Pioneers set records in Day 2 of WIAC Championships

The Pioneer men scored a program record 116 points at this year’s WIAC Championships. The men finished fourth behind UW-La Crosse’s 201 points, host UW-Whitewater’s 141.5 points and UW-Oshkosh’s 130 points. The Pioneer women scored a better than expected 62.66, the second highest score for the women’s program in the past 10 years. The women finished seventh overall ahead of UW-River Falls’ 11.5 points. UW-La Crosse took the team title with 238 points.

May 7, 2016

The Pioneer men scored a program record 116 points at this year's WIAC Championships. The men finished fourth behind UW-La Crosse's 201 points, host UW-Whitewater's 141.5 points and UW-Oshkosh's 130 points. The Pioneer women scored a better than expected 62.66, the second highest score for the women's program in the past 10 years. The women finished seventh overall ahead of UW-River Falls' 11.5 points. UW-La Crosse took the team title with 238 points.

The highlight of day two came with a record setting run by Dan Arnold in the 110m hurdles. Arnold ran a school record, WIAC Championship record, all-time WIAC best, and national leading 13.93 second race. With that run Arnold became the 10th fastest 110-meter hurdler in Division III history.

The women's hurdle school record was also broken a few minutes prior to Arnold's run. Amber Williams dropped a half second from her previous best to finish fourth in a school record 14.67. Williams also bettered her triple jump school record to 40-11.5 (12.48m). The mark was better than the previous championship record held by UW-La Crosse's Bria Halama. Halama bettered her championship record to take the lead from Williams with a 41-5.25 (12.63m) jump. Williams earned another second place finish in the high jump. Williams cleared 5-5.25 (1.66m) along with winner Kasey Ederer from UW-Oshkosh but Ederer beat Williams on misses.

The final Champion for the Pioneers was crowned in the 5,000-meter run. Ian LaMere pulled away from the field to claim the second win in two days. LaMere crossed the finish in 14:39.96.

Kyle Whaley threw a personal best 55-7 (16.94m) in the shot put to finish second. Whaley led the competition until the fifth round of throws when UW-Eau Claire's Alex Mess threw a season best 57-7 (17.55m). Whaley finished ahead of current national leader Zach Baehman from UW-Oshkosh and indoor shot put national champion Theron Baumann from UW-Whitewater.

Also exceeding expectations to finish second was freshman Wyatt Thompson in the 400m. Thompson came into the Championships with the fourth best time but bettered his time over the weekend by a full second. Thompson crossed the finish in 47.81, currently the 11th best time in the nation.

Thompson anchored the Pioneer's 4x400 meter relay to a second place finish. Alec Burcham, Paul Rapp, and Adam Lange joined Thompson to a 3:16.41 finish..

The Women's 4x400 meter relay was led by Williams and included Briana Iwans, Amanda Milne, and Devan Montgomery. The lady Pioneers battled their way into third place with a season best time of 3:53.53.

Brooke Higbee and Matt Dwyer were named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship team while Allison Wells was nominated as a Scholar-Athlete.

The Pioneers will have a few more weeks of qualifying meets before finalizing their season at the NCAA Championships on May 26-28 at Wartburg College.