Bloomer’s triplet-led track quartet running with purpose
· Yahoo Sports
BLOOMER — If you’ve been to La Crosse for the Wisconsin state high school track and field championships over the last two years, you might have been seeing triple.
Visit newsbetting.cv for more information.
Dressed in Bloomer orange, junior Blackhawk triplets Ciara, Briella and Aliya Hartman, along with junior Sophie Strand, have captured back-to-back state titles in the 4x800-meter relay. La Crosse is well in their sights again this year, as they hope to leave with their third title in three years.
“They saw success their freshmen year and they decided, ‘Wow, we want to do this again and again,’” Bloomer coach Carla Favilla said. “They want to go down in history.”
In 2024, the Hartmans and Strand won state with a time of 9 minutes, 23.18 seconds.
Last year, they upped the ante even more, setting a new state Division 2 record of 9:18.14.
“As freshmen, we kind of just went out and did our best. There weren’t many expectations or pressures,” Ciara said. “After winning and coming back sophomore year, we were like, ‘We want to defend our title,’ but we had a little bit more pressure.”
Another state record seems achievable for the Hartmans and Strand, who’ve pushed one another through all the pressure they’ve faced over the years.
With three brothers growing up, Strand instantly drew to sports. After meeting the Hartmans in seventh grade, she seamlessly fit in the Hartman sisterhood.
“It’s been really special,” Strand said. “I never could have imagined this.”
“She definitely fits in right away,” Aliya said. “We’re just really similar people and get along really well in school and sports.”
“Sometimes if the three of us are getting a little bit too competitive, Sophie can kind of be like that mediator,” Briella said.
“She’s always positive so it helps blend (us) all together,” Ciara said.
The Hartman triplet connection has extended to Strand over the last two years.
“It’s special when you’re doing it for your team and not just for yourself,” Strand said. “It adds that extra level of wanting to do your best.”
“We’re running for something greater than our own split or relay,” Ciara said. “The connection we have amongst all the girls just makes you want to work that much harder, get that much quicker so you can do it for the better good of the relay team.”
“It makes track overall seem like less of an individual sport,” Briella said.
Individually, the Hartmans and Strand aren’t too shabby either.
Ciara won state in last year’s 1,600-meter, running a new personal record 4:54.63. She also won the 2024 3,200-meter.
They’ve already hit the ground running this year. Ciara recently set meet records in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter at the Stout Elite event last Thursday, helping lead the Blackhawk girls to the meet win.
Just a week prior, the Hartmans and Strand set the Johnson Fieldhouse ablaze, as they took home wins in the 200, 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at the Northern Badger Classic.
“This year, we talked about staying the course,” Favilla said. “We just make sure that we stick with what we do.”
“It’s in the back of all of our minds getting our 800 time to where it needs to be for the relay later this spring,” Briella said.
“The pressure builds every year,” Strand said.
The quartet’s end goal, resetting the state record books with a third straight state relay title, will have to wait until June to be achieved.
“All of them have that drive to succeed and put in the work,” Favilla said. “They’re all selfless. They work together, cheer each other on and help pick each other up.”
“Ultimately it comes down to the last few weeks of the year, sectionals, regionals and state,” Aliya said. “We just need to make sure that we’re healthy and strong for the most important races. We know what we’re capable of.”
“The biggest thing is trusting in the process,” Ciara said. “Continue to show up every day and do the things that you need to do for just that day. Then, as that builds up, we know that it’s kind of shaping us for our end goal.”