NORTH FOND DU LAC – Sunjaya Greenlee got a taste of the state track and field meet a season ago.
The North Fond du Lac junior never laced up her spikes, never ran a race on the maroon track or even jumped in the sand pit. She went and watched from the grandstand, race by race, as medals were placed around necks and state champions were born.
“I watched them and I watched their form and how much work they must have put in to get to that point and I just really wanted to get there too,” Greenlee said.
This year will be different for Greenlee as she’ll be quite busy after qualifying for state in the 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters and the long jump. The WIAA state track and field meet will take place on Friday, June 5 and Saturday, June 6. At the Division 2, McFarland sectional, Greenlee left as the winner in all four of those events.
“From a coaching standpoint, it’s phenomenal. No one in North Fond du Lac’s history has gone to state in four events, let alone taking first place at sectionals in all of their events as well,” North Fond du Lac coach Sara Drews said. “It’s history right there which is pretty amazing.”
On top of four first place finishes at sectionals, Greenlee broke school records in the 100 meters (12.19), 200 meters (25.19) and the long jump (18-4) at the sectional championship meet. She’s also near the top of the leaderboard in the 400 meters with a season best time of 58.81.
Greenlee entered the season primarily competing in the 100 meters, 200 meters and long jump until some of her teammates wanted to participate in the 4 x 400 relay.
“My coach put me in the 4 by 400 because other people wanted to do it. I wasn’t too happy about it, but after a while it just became part of my schedule and then she asked if I wanted to do the open 400,” Greenlee said. “The first meet, it was really hard, like I was really tired after the 400 but I also felt really good after it. I feel like it’s made me better in all of my events.”
On meet days, Greenlee’s schedule is loaded with those four events on her schedule. But she’s largely been up to the task and has won all four in five different meets.
Her success this season is no accident.
“We’re sitting there at state last year, so 365 days ago and Sunjaya was like, ‘Coach, what do I need to do to be able to be here next year?’” Drews said. “We’re like, we need you to work on your nutrition and we need you to get into the weight room and that day forward, it was not missing a weight room on Monday through Friday in summer and all through the school year.
“Look at the leaps and bounds of what she gets rewarded with. It’s incredible.”
The state track and field meet will be where Greenlee is put to the test. With qualifying finishes, she could compete in eight events over two days. Those great opportunities for high finishes also come with some personal goals.
“I want to medal in at least one of my events and I also want to try and run a 12.01 in the 100 (meters),” Greenlee said.
Greenlee celebrated her four first place finishes at sectionals, before quickly getting back to working on getting ready for state. When she returns from the bluffs of La Crosse and her first trip to state as a competitor, she’ll have plenty of time to celebrate.
“We’re heading over to Kelley’s Creamery in Eden to really celebrate, but she wants to wait until after state and so that’s something to look forward to as part of the celebration,” Drew said.
Contact or send game stats/info to Ben Schultz at BSchultz@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @benschultz52.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: North Fond Du Lac track and field’s Sunjaya Greenlee makes history with four state bids
Reporting by Ben Schultz, Oshkosh Northwestern / Oshkosh Northwestern
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
