Arnold and Williams Shine at UW-Eau Claire Triangular

 EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The nationally ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville track and field teams continued their season at the UW-Eau Claire Triangular Saturday.

Sophomore Dan Arnold began the day with a school record in the 55m Hurdle prelims with his 7.58 time. The record had previously been set by Chip Schneider, UW-Eau Claire's current head track coach. Arnold's time converts to a 8.17 in the 60m Hurdles which ranks him third on the national list. Arnold came back to win the hurdle finals in 7.69.

"Dan never seizes to amaze me." said hurdle coach Andres Young. "After a more tiring week than last, he was able to come in, break a 22-year-old school record, and essentially secure his spot at the national meet."

Junior Amber Williams also went a long way in securing her spot at the national meet by leaping to a fieldhouse record and national leading triple jump of 39 feet 5.25 inches (12.02m). Williams is also ranked fourth in Division 3 in the the long jump with last week's performance.

Jumping herself into fifth place in the national rankings, Alyssa Iserman bettered last week's mark with her 5 foot 6 inch (1.68m) high jump. Her effort placed her second in the meet behind a fieldhouse record jump of 5 foot 8.5 inch (1.74m), set by UW-Eau Claire's Sarah Glidden.

The pioneers dominated the 800 meters with Adam Lange and Ben Rhode claiming the 1-2 spots. Lange took the lead in the first lap and never gave it up. Lange and Rhode ran 1:58.76 and 1:59.25 respectively. On the women's side Devan Montgomery edged for the win with a time of 2:25.38, less than two tenths of a second ahead of Stevens Point's Sarah Vils.

One of the closest finishes of the day came from freshman Wyatt Thomson winning the 200m by two hundredths of a second in a time of 23.00.

In the women's 3,000 meter, the pioneer duo of Chelsey Heiden and Kiera Depies took the 1-2 spots with times of 10:50.05 and 10:57.06 respectively.

The first two spots of the men's pole vault were also claimed by the pioneers with Garrett Riggs and Matt Dwyer tying for the win with a pair of 15 foot 5.5 inch vaults. Riggs and Dwyer are currently sharing the number 8 ranking on the national list.

Matt Brendemihl was able to improve from last week's performance with a triple jump of 45 feet 5 inches. Brendemihl currently holds the leading mark in the WIAC.

The Pioneers will be back in action at home next week. The UW-Platteville select meet will begin with the field events at noon on Saturday, Jan. 30.