EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) – Fall Creek girls track is back in action following a stellar 2023 season.

The Crickets took home the WIAA Division 3 Girls Track and Field Championship last season. Thanks to five top-3 finishes, the squad piled up 55 team points, well ahead of 2nd place Lancaster and Chequamegon with 28.

Now, they enter the season looking to prove last year was no fluke. The team has a new leader at the helm as Carla Rubeck has become the team’s head coach following multiple years as a volunteer assistant. She has plenty of talent to work with as the Crickets bring back three individual state qualifiers and two legs of each of the teams’ three state-qualifying relays.

“I think that we all try to put it aside and just like have a new year, have a new season because it is a new season,” says sophomore Rebecca Sturz who placed 4th in the 100 meter dash last season as well as earning gold medals on the 4×100 and 4×200 meter relays.

The team realizes they now have the target on their back as reigning state-champions, but are not letting it distract from its goals.

“Doing what I did last year would be an absolute dream again, but I know that every other girl competing has the same goal, so we’re just going to try and do my best,” says Alena Sanfelippo, who claimed three gold medals in the pole vault and sprint relays.

Fall Creek knows they have a long season ahead, but hope that this season can once again end atop the podium.

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