May 31, 2019 at 4:24 p.m.
Lawrence ready for a second chance at state
Lawrence ready for a second chance at state
Lawrence is set to compete this morning in the girls' high jump competition. Her qualifying mark of 5 feet, 2 inches is tied for fifth-best in the state but, for a time last week, it seemed like it would not be good enough to get her to La Crosse.
That's because, due to tiebreaking procedures, Lawrence placed fifth at a D2 sectional in Mosinee and only the top four receive automatic berths. It was doubly painful considering that meet officials, who applied the wrong tie-breaking criteria at first, incorrectly told Lawrence that she had placed in the top four and had qualified for the state meet.
The results were reversed following a successful challenge by another coach.
"There was lots of emotions on the ride home," Lawrence said, admitting that she didn't really know what was happening until the official results were announced. "I was kind of down for the next 12 hours because I really wanted to go to state this year, because I knew I could do it."
Lawrence said she was initially unaware of the provision that allows athletes who place outside the top four at sectionals to advance to state if their performance is one of the eight best in sectionals state-wide. It was only the next day when coach Aaron Kraemer showed her that she had made it in as an extra qualifier that reality set in.
"At that point, I really didn't think I was in the top eight of the state because there have been lots of girl high jumpers I've competed against, so I thought they were up there more than that," she said. "I was just like, 'Oh, I guess my season's over.' But, when he told me that, I got really excited.
"I just felt this big relief off of my shoulders because I knew that's what I wanted to do this year, to represent our girls' team. I think that lots of times our girls' team gets underestimated but I think we've been doing really well. I love going there, being able to represent our girls' team and how we've worked so hard this year."
Kraemer said Lawrence handled the adversity well, considering the circumstances, and that her inclusion in the state field was poetic justice.
"It was an exciting thing for me to be able to tell her that she was going to state after all the things she had gone through. It's much deserved for her," he said. "I told her everything from here is icing on the cake. She's a sophomore. She's got two more years to grow, but let's get there and let's see if we can't win. I think she's preparing to do that."
Lawrence was the only girl at practice this week for the Hodags, while the boys' 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams trained for their preliminary races which took place yesterday morning in La Crosse. The primary points of emphasis have been managing her speed on approach and making sure she gets good rotation in the air.
Her performance of 5-2 at sectionals matched her personal best, and is only 2 inches off top seeds Megan Reddeman of Poynette and Charlie Halvorsen of Arcadia. Lawrence is also only 2 inches off the school record, set by Taylor Wissbroecker at the state meet back in 2012. Wissbroecker placed sixth in D1 that year. Lawrence is hoping for a similar result if she can match that mark.
"I want to podium, jump 5-4 and mark that record. Anything above that would be ideal," she said.
Added Kraemer, "You look at the state and you look at the number of jumps that these girls have, 5-4 the (top seed), she's already jumped 5-2 twice this year, let's got get 5-4. If she gets 5-2 anything can happen. If she gets 5-4, she's got a chance at winning it.
"That's the goal for her, get back to her personal best and then compete at 5-4 or 5-3, wherever they go after that. If she can do that, we're in business."
The high jump competition begins at 10 a.m.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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