Pioneers sending 6 to Indoor Track & Field National Championships

Written by Colten Bartholomew, UW-Platteville Sports Information Intern

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's and women's track and field teams are sending three athletes each to Lincoln, Neb., for the 2014 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships.

On the women's side, Alyssa Iserman and junior Caitlin Thomson will be competing in the high jump, while freshman Amber Williams will be contending in the long jump and triple jump events.

Iserman, a sophomore from Hazel Green, Wis., earned her way to the National Championships with her 1.70-meter (5-07.00) jump at the UW-Platteville Invitational Feb. 15. The clearance set a school record, tied the Williams Fieldhouse facility record and is tied for the second-best jump in the nation this year. At the WIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships Feb. 28, Iserman took fourth with a 1.59-meter (5-02.50) leap.

Thomson, a junior from Whitehall, Wis., punched her ticket to Lincoln at the WIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships with her 1.69-meter (5-06.50) clearance. Thomson's leap was third-best in the country this season.

Williams, a freshman from Milwaukee, Wis., has been a shining star for the Pioneers this season, as she qualified for the National Championships early in the year and has consistently improved her performances and her national rankings.

Williams set a Williams Fieldhouse facility record last weekend in the long jump with a bound of 5.72 meters (18-09.25), which ranks her sixth in the nation. In the triple jump, Williams set the school record early in the season and has improved on it twice since then. Williams' most recent record-setting performance came at the WIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, as she bounded 11.90 meters (39-00.50), good for sixth in the nation.

The men's team will be sending Jared Bradfish to compete in the pole vault, Ian LaMere to run in the 3,000- and 5,000-meter races and T.J. Valley to contend in the 60-meter hurdles.

Bradfish, a senior from Schofield, Wis., set the school record in the pole vault at the Jack Jennett Invite Jan. 31 with a 4.95-meter (16-02.75) jump, which was good for third best in the country. Bradfish will be competing in the first National Championship meet of his career.

LaMere, a sophomore from Green Bay, Wis., qualified for the two long-distance races midway through the season and is looking to become a two- or three-time All-American, as he earned that honor in the 5,000-meter race last season. He posted the sixth-best time of the year in the 5,000 (14:23.57) and the 15th-best time in the 3,000 (8:17.27).

Valley, a senior from Prairie du Chien, Wis., is attempting to earn his third All-American honor in the 60-meter hurdles. Valley tied the school record and set the WIAC championship meet record with his 8.08-second performance last week. Valley has the fifth-best time in the nation in the event.

The NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field National Championships begin Friday at 11 a.m.

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