SPORTS

Pulaski girls cross-country team on the move

Andrew Pekarek
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Pulaski sophomore Katie Brockman competes in the Green Bay Southwest Invite at Colburn Park last Thursday. Brockman finished 62nd in the WIAA Division 1 state race last year.

PULASKI - Most cross-country teams huddle up and do a cheer before races.

The Pulaski girls cross-country team is one of the exceptions.

“We’re kind of the team that doesn’t do a cheer,” Pulaski junior Annika Linzmeier said. “We get focused right away. We get in the zone right away, and that works for us.”

The Red Raiders are working toward running some exceptional times again this season to advance to the WIAA Division 1 state meet for a third straight year.

But they’ll be trying to do so out of a different, yet familiar, sectional.

After qualifying for state with runner-up finishes out of the Stevens Point sectional the past two seasons, Pulaski has swapped spots with Appleton East in being added to the Manitowoc sectional this year.

The switch puts the Red Raiders in the same sectional as six other Fox River Classic Conference schools.

Pulaski junior Annika Linzmeier won the Green Bay Southwest Invite last Thursday at Colburn Park. She finished 17th at the WIAA Division 1 state race last year.

“It’s changed our focus I think a little bit more,” Pulaski coach Kim Noe said.

“I think we have a pretty positive outlook on it because we do get to see these teams so often. I think it almost focuses the kids a little more when we’re doing these meets during the regular season to really look at them as your true competition.”

The Red Raiders overcame tough competition last year to reach Wisconsin Rapids by edging Stevens Point, which was ranked No. 3 by the Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches Association, for the second qualifying spot at their sectional.

The field for the Manitowoc sectional next month figures to be stacked as well. Kimberly is ranked No. 7 in D1, while Green Bay East is aiming to win a second straight Bay Conference title. Four of the FRCC teams at the sectional have at least one runner with previous state experience, including Bay Port, which has advanced as a team 10 of the last 11 years.

“Last year was definitely a challenge,” Pulaski sophomore Katie Brockman said. “And this year will definitely be a challenge.”

The Red Raiders return four of their top five state runners, including Linzmeier, who should be in the running to challenge for an individual state medal following a 17th-place finish as a sophomore.

Linzmeier has won three races this season and will be aiming to repeat as the FRCC champion.

“I couldn’t be more excited with what’s she’s done and what she continues to do,” Noe said about Linzmeier, who placed third at state in the 3,200-meter run during the track and field season. “She’s probably the most focused athlete that I’ve ever worked with.”

Brockman burst onto the scene as a freshman to become the Red Raiders’ No. 2 runner and finished 62nd at state. Meanwhile, juniors Lauren Kane and Riley Buttrick have been state runners the last two years.

“Our whole team is pretty young,” Noe said. “The talent is definitely there. We’ll just see if we have enough time to develop through the course of the season.

“Anybody can have a really great day, so I don’t want them to ever lose their focus or feel like something is ever in the bag. I remember last year at sectionals when nobody really thought we were going to have a spot between Appleton North and Stevens Point. I told the girls, ‘This isn’t impossible, but you’re going to have to run like you’ve never run before.’ That’s how I’d like them to look at every race.”

apekarek@greenbaypressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter @andrewpekarek.