Men's Track Takes First Place at Wash U. Mini Meet

ST. LOUIS, Mo.  – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville track & field teams opened the outdoor season on Friday at the Washington University (Mo.) Mini Meet. 

The men's team took first place with 261.16 points out of seven teams as Loras taking second with 110.33 points. The women's team finished fifth with 107 points as Wheaton College claimed first place with 147 points. 

The Pioneers swept the top three spots in the 5,000-meter run as freshman Ian LaMere led the way crossing the finish line with a time of 14:56.43. Sophomore Sam Poser finished in second at the 15:11.87 mark and was followed by sophomore Joel Walden with a time of 15:14.03. 

UW-Platteville went one and two in five events. Seniors Aaron Hrubes and Casey Goffinet took first and second respectively in the 200-meter dash with Hrubes crossing the finish line with a time of 22.31. 

In the field events, senior Jake Wiederholt dominated the shot put and the discus. He won the shot put with a throw of 47-1.50 and the discus at 143-8. Fellow senior Jacob Dailey finished in second place in the shot put with a mark of 46-11, while junior Jon Petrie took second in the discus with a throw of 134-9. 

Indoor All-American Chas Spangenberg won the pole vault by clearing 15-5 while sophomore Malachi Romportl placed second with a vault of 14-11. 

The Pioneers swept the top three spots in the high jump as senior Andrew Kissner cleared 6-0.75. Senior Preston Baker finished in second and sophomore Alexander Nagorsen took third. 

Senior Mark Niemann won the javelin with a throw of 193-1. 

On the women's side, indoor 800-meter All-American Deidre Dillman won the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:44.23. 

Senior Morgan Hoover jumped 15-6.25 taking second place in the long jump, while fellow senior Kristin Wiley finished in second in the triple jump with a jump of 34-0. 

Senior Janice Rasmussen took home second place in the discus with a throw of 113-11. 

The Pioneers return action on April 6 at the UW-La Crosse Invitational.