Pioneers Take Part in Last Chance Meets

With the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships, a week away, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's and women's track and field teams went to three-different last chance meets.

First, the Pioneers sent a contingent to Madison for the Wisconsin NCAA Qualifier. Junior Chas Spangenberg made a half-inch improvement in the pole vault to raise his season-best clearance to 15-5 1/2.

Another contingent of Pioneers traveled to Ames, Iowa for the 2012 ISU Qualifier hosted by Iowa State University. Senior Ann Tank posted a season-best time of 2:10.58 in the 800-meter run. The performance by Tank currently ranks as the fourth-fastest on the season in NCAA Division III.

Senior Patrick Klein also posted a season-best time in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:52.30. The performance by Klein is the sixth-fastest on the season in NCAA Division III.

The final contingent of Pioneers to Stevens Point for the Pointer Qualifier. The Pioneer men's 4x400-meter relay team of Aaron Hrubes, Patrick Kessenich, Matthew Ziegler and Ben Farrell posted a time of 3:18.44 to move up to the 12th-fastest time in the nation to date.

Selections for the 2012 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships will be announced on Monday.