Photos: Whitefish Bay Track Athletes Headed to State

Although Whitefish Bay's track and field team is placed in one of the tougher WIAA sectionals, the team advanced 10 events to state in Thursday's meet at Menomonee Falls.

The Blue Dukes took third in the boys meet and sixth in the girls. Arrowhead won both divisions. The following athletes are headed to the state tournament in Lacrosse, according to WisSports.net:

• Brandon Threats finished first in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.12.
• The boys 4x200-meter relay team took first with a time of 1:27.83. That team is made up of Threats, James Stecker, Tommy Friesch and Rashadeem Gray.
• Nate Gomoll took second in the mile with a time of 4:22.27.
• Helena Dziadowicz took second in discus with a throw of 107'10".
• Rashadeem Gray took third in the 110-meter hurdles (14.88)
• Rhashad Gray took second in high jump (6'2").
• Emma-Lisa Murphy took third in the one-mile (5:12.36)
• Whitefish Bay senior Sofie Yang took third in the pole vault (10'6").
• Lily Hayes was a special qualifer in the pole vault because she jumped as high as the girls in the top eight. She jumped 10'6", same as Sophie Yang.
• The girls 4x800-meter relay took third. The team — made up of Sara Coffey, Anna Bednarczyk, Alana Blegen and Reilly Koch — ran a time of 9:51.22.

Threats, who easily won the 200 meter and was part of the 800-meter relay, said he expects to have a strong showing at state, as well.

"I worked really hard for this because I know nothing's guaranteed," he said. "I hope to be the best 200 runner in the state."

Murphy, who qualified for state with a third place finish in the mile, finished with a time of 5:12.36 right after Lea Patek of Arrowhead. The two also had a down-to-the-wire battle for third place in the two-mile event, but Patek barely kept her lead and advanced to state over Murphy. Murphy still could earn a spot at state in the 3,200 based on her time, just .01 behind Patek.

Whitefish Bay does not normally run against Arrowhead, which dominated the meet overall. Murphy said she was happy go make it to the state tournament in the one-mile, and she thought the sectional meet was a good glimpse into the caliber of runners she can expect to compete against there.

"This is one of the toughest sectionals in the state, so it's nice to be able to get a chance to compete here," she said. "I'm feeling good going into the state meet."