LA CROSSE — The Logan High School boys 1,600-meter relay team just missed out on the WIAA state track and field medal stand a year ago.
The Rangers were 0.46 seconds behind sixth-place, and three of those runners were back on the track competing for medals in the next-to-last race at Veterans Memorial Field on Saturday.
The crowd, the venue and the atmosphere made things fell much different than a typical race, but Logan didn’t allow that to impact its performance.
Sophomore James Freund, junior Gabe Driscoll, junior Onesimus West and senior Andrew Stanton put together a strong race that produced a second-place finish and silver medals for all.
The Rangers were clocked at 3 minutes, 22.1 seconds and beat every team in the field by champion New Berlin Eisenhower and its time of 3:20.99.
“We were talking about how we could have won, but I’m really proud of these three guys here and how we did,” Stanton said. “I think second place is really good for us.”
Stanton took the baton from West for the final lap in second place but right on first-place Monroe.
Eisenhower’s Javaryn Love ran the fastest anchor leg in the field with a 47.8 to pass both teams and get the victory for his team.
“I was pretty nervous at the beginning because it was a our biggest race of the season,” said Freund, who led off the race. “It was also Andrew’s last race of his high school career. I wanted to make an impact her his career and our career.”
A quality handoff put Driscoll in a good spot.
“I felt like we were in a good position,” Driscoll said. “Then I got to the cut and there were, like, four guys ahead of me.
“It wasn’t that surprising because I figured there would be a few ahead of me. On the back half, it looked like I stutter-stepped, but it was more in control to get around the guy(s). I think I pased (the baton) in first.”
He did, and West made sure Stanton had a shot to put things away.
“I was panicking for a second because it was going to be really tight, and I don’t like running in traffic,” West said. “I had someone in front of me, and I battled.
“I had to pass him on the outside on the backstretch. That made me nervous because I didn’t know I’d be able to finish strong because if the extra energy I had to use.”
Stanton said his experience as an anchor runner allowed him to stay focused and not get caught up in the big moment.
