LA CROSSE − Confidence and a little bit of determination went a long way for Xavier's Lilie Fouts and Fox Valley Lutheran's Emma Nilson on Friday.
Fouts and Nilson captured individual state titles within 15 minutes of each other at the WIAA Division 2 state track and field championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium Complex. Fouts won the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4 minutes, 49.05 seconds and Nilson captured the shot put title with a throw of 41 feet, 3.5 inches.
The duo finished as the only state champs of the day for the Post-Crescent coverage area.
Lilie Fouts finds elusive gold medal
The Division 2 1,600 featured three-time defending state champ Nora Gremban. The Northland Pines senior has gotten the better of Fouts at the state meet, with Fouts finishing fourth last year (5:02.35), sixth in 2022 (5:10.86) and fifth her freshman year (5:04.48).
That changed Friday. Fouts and Gremban pulled away from the rest of the field as they entered the third lap of the four-lap race.
"I was just really confident the whole race and I knew that if I was with someone with 400 to go that I was going to get them," Fouts said. "So I just wanted to hold on to get to that front pack in site so I could do my close for the 400."
Fouts made her move in the fourth lap, eclipsing Gremban and utilizing a spirited final kick to preserve her first individual gold.
"I guess going in I had nothing to lose," Fouts said. "But really it was just the confidence. I found a lot more self-confidence this year. I raced against Nora at Arrowhead in the 2-mile and I had a similar close where I was able to close hard the last 400 and put everyone away. Just the confidence knowing I did that earlier in the season gave me the confidence to do it again today."
Fouts' smile as she crossed the finish line was undeniable and she said the wave of emotions was "huge."
Was it relief? Excitement? It was a mix of both for Fouts, who was determined to reverse her fortune in the event. Her time came less than a second away from setting the D2 state meet record. Ashley Beutler of Belleville/New Glarus holds the record with a time of 4:48.37.
"I remember talking to you after my freshman year here in La Crosse and I just think I told you I was going to go to the Paris Olympics, which didn’t happen but I knew for sure that I wanted to get a state title," Fouts said. "So I know freshman me would have been really proud."
Fouts also drew inspiration from her parents.
"I know both my parents were really excited and I could hear both of them the whole time, which is kind of hard because there’s so many people. But their voices are really distinct," she said. "And before the race I was talking to my mom and she was getting all emotional because I knew she wanted it just as much as me. And she says that whenever I run past her she says a prayer for me. Their support is amazing."
Hobby turns into shot put crown for Emma Nilson
Nilson's exploits on the volleyball court are well known.
The 6-foot-1 Middle Tennessee State volleyball recruit terrorized opponents this past fall and was a first-team Wisconsin Volleyball Coaches Association all-state selection in Division 2. She was also the North Eastern Conference's player of the year and finished with 341 kills and 91 total blocks in helping FVL to a 36-7 record.
Throwing shot put and discus in the spring? That started as just a "hobby" for Nilson.
"I started my sophom*ore year," she said of her beginnings in shot and discus. "It was just a total hobby and something my parents did. I just picked it up for fun."
Nilson ended up excelling at both and on Friday rattled off top throw after top throw. She recorded her eventual winning throw on her third attempt (41-3.5) but also had throws over 40 feet in five of her six attempts. She bettered second-place Natalie Backhaus' effort (39-3) by more than two feet.
"I definitely was gaining confidence as I came into the state meet," Nilson said. "So that was a really good place for me to be and a really good mindset to have. I had a lot of confidence."
That confidence was built week-by-week this spring and Nilson said she had "high hopes for this season."
Division 1 state track recap:Hortonville's Smith places second at state in Division 1 discus; Neenah's Gentile takes second in long jump
Nilson has a chance to add to her shot put medal by competing in the discus Saturday.
"I knew what I was capable of, but this is such a blessing and I'm really glad to be here," she said. "I'm so grateful. It's been a long journey and a lot of laughs. Throwing has given me really great memories to add to the volleyball side of my life."
Freedom's Claire Helmila second in D2 800
Claire Helmila admits her track season didn't start on a positive note.
Just a few months later the Freedom junior found herself finishing second in the Division 2 800 with a time of 2:13.81. Helmila pushed defending state champ Meredith Richter of Medford in the final lap, who won the event with a time of 2:12.05.
"Starting out the season it started out a little rough. I was going through some struggles mentally and physically," Helmila said. "To be able to come back and take second, I didn’t see that happening, but that’s something that God can do I guess. It was awesome. Such a great experience."
Helmila said she's ready to put in the work to defend her 800 title.
"I think definitely continue to work on my speed," she said. "All these events are very much speed based. That was my big jump this year, was working a little bit more on speed. Hopefully next year getting a little faster and a little stronger."
Wega-Fremont's Billington also earns silver
Weyauwega-Fremont sophom*ore Broc Billington was extremely close to an early exit in the D3 boys triple jump competition Friday.
Billington scratched on his first two jumps, but rallied to record a leap of 43-10.75 on this third attempt. That put him in second place and into the finals where he had an additional pair of scratches sandwiched around a leap of 42-11.
Billington was unable to catch Edgar junior Teegan Streit, who had a leap of 44-11.5 on his first prelim attempt and held on throughout the rest event for the gold.
Also on the podium
Freedom's Madison Schaper was third in the D2 shot put with a throw of 39-0.25. She joined the Winneconne boys 3,200 relay team of Ben Harmon, Silas Sarbo, Reid Cross and Grant Wenzelow who were also third in their event with a time of 8:02.86.
Freedom's Evelyn Wall placed fourth in the D2 long jump with a leap of 17-8.5.
Winneconne senior Sophie Yetter was fifth in the 800 (2:16.63) and the 1,600 (4:59.34). Other fifth-place finishers included Freedom's Jack Steinbarth in the D2 boys pole vault (13-6) and Winneconne's Brady Immel in the D2 boys discus (166-5).
Immel's teammate Hudson Samolinski was sixth in the D2 discus with a throw of 164-9 as was Brillion's Addie Wenzel in the D2 girls long jump (17-6.75).
In the top 10
Little Chute's Lauren Wegand was seventh in the D2 girls 800 (2:16.99) with the Mustangs' Tyler Fischer ninth in the D2 boys triple jump (43-5).
St. Mary Catholic's Lauren Ripley and Nolie Anderson also finished 10th in their respective events, Ripley in the D3 girls 1,600 (5:18.78) and Anderson in the girls shot put (35-11.75).
Shiocton's Joey Hess was seventh in the D3 boys discus (150-3) with Karissa Birch 10th in the D3 girls long jump (16-6.5).
