Michelle Garner’s Quest for Three Straight Hurdle Championships Moves Forward

Michelle Garner, the two-time defending state champion in the 300-meter, will have another shot at adding to her hardware collection next weekend.

Competing in the WIAA Sectional at Wisconsin Lutheran on Thursday, the senior won the 300 hurdles in a stadium-record time of 44.47 seconds, outpacing Jenny Hagen of Piux XI, who was runner-up in 45.15, and Meredith Heller of Whitnall, who also qualified for state with a third-place time of 47.33.

Garner has . She’ll get a third shot at the title when she competes June 1-2 in La Crosse.

Garner also qualified for the state meet in the 100 hurdles, where she was third in 15.42 seconds, behind fellow seniors Elissa Sievila of South Milwaukee, who shattered a stadium record in 14.85, and Jenny Hagen of Pius XI, who was second in 15.30.

The top three place winners in each event advanced to state, as did the top-eight non-automatic qualifying times from all sectionals statewide.

Garner is the only GHS state qualifier this spring.

In addition to Heller in the girls 300 hurdles, Whitnall added another qualifier in the boys 400 dash when senior Greg Stribling ran third in 50.97.