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June 6, 2018
By David Nordby & Pat Rigoni The Brillion News
LA CROSSE – Four Hilbert girls etched their names into the school record book as they earned two state championships at last weekend’s WIAA State Track and Field Championships in La Crosse.
Veronica Thiel (sophomore), Shania Schmitz (senior), Megan Lau (senior) and Makaylee Kuhn (junior) broke the Hilbert record in the 4×800-meter relay with a time of 9:47.72. No one was close to them in the heat; second place Auburndale was nearly 17 seconds behind.
The four followed that performance by earning a state championship in the 4×400-meter relay with a time of 4:05.96. Auburndale was behind them with a time of 4:06.58.
“It’s just an amazing way to end my four years of track,” Schmitz said. “I have no words. It’s just awesome.”
Her fellow 2018 graduate carried the same sentiment.
“It feels great to go out strong. Obviously a lot of us don’t like 800s so it’s a great way to end it,” Lau said.
Thiel was the first runner of the group and said that her nerves went away after she started.
“I was so nervous at first, but once I got out there I was like, ‘This is going to be my race,’” she said. “We had it.”
After the 4×400, the group was high on emotions.
“I don’t even know if I have actual words to explain what I’m feeling,” Schmitz said. “I’m on the verge of happy tears, and oh my god, it’s my last senior run and wow I took first in two and I have gold.”
The group concurred that it was a team effort like it was all season as the four ran well together.
“We couldn’t have done it without anyone else but these four,” Lau said.
Like Friday, Thiel started the 4×400 off and put the team in a strong position.
“It’s so amazing just to go out there and start off the race and then just watch my team go for the gold and finish it,” she said. Schmitz was second, and the field was still close at that point.
Please see the complete story with coverage of all of last weekend’s area track competitors in the June 7, 2018 edition of The Brillion News.