Rob Hernandez
Rio's Derek Johnsrud cruised to victory Friday at the WIAA Division 3 Darlington cross country sectional. His winning time of 17:37 was 45 seconds faster than runner-up Jordan Heinberg of Darlington.
DARLINGTON - Derek Johnsrud remembered feeling confident running the cross country course around Darlington High School earlier in the season.
Of course, not that the Fall River senior could remember much of it Friday during the soggy WIAA Division 3 Darlington sectional.
"When I ran it (in September), I felt comfortable," he said. "But when I tried to walk it again today, I got lost again. But I figured I'd be able to see a lead vehicle."
That was about all Johnsrud minutes, 37 seconds. Jordan Heinberg of sectional team champion Darlington finished a distant second in 18:22.
"I thought it would be a little closer," Johnsrud said. "But I'm glad it went the way it was."
Now, he can look foward to the state meet.
"My goal was to win today, but it turned into just a qualifier," admitted Johnsrud, who finished 30th at state last year. "I'm hoping to get into the top 10 or so."
He'll be joined on the ride to The Ridges in Wisconsin Rapids by Hansena Vangen, who grabbed the fifth and final individual qualifying spot by finishing sixth in the girls race.
"I was trying for the fifth place, just to make sure I was going," said Vangen, a sophomore who finished in 16:59 and couldn't quite catch Belleville's Allison Schmitz (16:58). "It was cold and soggy. We came here earlier in the season and I slipped and fell and I really didn't want that to happen again."
It will be Vangen's first trip to state. She failed to qualify as a freshman out of the tough Sheboygan Lutheran sectional.
"I didn't do very well at that," she said. "But it was my freshman year and I thought 'I have three more years ahead of me."
WIAA DIVISION 3 DARLINGTON SECTIONAL
GIRLS 1, Darlington 53; 2, Boscobel 54; 3, Fennimore 98; 4, North Crawford 135; 5, Albany 142; 6, Belleville 156; 7, Waterloo 165; 8, Hillsboro 173; 9, Pecatonica-Argyle 203; 10, Lancaster 248; 11, Riverdale 305.
Team Results -
Top Individuals - 1, Caminiti (WH) 16:25; 2, Zuelch (NC) 16:37; 3, Sheckles (F) 16:47; 4, Harris (BO) 16:53; 5, Schmitz (BE) 16:58; 6, Vangen (RIO) 16:59. 7, Moret (BO) 17:20; 8, Wolfe (DAR) 17:20; 9, Jorgenson (DAR) 17:25; 10, Wamsley (DAR) 17:25.
Rio/Fall River Results - 6, Hansena Vangen 16:59; 39, Emma Marion 18:56; 44, Kristin Olson 19:20; 57, Jessica Esveld 20:45.
BOYS 1, Darlington 46; 2, Albany 58; 3, Boscobel 70; 4, Hillsboro 108; 5, Waterloo 159; 6, Wisconsin Heights 184; 7, Fennimore 186; 8, Pecatonica-Argyle 187; 9, Belleville 202; 10, Lancaster 232; 11, Kickapoo/La Farge 320.
Team Results -
Top Individuals - 1, Johnsrud (RIO) 17:37; 2, Heinberg (DAR) 18:22; 3, Haak (BE) 18:22; 4, Allbaugh (NC) 18:35; 5, Whitehead (AL) 18:47; 6, Sinclair (DAR) 18:54; 7, Mather (AL) 18:54; 8, Urban (HIL) 19:00; 9, Mueller (HIL) 19:04; 10, Conley (AL) 19:08.
Rio/Fall River Results - 1, Derek Johnsrud 17:37; 12, Jarrad Hovland 19:09; 62, Shane Foreman 21:46.