Kerner to make third state track appearance

Northland Pines senior Eli Kerner was the lone track and field athlete for the Eagles to advance to the WIAA State Track and Field Championships, doing so for a third time in his high school career. 

Kerner is set to compete in La Crosse this Friday and Saturday, June 6-7, in the Division 2 400-meter dash. 

Kerner could be looked at as one of the favorites to podium in the event, as he is one of six D2 runners on the heat sheet with a sub-50-second time heading into the state meet. 

“Eli has had a season filled with injuries to both legs, along with pneumonia. Despite all these setbacks, Eli has just kept working hard, and it paid off for him in the 400 with his best ever time and his third trip to the state Track meet in as many years,” said Northland Pines head coach Josh Rhode. “He is among the top 400 runners in the state and will have an opportunity to get on the podium if he can run another great race.”

The short-distance senior runner came up just short of punching his state ticket in the 200-meter dash, finishing in seventh place. 

Kerner was just one of four Eagle athletes in sectionals, along with the team advancing three relay teams from regionals. 

Overall, Rhode said that most of the athletes ended the season with personal-best times during the sectional meet.

Morgan DePuydt finished two spots from advancing in the pole vault, matching his PR of 13 feet. Fourth through sixth place all finished at 13 feet.

“It came down to misses for the fourth spot, and he ended up in sixth place,” mentioned Rhode. “Morgan matched his PR, and that was an accomplishment at what was the hardest sectional in the state for the pole vault.”

The boys 4x100 and 200-meter relays, along with the girls 4x400, all finished with personal best times, but weren’t able to crack into the top four. 

Junior Bella Nowak finished the shot put in 13th with a throw of 30’ 11.25”. 

Senior Cole Wiedenbeck finished his high school track career on a high note, posting his best time ever of 11.33 in the 100-meter dash. 

Track events on Friday morning start at 9:30, with the 400 being the seventh event out on the track.