Experience key for Wauwatosa East girls

Wauwatosa East girls track coach Nancy Braidigan has plenty of returning talent to work around this year, plus a quantity of newcomers who could help out.

Notable returning runners were state qualifiers senior Jordy Schmitt, juniors Natalie Schudrowitz, Carly Manning and Hailey Krahn and sophomores Lauren Dillon and Lindsey Govan.

"We have more girls out this year than we have had in a long time," Braidigan said. "It is going to take a while to figure out what we really have though, seeing as over half of them are new to track this year.

Track might be a new gig for some of the newcomers, but Braidigan feels there is talent in that group.

"A lot of our newbies are sophomores giving track a go along with one of the largest freshman groups we have had in a four years," she said. "Pretty sure we have a few gems in there somewhere."

Braidigan is not as worried about current results, but more so on getting ready for the outdoor season.

"With such a short indoor season we are focusing more on results we will get in mid-April," she said. "Also because it has become clear this last week who worked out this winter and who didn't so we have a little work to do before expecting too much."

Braidigan and her staff are happy to get the season started.

"We're excited to see what this season holds for us," she said.

The Red Raiders opened the season with a triangular at West Allis Central on March 12 and then took part in the Nelson/Daniel at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater on Saturday.

Tosa East Raiders finished third (62 points) in the West Allis Central Triangular behind Whitnall (40) and Central (54).

Tosa East had six first-place finishes, as Reina Anderson led the way by taking first in the 55-meter dash (8.0) and the 200 (29.8).

Erin Hunt was first in the 400 (1:13.30) and second in the 55 (8.0), Schudrowitz won the 1600 (5:35.70) and Schmidt won the 800 (2:34.80).

The 4x400 relay of Schudrowitz, Manning, CeCe Uhrich and Schmidt also took first (4:43.8). Manning won the high jump (4-feet, 6 inches) and took second in the 800 (2:50.9).

Tosa East got second-place performances from Krahn in the shot put (29-9½), Marissa Wurster in the triple jump (26-3), the 4x800 relay (11:45) of Margaret Deflieze, Ali Piepenburg, Kayla Klein and Sally Rohrer and the 4-lap relay (1:39.3).

At the Nelson/Daniel Classic over the weekend, Schudrowitz led the way by winning the 800 (2:24.34).

Other top 20 finishes saw Schmidt taking 11th in the 1600 (5:45.80), Manning 13th in the high jump (4-8), Elizabeth Johnson 16th in the 400 (1:07.24) and Krahn 19th in the shot put (29-4).

The Red Raiders finished 20th with 10 points. Cary-Grove won the event (65.5) nipping Milwaukee King (64).

The girls now travel to Waukesha South for an invitational Saturday.