Pioneers tune-up at UD Spartan Invitational
On Friday, Feb. 16 the UW-Platteville track and field team traveled to the University of Dubuque for the Spartan Invitational for one last tune up before the WIAC Indoor Championships next week. Teams attending included University of Dubuque, Cornell College, Loras, Luther, Simpson, Augustana, and Clarke.
Rodrick McMiller won the 200m dash, bettering his personal time earlier this season by running 22.36 seconds. Ryan Swanson took fifth place with a season best time of 23.12 seconds, and freshman Zach Frei finished in sixth place with 23.16 seconds. Riley Bendorf achieved an indoor personal best in the 400m dash running 51.64 seconds to take eighth place.
Running for fifth place in the women's 55m dash, junior Chenoa Stuhr ran 7.58 seconds. Stuhr took sixth place in the 200m dash running 26.73.
In the 800m run, Zach Lee won with a personal best time of 1:55.72. Also running a personal best was Nolan Wallenkamp taking eighth place with 1:58.82. A pair of Pioneers lead the 3,000m run. Logan Steinhoff and Alex Clark ran for first and second place respectively. Steinhoff ran 8:55.14, while Clark a personal best time of 8:56.79. Isaac Schuetz and Matthew Smith also ran personal bests in the 3,000m to finish in fifth and seventh place respectively.
Freshman Kaitlyn Galgon won the women's 800m run, crossing the line at 2:23.06. Katie Wardinski finished in third place in the mile with a personal best time of 5:21.42. Also running a personal best, Camille Felton ran for second place in the 3,000m finishing in 11;07.04.
In the 55 hurdle finals, two Pioneers took third place in their respective races. Charlie Gifford ran in 7.74 seconds and Katie Schilling finished in 8.72 seconds.
The men's 4x400m relay team of Bendorf, Matt Hokanson, Blake DeMunck, and Kyle Buechner ran for third place following the lead of two national qualifying caliber team Loras and Augustana. The Pioneers ran 3:28.34. The women's 4x400m relay team of Kirstie Ramsey, Katherine Holter, Kayla Schneider, and Madi Shafer ran for first place with a time of 4:18.88.
Noah Steiner cleared 2.03m (6-8) in the high jump to win the event. Steiner's clearance sits at No. 10 on the national qualifying list. The Pioneer men continued to soar above the bars in the pole vault. Josh Miller won the event clearing a new personal best of 4.65m (15-3). Cody Faust finished in second place clearing also a personal best of 4.50m (14-9).
In the women's pole vault, junior Brittany Ehlen continued to better her own school record by clearing 3.72m (12-2.5). Ehlen's mark places her on the national qualifying list at No. 10. Freshman Jordan Meciej took fourth place with 3.12m (10-2.75).
McMiller bettered his long jump mark jumping 6.90m (22-7.75) for second place. James Kerns jumped 12.70m (41-8) for third place in the men's triple jump. For the Pioneer women, Antgetina Bean took seventh with a personal best jump 4.99m (16-4.5).
In the throws, sophomore Cole Eastlick threw 14.63m (48-0) for fourth place in the shot put. Teammate Alexander Walechka threw a personal best mark of 15.91m (52-2.5) for fourth place in the weight throw.
With a throw of 13.45m (44-1.5), sophomore Rachel Beuthin won the women's shot put. Beuthin's previous mark this season of 13.84m (45-5) currently places her on No. 7 on the national qualifying list. Brianna Hall threw for fifth place with a personal best 12.08m (39-7.75). In weight throw, senior Cierra Clay threw a personal best 14.71m (48-3.25) for seventh place.
Next weekend, the Pioneer track and field team travels to Stevens Point, WI for the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. The two-day event will begin Friday, Feb. 23 and conclude Saturday, Feb. 24.