McClure leads big day for Algoma
LA CROSSE – Elizabeth McClure knew this was going to be a lot tougher than last year.
The Algoma senior was thinking that as she started down the bar set at 5 feet, 4 inches on Friday at the WIAA state track & field meet.
This is what all the hard work and countless hours of rehab came down to as she attempted to defend her Division 3 state title in the girls high jump.
Mission accomplished.
After undergoing hip surgery last August, McClure returned to Veterans Memorial Stadium in La Crosse and achieved her goal of becoming a repeat champion by edging Shell Lake junior Cassie Skattebo.
“I just told myself you’ve done this before and you can do it again,” said McClure, who will compete in track & field at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
McClure led a big day for Algoma, which is trying to repeat as the girls D3 state champion.
The Wolves trail Ozaukee 21-18 in the team standings after five events scored.
Senior Katelyn Williams placed third in the shot put Friday with a throw of 41-6¼. It was her best throw in her four state appearances in the event and third time she reached the state podium for it.
“I was able to be relaxed,” Williams said.
“I knew what to expect going in, so I told myself last night before I went to bed, ‘Katelyn, just breathe.’”
Algoma also got two points from Bobbi Blahnik, who finished seventh. Blahnik is the only freshman at state in the shot put this year for all divisions.
Williams will compete in the discus and as a leg on the Wolves’ 400-meter relay that advanced to finals along with the team’s 1,600 relay.
McClure, meanwhile, is seeded third in the pole vault, which also features Algoma sophomore Jenny Farley.
McClure said it was nice Friday to be joined by her younger sister, Anna, a sophomore, in the girls high jump that finished 12th.
“I think it helped to have somebody to talk to and cheer me on,” Liz McClure said.
The Algoma boys advanced four individuals to state and three were action Friday.
Senior Sam Utesch finished as the D3 state runner-up in the pole vault by clearing 13-6 to break Algoma’s school record, which was 13-3 and set by Bob Dettmann in 1971,
“Breaking it alone I was ecstatic, but I found out after everyone had gone through I was in second,” Utesch said. “It blew mind. I didn’t know what to do after that.”
Senior Ryan Feuerstein placed sixth in the triple, while senior Aidan Wallace garnered a point for the team by taking eighth in the discus.
The Algoma boys team is tied for third with 12 points after five events scored, but has only junior Max Schoening remaining in the shot put.
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