End of Regular Season Riddled with Weather Woes

For the final week of the regular season, the track and field teams split their squad between the Drake Relays and the UW-whitewater Drake Alternative meet. Rain and unseasonably cold weather hampered the performances in both meets as a few athletes were able to persevere past the rough conditions.

At the Drake Relays Amber Williams competed in the triple jump for the first time this season. She was able to jump 11.87m (38-11) on her second attempt. The mark rank lead the WIAC and ranks eighth in Division III. Williams also competed in the long jump finishing 11^th with a leap of 5.52m (18-1.5). Also competing in an individual event was Kyle Whaley. He finished 12^th in the shot put with a throw of 15.73m (51-7.25).

At the UW-Whitewater Drake Alternative meet Wyatt Thompson was the lone winner for the Pioneers. Returning to the track after being sidelined by a hamstring injury, he won the 400m in 50.38.

Freshman hurdler Matthew Hokanson finished second in the 110 hurdles running a personal best 15.65 in the preliminaries and improving to 15.49 in the finals.

In the distance events, Kyle Herbrand finished third in the 5,000m crossing the finish in 15:47.78, Ben Rhode finished fourth in the 800m with a time of 2:00.92, and Chelsey Heiden finished third in the 1500 with a time of 4:57.19.

Another third place finish came from Rachel Beuthin in the shot put. Her best throw of 12.57m (41-3) came in the third round. Fellow thrower Briana Hall showed a big improvement finishing fourth in the javelin throw. Her second round throw of 30.72m (100-9) placed her fourth and qualified her to the conference meet in the event.

The Pioneers host the WIAC Championships next week on Friday, May 5^th and Saturday, May 6^th.