April 18, 2022 at 8:09 a.m.
Hodag track adjusts on the fly to wacky weather for home meet
Hodag track adjusts on the fly to wacky weather for home meet
Thursday's Hodag Early Bird Invite turned into a field event-only affair due to the weather. The field events were always slated to be held inside the dome. The cold, snowy and windy conditions scratched the running events from the program, which were scheduled to take place outside at the adjacent Mike Webster Stadium.
"I thank my lucky stars for all the work people put into this dome because I knew we were going to have something," Kraemer said. "I can't say enough how blessed we are to have this dome. Without it, it would have been another scratch day and we're running in the gym."
Though the track at Mike Webster was clear at the start of the meet, the call was made not to run in 30-degree conditions with gusty winds and occasional snow showers.
"It's a recipe for disaster, especially when you go from the warm to the cold, back to the warm and to the cold," Kraemer explained. "It would have likely been muscle injuries, slow times, maybe a little bit of discouragement. We were happy to do what we were able to do."
Because of the modified format, no team scores were kept for the five-school meet that also included Antigo, Northland Pines, Three Lakes and Tomahawk.
While the Hodag Dome has a five-lane running surface for sprint events and markings on the turf for a modified indoor lapping track, the team opted not to run those events indoors. Doing so freed up the turf for the discus event to be held for the first time this season. It also gave the field events a rare night in the spotlight.
"You don't get to see field events, just field events, things happen," Kraemer said. "It's so technical that the kids need this extra time. Without the facilities for some of these teams, it's really difficult for them to practice. We're grateful to have them here. We're happy to host a meet and we're happy that our kids got to compete against some really good talent."
Rhinelander shined in discus, and in the throwing events overall. Junior Conner Jensen won the boys' discus with a personal-best throw of 117 feet while junior Abby Swanson took first in both the girls' discus (86-9) and shot put (34-5 1/2).
"We have some amazing talent in the disc. Last year Conner Jensen was rivaling Brock (Snyder) and he got to chime the chime today. He was glowing after he threw," Kraemer said. "(Abby's) a silent assassin, really. She comes in. She does her thing. She doesn't say anything and then she wins. That's how it's been the first couple of weeks. She is all about business, all about work and she comes in and does her thing. I'm really proud of the growth she's had in the first couple of years here in our program and what she's been able to do."
Elsewhere in the throws, freshman David Houg finished third in the boys' discus (101-6) and fourth in the shot put (35-2). Sophomore Lizzy Snyder was third in girls' shot put (27-10 1/2) and fifth in the discus (70-8).
"We just have a really young throwers group, period," Kraemer said. "They're young kids and they're learning how to throw disc and they're learning how to do a lot of these movements. I've been around and impressed with everything they've done."
Additionally, Rhinelander had a solid day in the pole vault. Junior Kaleb Winter was the runner-up in the boys' event, clearing 11 feet, 6 inches, while seniors Ty Welk and AJ Gillespie finished third and fifth, respectively. Senior Rivers Eagleson and junior Gussie Gruett tied for third in the girls' pole vault, both clearing 7 feet.
"I know Kaleb wants to continue to get better and better and I think there's only a few technical things he's got to work out where he's going to be jumping 12-0, 12-6 and he's going to be putting himself in position (to win the conference meet)," Kraemer said. "Those other guys, if they keep jumping the way that they are, and the ladies too, they're just going to keep scoring points for us. That's all we can ask if for them to better their best every week and keep scoring points for their teammates."
Freshman Truman Lamers added a pair of top-five finishes for Rhinelander, taking second in the triple jump (37-5) and fifth in the high jump. Senior Beau Howard was second in the long jump while freshman Zach Germain was fifth in that event.
Senior Emma Germain was the runner-up in the girls' triple jump and freshman Callie Hoerchler finished fifth in the high jump.
Rhinelander is scheduled to return to action today at Lakeland, though the status of that meet was up in the air at press time as cold, windy conditions persisted through the Easter weekend. The weather pattern is supposed to moderate late this week. Rhinelander will be in Antigo Thursday for the Dale Peterson Invitational.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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