June 2, 2022 at 7:48 a.m.
Worrall looks to end on high note at WIAA state track meet
Worrall looks to end on high note at WIAA state track meet
Worrall will compete this morning in the preliminaries of the 110-meter hurdles and the 200-meter dash at the WIAA Division 1 state track meet in La Crosse. He's already one of the 24 fastest in the state in the two events. Now the goal is to get into the top 10, qualify for tomorrow's finals and, perhaps, get to the top six and go out as a podium finisher.
"I'd love to win state, but my smaller goal would be to take top five in either of the events," Worrall said, who will go on to run track next year at UW-Whitewater. "But, if that doesn't happen, I'm not going to be too disappointed because I'm right where I want to be."
Practice has been focused this week leading up to today's races. Worrall and head coach Aaron Kraemer were out on the track Monday afternoon for a quick, but intense sprint workout. After taking Tuesday to rest, Wednesday and Thursday were spent focusing on the final details entering today's events.
"We're just trying to get his body ready for the 200 and the 110 in one day," Kraemer said Monday. "He's got a lot in front of him this week. We have to stay focused on the things we've been focused on all year, the technique work we've been doing all year, and make sure his body's fresh and ready to go on Friday."
Worrall was the runner-up in both events at last Thursday's Division 1 sectional in Marshfield. His times of 15.17 seconds in the 110 hurdles and 22.42 seconds in the 200 have him 11th fastest among the 24-man fields in both events, which will be split into three heat races for today's prelims. Each heat winner will earn an automatic berth into Saturday's finals. From there, the next seven fastest times across all three heats will round out the field of 10.
"The main goal is to get through Friday," Kraemer said. "The goal's to get through in one of those events. I know he said top five ... Getting to the finals would be really, really special. From there, anything can happen. You see it in races all the time, anything can happen."
"I'm right where I want to be," Worrall added. "I've gotten my goal, but it would be nice to get up in the ranks a little bit."
Kraemer beams with pride when he talks about Worrall, who showed immediate potential as a freshman and worked throughout his high school career to refine his raw talent.
"It's going to be a sad one when he's done because there are kids born with natural ability that don't necessarily pan out to be the best they possibly can," he said. "Cole's the opposite of that. He was born with natural ability and he worked every second to pull every piece of that athletic ability out by the time of his senior year and he's got a lot more room to grow."
Kraemer also credited Worrall's work with former Puerto Rican Olympian Enrique Llanos, who was part of the Hodag coaching staff last year, for getting Worrall to the next level. That included a trip to state last year in both the 110 and 300 hurdles.
However last year's state meet did not go as planned. Under monsoon-like conditions, Worrall finished 15th in the 110s and 23rd in the 300s, failing to make the finals in either event.
Luckily for Worrall, the forecast calls for pristine conditions in La Crosse today, with sunny skies and a high in the lower 70s. There is a 60% chance of rain in the forecast tomorrow, should Worrall advance to the finals.
"Even it rains, I'm still coming in hard and I'm going to race as hard as I can," Worrall said, noting that one of his goals is to go under 15-second mark in the 110s for only the second time in his career. He ran a 14.97 at regionals last June. The school record in the event is 14.79 seconds set back in 1999.
"That's what I'm hoping for. I haven't gotten that 14 this year yet, and I'm thinking this weekend is going to be the time," Worrall said.
Division 1 prelims will get underway at 9:30 a.m. today with the 110 hurdle trial off early in the program, following the girls' 4x800-meter relay. The 200-meter dash trials will be held late in the morning session, ahead of only the girls' 3200 meters and the girls' and boys' 4x400 relay trials.
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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