DeForest's Stacy Kipkoskei isn't letting the pressure of defending her state title slow her down this season.
The reigning Division 1 300-meter hurdle state champion has gotten off to a fast start this year, dominating events at both the Badger Challenge and Bruce Fischer Invitational in McFarland.Â
She finished the 100 hurdles in 15.88 seconds and 300 hurdles in 47.36 at the Badger Challenge. She also finished second in the long jump with a personal-best 15 feet, 7.50 inches and helped DeForest's 1,600 relay team secure a win with a great start as the first leg. The team finished in 4:18.87.
"These early meets give me insight on how I'm going to compete later in the season, and I feel like I've had a really good start," Kipkoskei said. "It'd be amazing to PR in the 100-meter hurdles this season and qualify for states in that event too because I didn't last year."
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Kipkoskei continued her winning ways at the inaugural Bruce Fischer Invitational. The senior won the 300 hurdles in 48.41, 3.9 seconds ahead of second place, according to athletic.net. She finished the 100 hurdles in 15.64.
"I was a bit nervous going into it because of the weather, but I had the wind to my back thankfully," Kipkoskei said. "I had an amazing season last year, which is motivating. And even though the pressure is there, I'm just grateful for every opportunity I get."
Madison Memorial's Emerson Myers wins two field events
Emerson Myers said the level of competition at the Bruce Fischer Invitational had her nervous entering the high jump.Â
However, the senior rose to the occasion, winning the event by matching her personal best of 5-4, according to athletic.net.
Myers said her goal this season is to break Madison Memorial's high jump school record of 5-6.Â
"I only previously got 5-4 at sectionals last year, so it was a sense of relief reaching that mark on my first jump this season," Myers said.Â
She also took home the title in the triple jump with a distance of 35-7 1/2.
DeForest's Taylor Bussiere successful in new event
Taylor Bussiere's first time competing in the 1,500 came with extra motivation at the Bruce Fischer Invitational.
When the race started, teammate MJ Nelson suffered an injury, which caused a restart.Â
Nelson is one several sophomores on DeForest's roster who Bussiere said she's trying to mentor this season.Â
Bussiere wanted to win the event for Nelson, and that's what she did, crossing the line in a personal-best 5:11.59.Â
"I didn't know how different a 1,500 would be, so I was just trying to pace off the girls in front of me until I felt like I could move ahead," Bussiere said. "We have a really competitive conference and sectional, so anytime you can win, it means a lot."
Mount Horeb's Abigail Sadler returns to form
Abigail Sadler captured a Division 1 state title in the 800 the last time she raced around the track.Â
The Mount Horeb senior distance runner picked up where she left off, winning the 800 in 2:20.24 at the Badger Challenge.Â
Sadler was also a state qualifier last year in the 3,200, walking away from the state meet with a bronze medal.
She added a win in that event at the Badger Challenge, crossing the line in 5:32.31, according to athletic.net.
Waunakee's Cianna Wipperfurth excels in new role
Cianna Wipperfurth is the newest addition to Waunakee's 3,200 relay team this season. The junior is the team's anchor leg and showed her worth at the Badger Challenge.
Wipperfurth capped the Warriors' 3,200 relay team’s win, helping it finish in 10:16.57, which was 38.86 seconds faster than second-place Sauk Prairie, according to athletic.net.
Wipperfurth added a third-place finish in the 3,200 in a personal-best 12:16.26.
This week's supernova
Which performer was the most impressive this week? Here's how readers voted.Â