By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
Waterford’s Carter Maffet can claim bragging rights for the next year.
No one in the state is better at the 110-meter hurdles than Maffet after the junior won the state title at the state track and field meet.
Maffet and the Wolverines competed in the WIAA Division 1 State Track & Field Championships June 3-4 at UW-La Crosse.
Maffet’s time of 14.58 seconds in the final is a school record and personal best. Maffet ran 14.87 in the preliminary round. Maffet was seeded first in the finals, and coach Jody Johnrsud said he lived-up to his billing.
The title is Waterford’s first in boys track & field since 1996, when Alex Guardiola won the title in the 100-meter dash.
Maffet planted the seeds for his title as a junior after last season’s race.
Maffet finished 10th in the event as a sophomore.
“After talking briefly with his parents, they had said that when he came home from that meet, Carter immediately said he was going to come back this season and win it,” Johnsrud said. “That is exactly what he did”
Johnsrud said Maffet’s new goal is to defend his state title and bet the state record and run a sub-14 second time in the final.
Madison Memorial’s Daurice Fountain set the current state record of 14.04 seconds in winning the state title in 2014.
Maffet helped the Wolverines set another school record in the 400 relay. Noah White, Maffet, Sutton Keller and Jack McCormick finished 18th in 43.42 seconds in the preliminary round.
Maffet finished 12th in the 200 (22.44) and McCormick came in 12th in the 100 (11.09). Bryce Ruland did not place in the discus.
Analyiah Guardiola posted a personal best and finished ninth in the 100 in 12.89 seconds.
Guardiola, a sophomore, set a personal best in the preliminary round with a time of 12.40 seconds.
Waterford girls coach Michele Sittig said Guardiola is one of two sophomores to compete in the final in the 100 on Saturday.
“Undoubtedly, the chilly and rainy weather was a factor in times across the board, as almost the entire field ran faster during prelims on Friday,” Sittig said. “I felt that she handled the adverse conditions very well, which is an indicator of the tremendous amount of growth she’s had as a competitor this season.”
Sittig also praised Guardiola technical development this season, and said her reaction time, block start, and acceleration in the race all improved.
“She’s learned a lot about herself and how to race,” Sittig said. “It’s also exciting to know that six of the competitors who finished ahead of her were seniors this season, and she’s gained invaluable experience by making it to finals as a sophomore.”
The Wolverines advanced to state out of a Division 1 sectional meet May 26 at Sun Prairie. At the sectional meet the top three in each event advance to state. Some special qualifiers statewide also advanced.
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