Williams sets new school record in season opener

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -- The Pioneers' Amber Williams continued where she left off from her freshman year by setting a new UW-Platteville long jump record at the UW-Platteville Open on Saturday. 

Williams already holds the Pioneers' indoor triple jump and the outdoor triple and long jump records. She broke Maria Kastner's 1997 record with a jump of 19-feet. Williams' 19-feet mark will put her on top of the national qualifying list. Williams' day didn't end in the sand pit, as she won the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.96. 

The Pioneer women's track and field team captured seven first-place finishes.

The only other field event first-place finish by the Pioneers was by freshman Zoe Gossmeyer, who won the pole vault with a mark of 9-feet-5.75-inches. 

Sophomore Chelsey Heiden won the 3,000-meter run by over 16 seconds with a time of 11:03. Senior Caitlin Thomson set a new personal-best in the 60-meter hurdles with a winning time of 9:46. 

The Pioneers dominated the relays on Saturday as the 4x200-meter relay squad of Kelsey Reed, Tess Burns, Amanda Milne and Briana Iwans took first place with a time of 1:49.96. The 4x400-meter relay team of Chelsea Delzer, Mary-Katherine Kladar, Chelsea Buchanan and Kara Linzmeier posted a top time of 4:21.75. 

UW-Platteville's men's team collected nine first-place finishes.

The Pioneer men's squad took the first five spots in the 800-meter run and the top four spots in the mile. Joel Walden won the 800-meter with a time of 1:58.57. Jason Winchel was the top finisher in the mile, crossing the finish line with a time of 4:26.53. 

Darren Hudziak posted a winning time of 52.09 seconds in the 400-meter dash, while Mitch Dowell won the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.30 seconds. 

The 4x400-meter relay squad of Adam Lange, Greg Stribling, Tim Larsen and Hudziak won with a time of 3:31.62. 

The Pioneers went 1-2-3 in the pole vault, as Garrett Riggs took first with a personal-best mark of 15-feet-11-inches. Matt Dwyer also set a new personal-best with a jump of 21-feet-4-inches to win the long jump. 

Kyle Whaley was the top thrower of the day, winning the shot put (48-feet-2.75-inches) and the weight throw (48-feet-11.75-inches). 

The Pioneers will complete against conference foes UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Stevens Point, Wis.