Antigo harriers close 2009 season at WIAA state meet Nov. 2, 2009 Some very difficult conditions faced three Antigo state qualifiers Saturday at the Ridges Golf Course in Wisconsin Rapids for the WIAA state cross country meet.
At best, the temperatures reached the upper 30s, but the wind and cloudy conditions intertwined with the difficult course to make things tough for Red Robin harriers Erik Artymiuk, Cody Artymiuk and Sammy Stimac.
Marcus Paulson of Hamilton paced the boys Division 1 5,000 meter race with a time of 15:41, 15 seconds ahead of last year’s time of 16:26 set by Tomah’s Derek Storkel.
Gabe Heck of Madison East took second in 15:43 while Jake Erschen of Marquette University claimed third in 15:46.
Brookfield Central earned the team championship with a score of 99. Marquette University claimed second with 115 and Stevens Point, last year’s champions, took third with 138.
Facing adversity all season long, Erik Artymiuk finished out his high school career by placing 61st out of 190 runners with a time of 17:00.
“I am so proud of what Erik did over the four year span in cross country,” Antigo coach Kevin Kubacki said.
In referring to Artymiuk as his “silent warrior,” Kubacki noted that he (Artymiuk) was one of the fastest boys to ever run for the Robins and the only one to have qualified three times for the state meet.
“Erik does not say much, but instead does his talking on the road, in workouts and on the courses,” Kubacki said. “He will surely be missed next season.”
Making his first appearance at state, sophomore Cody Artymiuk found out how tough the event can be.
Dropping back a bit from his brother, he just missed the top 100 by placing 103rd with a time of 17:20.
Kubacki predicts that with a bit of hard work and maybe some luck thrown in, the younger brother will be back next year stronger, wiser and hungry for another shot.
Girls race
Wisconsin Valley Conference squad Wausau East ran away with the girls team championship by achieving a combined total of 75 points. Whitefish Bay took the second slot with 142 while Neenah earned third with 177.
For the second year in a row, Gabby Levac of Arrowhead took first out of 190 in Division 1 by shaving six seconds off her previous time, to cross the finish line at 14:36.
Mukwonago’s Blair Doney nabbed second at 14:38 while Katelyn Stine of Wausau East took third in 14:41. Teammate Maggie Priebe earned sixth place in 14:56.
A repeat performer, the Red Robins’ Sammy Stimac maintained all her gear in finishing 157th in 16:50.
With a so-so beginning to the fall season, Stimac steadily improved to find her groove on her way to the state meet.
Kubacki listed Stimac among one of the toughest competitors he has known.
“I am sure she wanted more, but this is why cross country, more so than any other sport, is so humbling. One day, one race, you have it and the next you don’t,” Kubacki said.
Praising the efforts of all three athletes this past season, Kubacki expressed how proud he was of them and that the tradition of having a state qualifier lives on.
“Because of their hard work and dedication, the program succeeds,” he added. “Hopefully with more hard work and a bit more luck, Antigo will have another successful season in 2010. We wouldn’t be anywhere without such an excellent gang.”
Complete team and individual results can be found at www.wiaawi.org
WIAA D1 STATE MEET
Ridges Golf Course
Wisconsin Rapids
OCT. 31, 2009
Team Results
BOYS
Brookfield Central 99
Marquette University H.S. 115
Stevens Point 138
Neenah 148
Hudson 185
Madison Memorial 205
Arrowhead 235
Waukesha West 253
Janesville Craig 273
Kimberly 280
Appleton East 286
La Crosse Logan 294
Madison LaFollette 301
Waterford 315
Kenosha Tremper 317
D.C. Everest 320
Germantown 379
Middleton 397
Pulaski 429
Waukesha North 498
GIRLS
Wausau East 75
Whitefish Bay 142
Neenah 177
Homestead 182
Madison West 183
Janesville Craig 188
Kenosha Tremper 213
Germantown 218
Waukesha West 235
River Falls 252
Wausau West 263
Bay Port 268
Brookfield Central 321
Waukesha North 334
Muskego 336
Mount Horeb/Barneveld 337
Eau Claire Memorial 353
Sun Prarie 382
Kimberly 409
Fond du Lac 482
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