UW-Platteville hosts WIAC Triangular

The UW-Platteville track and field teams hosted nationally ranked teams in a triangular on Saturday. The Pioneer men finished third to No. 9 ranked UW-Stevens Point and No. 16 UW-Eau Claire. The Pointers won with 123.5 points while the Blugolds finished with 94 points and the Pioneers earned 84.5 points. The Blugold women beat No. 17 ranked UW-Stevens Point 123.5 points to 94 points. The Pioneers finished third with 49 points. Despite falling short to nationally ranked teams, the Pioneers were able to put down some great performances on their home track.

Walker Rynes ran an aggressive mile leading for most of the race. He pulled away from cross country national champion Darin Lau of UW-Eau Claire to win in 4:17.59, a personal best of over 10 seconds. Rynes now holds the fifth fastest time in Division III this season. Teammate Logan Steinhoff finished fourth in the mile with a time of 4:25.53.

After a fiery start in the preliminaries, Freshman Rodrick McMiller improved his time in the finals and won the 60m dash in 7.10 seconds. McMiller also finished second in the long jump with a 6.48m (21-3.25) leap. Fellow jumper Brian Spaeth won the triple jump with a mark of 13.39m (43-11.25).

Noah Steiner won the high jump with a 1.86m (6-1.25) clearance. Defending heptathlon conference champion Jacob Hirsbrunner finished second with a jump of 1.81m (5-11.25).

Another second place finish was earned by Nolan Wallenkamp who ran the 800 meters in 1:59.30.

Josh Miller finished second in the pole vault with a 4.38m (14-4.5) jump while teammate Greg Vogt cleared 4.08m (13-4.5) to finish fourth.

Matt Hokanson headed into the 60m hurdles with the fastest preliminary time after running a personal best 8.60 seconds. In finals, HoKanson misjudged the first hurdle and crashed on the track. Freshman teammate Sean Komro was there to step it up with a third place finish in a new best time of 8.78.

Sean Cormican was third in the weight throw inching his personal best forward with a toss of 15.88m (52-1.25). Sprinter Ryan Swanson finished fourth in the 200m with a time of 23.58

On the women's side Brittany Ehlen won the pole vault with a clearance of 3.51m (11-6.25). Ehlen holds the No. 13 spot on the national best list. Freshman teammate Jordan Meciej was second with a jump of 3.21m (10-6.25).

In the throws, Rachel Beuthin was second in the shot put with a throw of 13.23m (43-5) while Brianna Hall was fifth in the weight throw with a second round toss of 13.78m (45-2.5).

A pair of third place finishes were earned on the track by Janelle Ferguson in the mile with a time of 5:19.58 and freshman Katie Schilling in the 60m hurdles crossing in 9.51 seconds. Freshman Casey Reilly was fifth in 60m hurdles in a personal best time of 10.01.

Chenoa Stuhr ran a pair of career bests to earn fourth in the 60m dash in 8.32 and fifth in 200m with a time of 27.14. Fellow freshman sprinter Gwen Orr was fifth in the 60m dash in 8.41. Johanna Meister finished fifth in mile with a time of 5:25.22.

The Pioneers will be back at home hosting the UW-Platteville Select meet next Saturday. Field events will begin at 11am with running events going off at 11:30am.