On the first day of competition at the WIAA State Track and Field Championships, seniors Jack Hefty and Traysen Thomason delivered standout performances for their team.
Traysen was the first to take the stage, lining up in Heat 1 of the 100m dash. Despite a slight stumble out of the blocks, he quickly regained his stride, showcasing his top-end speed and determination. He surged to a second-place finish in his heat and ultimately qualified fifth overall—securing a coveted spot in Saturday’s final.
Next on the track was the highly anticipated 1600 meters, where Jack Hefty sought to defend his state title for a third consecutive year. With championships already under his belt as a sophomore and junior, the field gave him due respect, resulting in a cautious opening lap of 1:11.20. Sitting back in 8th, Jack remained calm and poised.
As the pace began to build, so did Jack’s momentum. He worked his way up to 3rd by the halfway point, clocking a 63.26 second lap. The third lap was decisive—Jack surged into 2nd and then powered down the homestretch to take the lead with a 61.75 split.
Now in front, he faced a major threat: Joseph Hunt of Green Bay Notre Dame, a dangerous 800m specialist (and eventual 800m state champion). But Jack didn’t flinch. As they entered the final bend, he began to pull away. Fueled by adrenaline and roars from the crowd, Jack delivered a devastating final lap of 57.58 to cross the line in 4:13.78.
His closing 1200 meters of 3:02.58 was a dominant display of strength and tactical brilliance. With this win, Jack becomes just the fifth athlete in the 126-year history of the state meet—across all divisions—to win the 1600 meters three times. A legendary finish to a storied high school career.
Later that afternoon, Traysen returned for the 200m prelims. This time, he got out clean and charged through the curve with power and precision. Exploding into the straightaway, he crossed the line second in his heat with a new personal best—and tied the school record of 22.04, originally set by Larry Gnatzig in 1971. Heading into the final, Traysen is seeded third and primed to make more noise on championship Saturday.
On Saturday, Traysen will compete in the finals of the 100 and 200, while Jack will suit up one more time and compete in the 3200m run.
Full results can be found here: https://live.pttiming.com/?mid=7650
Article and Photos Courtesy of Chad Carstens
Whitewater High School Assistant Track and Field Coach
ccarstens@wwusd.org
