LA CROSSE — Cadott High School senior Iszy Sonnentag will not have an opportunity to defend all three of her state track and field titles this year. But she still has a chance to do something special this weekend.
Sonnentag, a North Dakota State commit, will be shooting for her fourth consecutive state championship in the 400-meter dash.
Sonnentag is among a large group of area athletes set to compete at the Wisconsin state track and field meet Friday and Saturday at UW-La Crosse’s Roger Harring Stadium.
Slowed by an ankle issue this spring, Sonnentag is focusing solely on the 400 in her final prep season.
She ran one of the best times of her career, clocking a time of 55.84 seconds to win Friday’s Division 3 Sectional qualifier. She edged Maggie Wooten of Frederic by just .15 of a second.
“It has been a struggle for Iszy dealing with the injury and all of the other adversity this season,” Cadott coach Pat Rothbauer said. “She has been gifted with a lot of talent, but it is her work ethic and incredible mental toughness that have helped her achieve everything. She can really dig deep during the most painful part of the race.”
Sonnentag set the state 400 record of 54.99 seconds in last year’s prelims in La Crosse. She is a five-time state champion in track and field.
Sonnentag also won state titles in the 100 hurdles and long jump last year, but is not competing in those events this season while being limited by her injury.
But she’s been running well recently while concentrating on her best race.
“Iszy is ready to go,” her coach said. “She’s been looking good in practice.”
Menomonie senior standout Lauren McCalla, a University of Washington commit, is looking to win a pair of state titles this weekend.
McCalla was second in the 800 and 1,600 last year at state. She is one of the favorites to win both events this year.
McCalla won a state cross country title last fall.
The Bloomer girls team, led by the Hartman triplets, has an opportunity to contend for a team title in Division 2.
Ciara, Briella and Aliya Hartman are back, along with fellow junior Sophie Strand. That quartet is looking to win state in the 4×800 for the third straight year. They set a state record last season in La Crosse.
Ciara Hartman also will look to repeat as champion in the 1,600. She won the 3,200 title in 2024.
Eau Claire North senior Kenton Mondeau, an Indiana football commit, is expected to contend in the boys discus in Division 1. Mondeau won sectionals with a throw of 178 feet, five inches.
North junior Cayden Caldwell finished a distant second at the sectional in 162-2.
