By Jennifer Wierzba

Varsity Track coach

On May 31, a caravan of Amherst Varsity track and field athletes, coaches, and fans traveled to the annual Wisconsin State Track and Field meet at UW-La Crosse. Prior to their departure, the team enjoyed a warm and supportive send off from numerous family, friends, staff, and community members.

Qualifying for the Falcons were the 4 x 800-meter relay team of Cayden Wright, Colton Vander Laan, Elliot Podeszwa, and Max Voss, along with alternates Taylan McCormick and Milo Graham. Voss also qualified in the 3,200-meter run and the 800-meter run, Cayden Wright in the 1,600-meter run, and representing the Lady Falcons was Lia Peterson in the 3,200-meter run.

The athletes qualified by finishing fourth place or higher at the Division 2 Sectionals meet hosted by Freedom High School May 23.

Competition began with a strong start on Friday when the boys’ 4 x 800-meter relay ran an amazing race of 8:05, breaking their previous time by four seconds, setting a new school record. These efforts led to a medal-earning fourth-place finish in a very strong field of competitors.

Later that evening, Voss ran another personal best for the day, 9:26 in the individual 3,200-meter run, placing third and earning his second medal of the day.

Saturday morning, the state tournament continued as Wright ran a personal best of 4:18 in the 1,600-meter run, breaking the previous school record and earning a sixth-place medal.

Shortly after, Voss raced a personal best of 1:56 in the 800-meter run, placing sixth.

To finish out the meet, Peterson ran a steady race in the girls’ 3,200-meter run and placed 16th.

Following the end of the meet, the Amherst crew of athletes, coaches, and fans took a memorable trip up to Grandad Bluff, which overlooks the city of La Crosse, rounding out a fun and exciting State trip.

Lia Peterson (#14 in the middle of the group in Falcon Blue) represented Amherst in the 3,200 meter run.

Max Voss (at the rear of the boys 4 x 800-meter relay team) earned two medals at State, one with the relay team’s fourth place finish and the other for placing third in the 3,200-meter run, where he set a personal best of 9:26.

The Amherst team wrapped up its trip to State with a visit to La Crosse’s Grandad Bluff.