By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
If your last name was Goodrich or Schwartz, and you competed for the Union Grove High School girls track and field squad, then Monday was a good day for you.
The Goodrich sisters – Cassy, a junior; and Alex, a freshman – and junior Madelyn Schwartz, won two events, finished second in two more, and third in a fifth at the WIAA Division 1 regional at Mukwonago. That qualified them for sectional competition Thursday.
Cassy Goodrich won the 100-meter dash (in 13.08 seconds) and the 400 in 59.62, plus placed second in the 200 (25.78).
Head coach Joe Busalacchi noted that Goodrich did what she needed to do.
“At this point, it’s about advancing,” Busalacchi said.
Schwartz was second in both the 400 and 800. She was timed in 1:01.83 to finish right behind Cassy Goodrich in the 400, and then turned in a time of 2:21.03 in the 800.
“She ran great times in both races,” Busalacchi said. “She came out and she ran awesome.”
Busalacchi believes the Schwartz’s training and the fact that she faced some good competition helped her turn in such good times.
“We were really, really excited,” Busalacchi said about Schwartz’s 800 time, since Schwartz had already run the 400.
Alex Goodrich was third in the 300 hurdles in 49.35, and narrowly missed qualifying in the 100 hurdles where she placed fifth, just .05 of a second out of fourth.
“(The 300 hurdles) is going to be her event,” Busalacchi said. “She can use her natural speed.”
Both Bronco squads took seventh in the regional held at Mukwonago.
The Bronco boys were led by the 4-by-200 relay team of Andy Hatch, Dennis Hebron, Kyle Martinez and Joe Peterson. That foursome turned in a time of 1:32.71 to finish third. That time was just .2 off the UGHS record.
“They were flying,” Busalacchi said. “The handoffs were clean.”
J.K. Witkofski was the only other Bronco to qualify for sectional. He was fourth in the 200 in 23.50.
Joe Veselik and Ryan Mevis narrowly missed qualifying for sectional. Veselik was fifth in both the 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles, while Mevis was fifth in the 800.
No Bronco boy advanced to sectional last year.
“I can’t brag enough about the boys side this year,” Busalacchi said, adding that the boys have responded well to all the coaching.
WIAA Division 1 sectional action was held Thursday at Wisconsin Lutheran.
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