Division 3 state track recap: Jonathan Simon's distance triple and Kickapoo/La Farge's record relays

LA CROSSE — Division 3 is where the small schools shine, and the 2026 WIAA State Track & Field Championships gave them a record book to match. A sophomore swept the distances, a wall of meet records fell, and tiny programs like Kickapoo/La Farge, Marathon and Ladysmith left La Crosse with multiple champions apiece.

The face of the meet was Abundant Life Christian sophomore Jonathan Simon, who pulled off a full distance triple — winning the 800 (1:54.30), the 1,600 (4:20.02) and the 3,200 (9:21.15). Three of the longest races on the program, all in one weekend, all gold. For a 10th-grader, it's the kind of run that announces a star.

The girls' distances spread across the small-school map. Kewaunee's Hannah Miller won the 800 in 2:11.62. Cochrane-Fountain City's Addy Duellman took the 1,600 in 4:55.52, part of a strong weekend for the Duellman family and their program. Deerfield's Emmerson Drobac won the 3,200 in 10:33.73.

The sprints produced two girls' meet records. Dominican's Sydney Knautz won the 100 in 11.94 [MR], and Mishicot's Juliana Doerner took the 200 in 24.04 [MR]. Assumption's Bella Thomas won the 400 in 55.31. On the boys' side, Rosholt's Alex Wierzba took the 100 in 10.85, and Stratford's Zander Zawislan swept the 200 (21.76) and 400, the latter a meet record at 47.40.

The hurdles delivered more records. Coleman's Kolton Peters won the boys' 110-meter hurdles in a meet-record 14.25, and Marathon's Garrett Bracewell took the 300 hurdles in 37.93. For the girls, Saint Mary Catholic's Ellie Davel won the 100 hurdles in 14.59 and Bangor's Jaycee Michek set a meet record in the 300 hurdles at 43.58.

The throws were a Marathon showcase. Chris Marcell swept the boys' shot put — a meet record at 63-7 — and the discus at 201-6, a monstrous double for one of the state's premier throwers. On the girls' side, Athens' Sy'Rih Hartwig won the shot put (44-3½) and Clear Lake's Shelby Meyer took the discus (154-6).

Ladysmith stamped the jumps. Ashton Clark swept the boys' high jump (6-6) and long jump (22-11½), and teammates Hailey Wilmot (pole vault, 11-9) and Lyla Gago (long jump, 18-11¾) added girls' titles for a banner Ladysmith weekend. Markesan's Owen Dornfeld won the boys' triple jump (45-8¾) and Spencer's Breckin Miller took the boys' pole vault (14-6). For the girls, Dodgeland's Abby Kast won the high jump (5-4) and Deerfield's Rylee Berryman the triple jump (38-0¼).

The relays were the small-school crown jewels. Kickapoo/La Farge swept three batons — the boys' 4x400 in a meet-record 3:21.60 and the girls' 4x100 (48.87) and 4x200 (1:41.92), both meet records. Cochrane-Fountain City added a meet-record girls' 4x800 in 9:21.29. Grantsburg won the boys' 4x100 (43.04), Marathon the boys' 4x200 (1:29.58), Rib Lake the boys' 4x800 (8:04.86), and Cameron the girls' 4x400 (3:57.80).

From Simon's three-race sweep to Kickapoo/La Farge's three relay titles and Marathon's record throws, Division 3 proved again that the smallest schools in Wisconsin can produce the biggest performances.