Swatek and Hickey
run together again

Stacey Swatek (left) and Taylor Hickey were together early in the race at Westfield Thursday, turning a corner here with Reedsburg's Bria Goodman in pursuit. The Dells pair finished third and fourth respectively at their first meet.

By Jim den Hollander

jdenhollander@capitalnewspapers.com

Stacey Swatek is alone no longer.

Once again, likely two of the best female runners to wear the Columbia Blue in the past decade are side by side.

Now a junior, Taylor Hickey first served notice in her freshman track and field season that she was on the scene while current sophomore Stacey Swatek made her first impression with a cross country win before she took her first class at WDHS a year ago.

The track and field team and the school was the big winner from the bond and friendly rivalry between the pair last spring and they played a huge role in the school's first ever track and field conference title.

This fall, Hickey changed up her schedule a bit, moving from the volleyball court to the grass and forest and once again, the pair are at the front of the pack.

At the varsity girls' cross country team's opener in Westfield last season, Swatek took the win as a freshman.

This year, it was Dells runners side by side through the first third of the race as Swatek and Hickey ran shoulder to shoulder in front of the Reedsburg senior twins sisters, Break and Dakota Goodman.

By the halfway mark of the varsity girls race though, the Reedsburg pair maneuvered their way past the local duo and Brea Goodman went on to a somewhat comfortable win in 17 minutes, three seconds.

Sister Dakota was next, 38 seconds later and just one tick in front of Swatek who settled for third. Hickey made a strong cross country debut too crossing the line fourth just three seconds after Swatek.

As a team the girls' squad was fourth of six teams and the boys, led by a solid 12th place showing by Max Mattei turned in a decent performance as well.

Westfield Invitational - Sept. 28, 2008

Varsity Girls