STAR JOURNAL REPORT

After winning two individual events and being part of a first-place relay team at Tuesday’s Great Northern Conference track and field meet in Rhinelander, the Hodags’ Alayna Franson has been named the conference’s “Runner of the Year.”

Franson was almost 4 seconds in front of her nearest competitor when she won the 1600-meter run (5:30.36) and ended up 3.1 seconds in front to win the 3200 run (12:08.68). Her other top finish came when she joined Payton Hartman, Gracie Quinn and Eva O’Melia to win the 4X800 relay (10:16.67).

O’Melia picked up the other top finish for the Hodag girls by winning the 800 run (2:26.74).

Rhinelander, which ended up in fifth place out of the seven GNC girls teams, also recorded a pair of third-place finishes from Susanna Roberts in the 100 dash (13.23) and Lexie Rick in the shot put (31 feet, 4.5 inches).

The Hodags’ other individuals to score team points included Haley Klaver finishing fifth in the 400 dash (1:08.14), Danielle Doughty coming in sixth in the 100 hurdles (19.06) and Ellen Padgett placing eighth in the 200 dash (28.01).

Rhinelander’s best finish in the three sprint relays came from Roberts, Klaver, Padgett and Raven Sturtevant placing fifth in the 4X100 (55.92). Roberts, Sturtevant, Ericka Jorgenson and Mattia Beske came in sixth in the 4X200 (2:03.12). Jorgenson, Sturtevant, Maria Kipper and Lara Gardner were seventh in the 4X400 (5:08.62).

Lakeland Union High School won the girls team title, followed by Medford, Northland Pines, Mosinee, Rhinelander, Tomahawk and Antigo.

RHS BOYS 7^TH

Lakeland also won the boys team title, followed by Medford, Mosinee, Northland Pines, Antigo, Tomahawk and Rhinelander.

The Hodags’ best individual finishes came from Eric Tracy, who placed third in both the 110 hurdles (16.44) and 300 hurdles (43.47), while Rueben Guzik added a fourth-place finish in the 300 hurdles (44.03) and Colton Krueger finished fifth in the 110 hurdled (18.96).

Rhinelander also had two boys score points in the 100 dash with Josh Francisco coming in sixth and Alec Bess placing seventh in respective times of 12.12 and 12.36, while Anthony Kowalski was sixth in the 400 dash (56.44) and Max Brown finished seventh in the high jump (5-6).

The Hodag boys also placed sixth in the 4X800, 4X400 and 4X100 relaysand ended up seventh in the 4X200 relay.

Rhinelander’s next meet will be the regionals Monday at Wausau West.