East's Kilpin disappointed with state performance

Calling it his worst meet of the season, Wauwatosa East senior Max Kilpin had a disappointing performance at last weekend's WIAA State Track & Field Tournament at Memorial Stadium at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Kilpin's career-best high jump of 6 feet, 9 inches at the Madison Relays on March 31 was second only to Rice Lake's Wally Ellensen's 7-1 from the Richmond Regional on May 21 going into the meet.

While Ellenson earned a state championship Friday with a jump of 6-10, Kilpin finished sixth with a jump of 6-4, finishing behind Sawyer Smith of La Crosse Central (6-8¼), Logan Hovie of Neenah (6-4), Joe Schobert of Waukesha West (6-4) and Brett Pozolinski of Kimberly (6-4).

"It was definitely not my best day of the year," Kilpin said afterward. "I'm really disappointed. My approach just wasn't on and I wasn't prepared enough for much of a wait there would be between jumps."

Kilpin hadn't lost a meet all season before competing last weekend.

"I definitely could have done better. It was easily my worst meet of the year," he said. "And it's really too bad, because I felt fine (physically). So much of the high jump is form and technical things and if you're just a little bit off on one thing it just throws everything off for the rest of the day."

Tosa East coach Jake Wolter looked past Kilpin's performance and back over his career.

"Although Max was very disappointed with his final result this past weekend, he had one of the best high school track and field careers Tosa East has seen in awhile," he said. "(He is) a-three time state qualifier in the high jump and school record holder (His 6-9 jump beat Tony Smith).

"He also will be getting college paid for at Marquette University. I am so proud of the way Max competed this year. Coach (Tim) Reichelt (jumps coach) and Max had a great relationship and they really worked well together."