Fractions of a Second Play Pivotal Role at WIAC Track and Field Championships for UW-Platteville

Fractions of a second played a significant role in the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's track and field participation at the WIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday and Saturday.

Junior Ben Farrell won the 400-meter dash by two hundredths of a second in a time of 49.01. He is the first Pioneer to win the event since the event went to the 400-meter dash in 1989. Farrell also was the anchor of the runner-up 4x400-meter relay that just edged UW-Whitewater for second place honors in a time of 3:20.18.

In the mile, senior Patrick Klein was edged by Dan Sullivan of UW-Stevens Point by 21 hundredths of a second in a time of 4:08.44. The winning performance eclipsed the seven-year old conference championship record held by former Pioneer standout Ryan Klimenhagen. Klein was also the runner-up in the 3,000-meter run in a time of 8:26.01.

Sophomore T.J. Valley was second in the 60-meter hurdles in a time of 8.17, just four hundredths of a second behind the winner. Teammate junior Aaron Loferski was sixth in a time of 8.42.

Junior Aaron Hrubes had a busy weekend with a third-place finish in the 60-meter dash (6.94) and seventh in the 200-meter dash (22.66). He also was the lead leg in the Pioneers' 4x200-meter relay that finished third and the lead leg on the runner up 4x400-meter relay.

Junior Jordan Olp was sixth in the 200-meter dash in a time of 22.61 and joined Hrubes on the third place 4x200-meter relay. Freshman Dan LaCroix was eighth and the top rookie in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:17.81. The Pioneers' distance medley relay team of Jordan Joaquin, Matt Ziegler, Matt Kocak and Scott Clark were fifth in a time of 10:21.51.

In the field events, senior Jake Wiederholt was fifth in the shot put with a heave of 53-8 1/4 and junior Jared Bradfish was fifth in the pole vault with a clearance of 15-2 3/4. Plus, sophomore Ace McCarty was sixth in the high jump with a clearance of 6-6.

At the conclusion of the meet, senior Jacob Dailey was named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team for his display of exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season.

The Pioneers' 4x400-meter relay team of Deidre Dillman, Carshella Porter, Stephanie Wyss and Ann Tank became the first team in school history to win a conference title in the event. The team posted a UW-Stout Johnson Fieldhouse Record time of 3:55.37. All four women were busy throughout the weekend.

Tank was second in the 800-meter run (2:16.36) and third in the mile (5:08.04). Dillman was fourth in the 400-meter dash in a time of 58.08 and Porter was fifth in the 60-meter dash in a time of 7.89. Both Porter and Dillman teamed up with Brena Smithson and Jackie Cahill to finish fifth in the 4x200-meter relay.

In the field events, newcomers Caitlin Thomson and Mary Katherine Kladar were sixth (5-2 1/4) and seventh (5-0 1/4), respectively in the high jump.

Junior Keturah Vangen was seventh in the pentathlon with 2,766 points. She picked up key points with a second-place finish in the 800-meter run, fifth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles and a tie for sixth in the high jump.

At the end of the meet, a pair of Pioneers picked up additional honors. Megan Bruckschen was named to the All-Sportsmanship Team.

Plus, Ann Tank received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award. The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman who served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she functioned as Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from October 1984 - September 1996. In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average. In addition, she must be in her last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.