Sylla leads I/G contingent as nine area athletes qualify for D3 state track

Independence/Gilmanton senior Taylor Sylla already knew she was heading to state it two events thanks to top-four finishes at last week’s Division Three Bangor sectional. But after a long and agonizing wait for results at other sectionals to come in, she learned that she would compete in a third event at state as well.

Sylla qualified for state individually in both the girls’ 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs and as part of the 3,200-meter relay team this past Friday in Bangor — ensuring that her decorated Indee career will end on the grand stage of Roger Harring Stadium in La Crosse.

Sylla left no doubt by placing third in the 3,200 with a time of 11:31.86 but had only managed fifth in the 1,600 earlier in the meet. Even if you finish outside the top four of your event, you can still earn a state spot if you are within the top 10 of all results from all your division’s sectionals. Sylla and her coaches figured her time of 5:07.46 in the 1,600 would be close to that cutline and, after a stomach-twisting wait, they learned that it was indeed the ninth-best mark overall from all sectionals.

“She’s definitely the best girl distance runner that Independence has ever had. She’s probably the best distance runner that Independence has ever had in general,” said I/G head coach Trent Preissner. “She’s had a very decorated career. She’s our only medalist in school history in cross country. The mile record is hers. The two-mile record is hers. She improved by eight seconds to make it in the mile with that extra qualifier spot. She ran an extremely gutsy race, running at speed that we haven’t seen her at all year.”

Sylla’s younger sister, sophomore Allie Sylla, earned an individual state berth of her own by taking fourth (2:22.89) in the 800-meter run. She’s the first Indee qualifier in that event since Bethany Halvorsen won the state title in 1997. The Sylla sisters teamed up with juniors Sophia Kampa and Anna Kent to take second (9:49.57) in the 3,200-meter relay and advance to state. Kent also placed seventh in the 3,200-meter run.

The I/G boys had sophomore Mason Severson in eighth in the high jump, junior Grant Klimek in 13th in the 800-meter run and the team of junior Zander Strain, sophomore Darion Gibbs, freshman Jaydan Harz and Klimek in 11th in the 3,200-meter relay.

The Whitehall boys are sending three qualifiers to state, headlined by junior Devin Hutsell finishing in second (41-11.25) in the triple jump. Hutsell was part of an 800-meter relay team with sophomores Karston Ausderau, Alex Semb and Kivin Juresh that posted a time of 1:31.95 to take fourth in the 800-meter relay.

Juresh had one of the standout performances of the entire meet, making it to state by placing fourth (22.83) in the 200-meter dash despite running in the first of two heats.

“Kivin had a pretty tough task with the 200 since he was in the slower of the two heats, and he needed to PR by breaking 23 seconds and win his heat in order to do it, and he did just that,” said Whitehall head coach Leah Trempe. “Devin also had a good PR yesterday in the triple jump and was the first of the day to punch his ticket to state, as well as the one on the team that placed the highest with his second-place finish. We are excited to see how all these boys elevate their performance next weekend when they get to compete with even stronger competition.”

Other results for the Whitehall boys were both the 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams taking 10th, sophomore Evander Peterson in 10th in the pole vault and 14th in the 400-meter dash, sophomore Kole Kulig placing 11th in the 800-meter run, senior Ashton Hanson in 12th in that same race and senior Caden Bacino-Hansche in 14th in the shot put.

The Whitehall girls had freshman Haley Kulig in eighth in the triple jump, sophomore Paige Lisowski in eighth in the shot put and freshman Rani Waldera in 15th in the 1,600-meter run, along with three relay teams: eighth in the 800-meter relay, 13th in the 400-meter relay and 14th in the 1,600-meter relay.

Meanwhile, the Blair-Taylor boys are sending two state qualifiers to La Crosse after senior Alex Syluga placed second (1:59.99) in the 800-meter run and fellow senior Connor Kruse took third (22.67) in the 200-meter dash.

Additionally for the Wildcats, Kruse was fifth in the 100-meter dash, junior Adam Halvorsen took 10th in the shot put and they had a team in 12th in the 1,600-meter relay.

For the Blair-Taylor girls, freshman Charlyse Horton took seventh in the triple jump and junior Brenna Thorson placed 10th in the shot put.

“Alex Syluga ran a huge PR which was needed considering the 800 was one of the closest races I’ve seen in that event. He looked relaxed yet strong during his race,” said B-T head coach Michael Lampman. “Connor Kruse has been most successful in the 200 throughout the season and he ran a strong race against a tough field of competition. He did what he needed to do to advance to the next level. We look forward to big things from them both at state.”

At last Tuesday’s Mondovi regional, Whitehall’s individual regional champions were the boys’ 800-meter relay, Juresh in the boys’ 200, Peterson in the boys’ pole vault and Lisowski in the girls’ shot put.

That same night at the Brookwood regional meet, the Blair-Taylor boys had regional champions courtesy of Kruse in the 100, Syluga in the 800 and Halvorsen in the discus throw.

The 2026 WIAA State Track & Field Championships are set to take place Friday and Saturday on the campus of UW–La Crosse.