Pioneers qualify three for nationals at WIAC championship
LA CROSSE, Wis. – The women qualified three athletes for nationals and the men took home a number of individual and team medals in an impressive outdoor track and field showing on Friday and Saturday. The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Track and Field Championships was held at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex in La Crosse, Wis. The Pioneer women’s team took sixth place overall with a total of 74.5 points and the men took seventh with 54.
Written by: Jeremy Williamson, Sports Information Student Assistant
LA CROSSE, Wis. – The women qualified three athletes for nationals and the men took home a number of individual and team medals in an impressive outdoor track and field showing on Friday and Saturday. The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Track and Field Championships was held at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex in La Crosse, Wis. The Pioneer women's team took sixth place overall with a total of 74.5 points and the men took seventh with 54.
While Chelsey Heiden had a very productive day earning fourth in the 5000-meter run (18:41.76) and second in the 10,000-meter run (38:10.43), she fell short of qualifying for nationals. A three-way tie earned two athletes positions on the national stage in the high jump. Alyssa Iserman earned second, while Amber Williams took third at 1.69 meters (5-06.5), the same height as the first place finisher who took less leaps than the Pioneers. Williams continued her success taking first in the long jump at 5.97 meters (19-07.00) and second in the triple jump at 12.39 meters (40-07.75). She holds the top seed for long jump and qualified for nationals in the triple as well at the No. 2 seed. Emily Kjos took the gold medal in javelin with a toss of 43.03 meters (141-02), which earned her an 11-seed on the national stage.
Jason Henkins and Ian LaMere found success in the long distance races. Henkins took silver in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:56.11 while LaMere took second in the 10,000, crossing the finish line at 31:04.25. Newcomer freshman Dan Arnold took third in the 110-meter hurdles with a 14.48-second finish. The 4x100-meter quad of Mitch Dowell, Trevor Whitehead, Brandon Navin and Caleb Mertens took home the silver medal with a relay time of 41.89 seconds. Daniel Poh continued his specialty at javelin with a first place throw of 57.25 meters (187-10).
The Pioneers will travel to Naperville, Ill. on May 7 to compete at the Dr. Keeler Invitational.