Six individual championships and two team titles highlight second day of WIAA state track

LA CROSSE - Ben Lemirand likely is known more for his work on the football field than the track during his time at West De Pere, his 1,687 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in three seasons earning him an opportunity to play for NCAA Division I University of St.

Thomas.Part of what has made the senior so good is his blazing speed.He put it to good use in the 100-meter dash at the WIAA Division 1 state track and field meet June 7 at Veterans Memorial Stadium, winning the event in 10.57 seconds.It was just ahead of Hartland Arrowhead junior Ryan Heiman, who clocked in at 10.59 to earn runner-up honors.Lemirands first state championship comes in an event that often is not highlighted by a local athlete.He is the first boy from the Green Bay metro area to win the 100 since Nate Hall in 2001 and the first from West De Pere since Scott Kazik in 1992.

But Lemirands win was not unexpected.

He has been building toward this moment all season.

He had the fourth-best sectional time of the 25 runners who qualified for state and followed by winning the preliminary race on the first day of the state meet with a 10.56.

It feels amazing, said Lemirand, who also placed fifth in the D1 long jump.

Ever since my freshman year when I made it, I knew I wanted to be at the top of that podium.

Finally getting there just feels so good.Lemirand has come a long way since his first year.

He finished 14th in the preliminary round that year and didnt qualify for the second day.He just missed out on a podium finish after placing seventh his sophomore year, then didnt compete in the event as a junior after sustaining a groin injury out of the blocks early in the season.

He instead concentrated on relays.Lemirand was part of some strong relay squads in 2024, finishing state runner-up in the 400 and fourth in the 800.It took some time to get back into the groove in the 100 a few months ago, but when he did, he never looked back.A little iffy with the blocks to start, Lemirand said.

But then in my first meet, I hit like a 10.8.

That was my first time in the blocks in a year, and this is what I ran.

...

I focused all I could on that 100.Lemirand has a 3.8 grade-point average, but he hasnt taken much time to study track history.He wasnt aware of how long it's been since the metro area has crowned a champion in the 100, but its the perfect way to go out before turning back to football this fall.That makes this feel even better, Lemirand said.

Im glad I can bring a gold back to the Green Bay area.De Pere standout Andrew Cartier wins another title despite severe pain The biggest clutch performance of the state meet might go to De Pere senior Andrew Cartier, who repeated as the D1 champion in the triple jump.

His jump of 47 feet, 5.50 inches on his first attempt proved to be the winner.That Cartier was even competing was impressive.

After dealing with a severe case of plantar fasciitis throughout his junior season, it moved to his left take-off foot during sectionals this season.He had doubts he could compete the night before the event, when he was icing his foot in the cooler he had brought for drinks.

He could barely walk on it.It was clear Cartier was hurting after every jump, but he somehow found a way to again be the best in the state.

I definitely went out hoping to have a big jump in one of my first three jumps, Cartier said.

Last year, I think I got it in my first or second jump.

That allowed me to stay relaxed the whole day, but that was not the same case today.

There were a lot of people around 47 where I was.Three other competitors had at least a 47-0.75, including D.C.

Everest junior Xavier Woods, who finished runner-up with a 47-2.Cartier could have decided not to take all his attempts after his big first jump, but that wasnt his mindset.Not now.This is my last high school meet, said Cartier, who will compete at the U.S.

Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, next season.

I dont want to regret anything or not taking a jump.

I never knew how that jump was going to turn out, but Im glad I took it.Cartier has competed at such a high level despite the serious injuries, it makes one wonder what he could do with two good feet and legs.Today, I wasnt too happy with my performance, Cartier said.

Its hard not to be happy, because I still placed well overall.

But, for me, I know that I could have done a lot better if I did not have the problems that I did.I just have to realize I have four more years ahead of me in college.

What I jumped today, no matter what, I still did as good as I could.Ashwaubenons Thea Kral wins fifth career championshipIt always was going to be difficult for Thea Kral to top what she did at the D1 state meet as a junior in 2024, when she won both the shot put and discus titles.The University of Wisconsin recruit figured out a way.Kral repeated in both events, putting the finishing touches on a decorated career by throwing 47 feet, 2.25 inches in the shot put a day after she dominated in discus.Her distance in the shot was better than the 46-7.75 she had to win the event last season.There was no real suspense this time, not the way there was a year ago when she won the shot in her sixth and final attempt.This time it was her second throw that was good enough to win, although her final attempt produced the best result of the day.Kral had five throws that went at least 43-1.50.

Nobody else had a throw better than 41-4.She broke the program record for most career state titles when she won the discus on the first day of state, but it might be a long time before another girl at Ashwaubenon approaches what Kral has done the past three years.I felt really confident.

I knew I had it in me, for sure, Kral said.

I did not hit my PR until pretty late, so I was a little bit disappointed in that.

But I knew that the throw I had was really good, so I was just confident the whole way through.For anybody who knows Krals story, it would have been near impossible to imagine she would be in this position, a five-time state champion and a Big Ten commit.She didnt even join track until she arrived in high school.

If I would have told 14-year-old me that this would have happened, she would have been absolutely shocked and she would not have believed me, Kral said.

I think little me would be very proud of myself and how far I have come.

I am just very grateful for the journey.It's a journey that, along with success, has allowed Kral to learn a lot about herself as she goes off to college and a whole new world.How to handle adversity, and how to be a more supportive person through that adversity, Kral said.

I have learned how to handle myself better through tough times, and I think Ive also become a better teammate and a better member of my family even.Learning how to struggle without bringing that into my life, that is a life skill that I will keep with me.Green Bay Notre Dame's James Flanigan finishes career in style This felt like the year Notre Dame senior James Flanigan might win the D2 shot put and discus championships in the same season for the first time in his decorated career.Flanigan won the discus title and was runner-up in the shot put as a sophomore, and then won the shot put and finished second in the discus as a junior.

He won both as a senior.

Flanigan capped his high school career by winning the discus title with a 188-5, one day after he won the shot put."I think what helped me get the shot put and the discus titles was the disappointment of not winning my first day (in the past) and having to refocus for the second day," Flanigan said.

"To be able to manage winning the first day and reset is just really good." Flanigan ends his time at Notre Dame as one of the most decorated athletes in school history.

He won four state track titles and was part of a football team, hockey team and track team that won state championships during his career.

Flanigan also earned a scholarship to play football at the University of Notre Dame.

He planned to report to South Bend, Indiana, right after the state meet.

De Peres Grady Lenn does it againDe Pere junior Grady Lenn had never defeated Onalaska senior and future Wisconsin teammate Manny Putz entering state track.He went 2-for-2 against Putz here, winning the 3,200 a day after beating Putz in the 1,600.Lenn finished the 3,200 in 8:52.79.

Putz attempted to close but couldnt overtake Lenn, finishing in 8:53.79 in what turned out to be a two-man race.Nobody was within even 10 seconds of the two.It hasnt fully settled in, Lenn said.

I just believed I could do it, and I think this year I made a big jump in racing my own race and not caring what other people are doing.

Just being confident that I can win, whether Im doing all the work or waiting for a kick.

I just believe more than previous years.Lenn will now have a target on his back for his senior season.

The way everyone attempted to beat Putz will be the way everyone now tries to defeat him.It makes me hungry, Lenn said.

It brings some nerves.

You now have to live up to the expectations.

But you cant complain.Lena's Eva Brooks wins state titleAfter finishing runner-up in the D3 high jump as a junior, Lena's Eva Brooks won the event as a senior with a jump of 5-7, 3 inches better than Wausau Newman senior Evie Bates, Poynette senior Mercedi Lapacek and Deerfield junior Rylee Berryman.Brooks will play basketball at DII Winona State University.De Pere, Notre Dame boys win team state championshipsYou don't need anywhere close to a full squad to win a team state title in track.

Sometimes, you just need a couple of stars.De Pere and Notre Dame had those stars this season, and both walked away with state track and field championships.It's the first team title in program history for the Redbirds.

Lenn won two individual championships.

Cartier won a title, while fellow senior Connor Fontaine finished runner-up in both the shot put and discus.

It helped De Pere score 46 points and beat Mequon Homestead by one point for the championship.

"It's a big deal, it's awesome for the school," Lenn said.

"I mean, obviously, I come here and just do my job and do what I come here to do.

Compete my best and execute a good race, and if my teammates can also do that, then it's just kind of a cherry on the top of what we did." It played out much the same way for the Tritons.

Flanigan's state championships in the shot and discus and fellow senior Joseph Hunt's state title in the 800 and his runner-up finish in the 1,600 were huge factors in Notre Dame winning in D2.It finished with 44 points, while runner-up Winneconne had 42.5.

It's the second team state title in program history and the first since 2002.

Along with James Flanigan and Hunt, sophomore Richie Flanigan helped put Notre Dame over the top.He contributed five crucial points by finishing fourth in the shot put on the first day and another one point with an eighth-place finish in the discus on the second day.

"We had a little bit of a shaky sectional, so I didn't originally think we'd be able to do that well," Hunt said.

"Then our throwers did better than they hoped, and I did better than I hoped.

"Our coach (John Gard) works so hard.

A lot of people had their doubts, because he basically has a history as a distance coach, not a sprinter coach.

He wouldn't be like, 'I need to prove myself,' but as a kid looking up at him who he does so much for, it would be cool to see him get those roses." Division 1 podium finishes The Green Bay Preble boys 3,200-meter relay team of Jacob Nuthals, Benjamin Piontek, Bradyen Michaels and Jordan Goral finished runner-up with a time of 7:47.97, just behind winner Mequon Homestead (7:47.55).

The 800 relay of Isaiah Flowers, Huj Chi Vang, Charlie Rozz and Braylon Schadt finished sixth (1:28.25).

Bay Port senior James Williams was sixth in the 400 (49.14).

De Pere senior Aubrey Kopling finished fifth in the 400 (57.67).

The Pulaski girls 800 relay of Addison Krueger, Lily Urben, Faye Brunke and Olivia Sprangers placed third (1:42.35), while Sprangers was sixth in the 200 (25.11).

Sophomore Keaton Dauk was runner-up in the 300 hurdles (38.76).

Junior Emerson Fabry was fifth in the 800 meters (2:14.13).

West De Pere junior Daniel Nehls was runner-up in the 100 wheelchair (18.06) and third in the 400 (1:11.84).

Phantoms sophomore Kaylin Thomson was sixth in the 300 hurdles (45.19), while freshman Kalli Vannieuwenhoven was sixth in the 800 (2:14.16).

Division 2 podium finishes Notre Dame senior Adah Danen was fourth in the high jump (5-5).

Kewaunee junior Hannah Miller was third in the 800 (2:15.56) and fourth in the 1,600 (5:01.40).

Denmark junior Ella Denor was fifth in the 100 (12.54), while the girls 400 relay team of Addison Kane, Riley Guns, Anya Joyce and Denor was fifth (49.65).

Vikings senior Sean Malay was third in the 400 (48.90).

Shawano senior Adalyn Barkley was fourth in the 400 (57.28).

The Oconto girls 400 relay team of Emery Pagel, Abby Budz, Gracie Miller and Rylie Shallow was runner-up (49.21), while the boys 800 relay of Brady Bursa, Isaac Bramer, Evan Yuma and Elijah White finished sixth (1:30.23).Division 3 podium finishes Coleman sophomore Kolton Peters (14.92) placed fifth in the 110 hurdles.

His teammate, senior Victor Kostreva, was sixth (15.15).The boys 400 relay team of Peters, Darian Patz, Kostreva and Micah Kuchta was runner-up (43.09).Peters was runner-up in the 300 hurdles (38.57) and Kuchta was sixth in the 200 (22.32).

Freshman Hunter Dehart was fifth in the discus (157-7).This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay area wins six individual, two team titles at WIAA state track.

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