork, Drummond, 6-4; 3. Titus Radichel, Immanuel Lutheran, 6-2; 4. Jed Henderson, RIb Lake, 6-1.

Pole vault: 1. Ryan Peel, Athens, 14-0; 2. Kyle Schreiner, Athens, 13-0; 3. Paul Wagner, Clear Lake, 13-0; 3. Ben Virnig, Phillips, 13-0.

Long jump: 1. Caden Wold, Boyceville, 21-1.75; 2. Nathan Jackson, Webster, 20-8; 3. Chad Konsella, Gilman, 20-2; 4. Brody Tarman, Turtle Lake, 19-11.75; 12. Charlie Haanen, Hurley, 18-7.75; 16. Wyatt Hall, Hurley, 16-10.5.

Triple jump: 1. Caden Wold, Boyceville, 43-4.5; 2. Clayton Bjork, Drummond, 42-.75; 3. Koen Tumm, Fall Creek, 41-11; 4. Brody Tarman, Turtle Lake, 40-10; 14. Charlie Haanen, Hurley, 36-5.

Shot put: 1. Andrew Gotham, New Auburn, 48-3.5; 2. Thor Sather, Chetek-Weyerhaeuser, 48-2.5; 3. Zach Carlson, Grantsburg, 47-3.5; 4. Connor Gross, Glenwood City, 47-.75; 5. Gavin Moore, Hurley, 47-.75; 8. Virgil Hariu, Hurley, 43-2.5.

Discus: 1. Chase Ludescher, Flambeau, 144-4; 2. Andrew Gotham, New Auburn, 137-1; 3. Thor Sather, Chetek-Weyerhaeuser, 134-8; 4. Dakota Antczak, Fall Creek, 133-8; 12. Gavin Moore, Hurley, 111-10.

WIAA Division 3

state track-and-field

At La Crosse

Friday and Saturday

Time schedule

Girls shot put, after D-2 girls, which starts at 3:15 p.m., Friday

Girls discus, 9:30 a.m., Saturday

Boys high jump, 10 a.m., Saturday

Girls triple jump, after D-2 girls, which starts at 10 a.m., Saturday

Boys long jump, 10 a.m., Saturday

Friday running events, 3 p.m .: 3,200 boys final, 400 prelims, 4x400 boys prelims

Saturday running events, 10 a.m .: 800 boys final, 400 boys final, 1,600 boys final, 4x400 boys final

Heat sheets

Girls triple jump: Megan Kreul, Lancaster, 36-10; Alena Sanfelippo, Fall Creek, 36-5.75; Anna Thaler, McDonell Central, 36-1; Rylee Berryman, Deerfield, 35-6.5; Greta Morris, Princeton-GL, 35-3.75; Ona Ruiz, Mercer, 35-2; Rachel Burke, Edgar, 34-11.5; Leah Vander Galien, Randolph, 34-7.75; Emily Sorensen, Faith Christian, 34-6.5; Hannah Miller, Kewaunee, 34-4; Brielle Fishnick, Cassville-Potosi, 34-2.25; Brooke Wellnitz, Argyle-Pectonica, 34-2; Mariah Thill, Turtle Lake, 34-.75; Destiny Monnot, Shiocton, 33-9.5; Izzy Bender, Fennimore, 33-7; Ashlyn Kurey, Bonduel, 33-6.

Girls shot put (top 5): Nora Skoraczewski, Drummond, 40-4; Paige Kurlinski, Ozaukee, 39-6.5; Chloe Kessenich, Pardeeville, 38-8.25; Shayna Graf, River Ridge, 38-4.5; Payton Skortz, Rosholt, 38-3.75.

Girls Discus (top 5): Nora Skoraczewski, Drummond, 128-6; Jeanette Hydukovich, Colfax, 126-9; Olivia Santos, Manawa, 125-0; Chloe Kessenich, Pardeeville, 124-3; Shelby Meyer, Clear Lake, 123-8.

Boys high jump (top 5): Elias Mikunda, Ladysmith, 6-4; Jack Schlesner, Cashton, 6-4; Clayton Bjork, Drummond, 6-4; Lucius Cooley, Wauzeka-Steuben, 6-3; Zander Thomson, Lena-St. Thomas, 6-2.

Boys triple jump: 1. Broc Billington, Weyauwega, 44-3; 11. Clayton Bjork, Drummond, 42-.75.

Boys 400 dash: 1. Alex Wierzba, Rosholt, 48.76; 2. Cade Lisson, Solon Springs-Northwood, 49.83; 6. Javier LeBouton-Chediack, Washburn, 50.71.

Boys 4x400 relay: 1. Edgar 3:25.49, 12. Washburn 3:30.74.

Boys 800 run: 1. Hunter Taddy, Reedsville, 1:56.57; 6. Dylan Taggart, Solon Springs-Northwood, 1:58.93; 13. Jacob Taggart, Solon Springs-Northwood, 2:00.98.

Boys 1,600 run: 1. Ben Beck, Iola-Scandinavia, 4:24.51; 6. Isaac Dickenson, Solon Springs-Northwood, 4:31.10.

Boys 3,200 run: 1. Charlie Vater, Iola-Scandinavia, 9:32.90; 4. Isaac Dickenson, Solon Springs-Northwood, 9:51.13.