Pioneers open outdoor season at home track

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The Pioneer track and field team had an unexpected home meet to open the 2018 outdoor track and field season. After a cancellation in the originally scheduled UW–La Crosse Ashton May Invitational, the Pioneers had the opportunity to host a dual meet competing against Augustana College. The Saturday meet began the 2018 outdoor season, although temperatures dipped down in winter-like conditions. 

The Pioneers capitalized on the day in several events. In the sprints, freshmen from the men's and women's UW–Platteville track and field program won the 100m dash and 200m dash. Rodrick McMiller ran the 100m dash with a winning time of 10.85 in the final heat, although his preliminary time bested that at 10.76 seconds. In the 200m, McMiller ran through the line at 21.86 seconds. Gwen Orr won the women's 100m dash and 200m dash, coming in at 12.97 seconds in the 100m and 27.19 seconds in the 200m. In the men's 110m hurdles, sophomore Charlie Gifford won the event with a new personal best of 15.03 seconds. Freshman Katie Schilling won the women's 100m hurdles in 15.28 seconds. Schilling also won the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:08.76, as well as the triple jump with 10.73m (35-2.5). 

Many Pioneers showed promise in the 400m dash. Making his debut for the outdoor season, Paul Rapp competed for second place in the 400m running 50.63 seconds. Teammates Kyle Buechner, Riley Bendorf, Zach Frei, Blake DeMunck, and Connor VanCrete followed up close behind to round out third through seventh place.

The men's and women's 800m dash was won by UW–Platteville. Posting season opening times, Zach Lee ran in at 1:58.91 and Kayla Schneider ran in 2:28.73. In addition, a string of UW–Platteville women placed first through fourth place in the 1500m. Janelle Ferguson won the event of 30 women, running 4:56.58. Teammates Johanna Meister, Katie Wardinski, and Kaitlyn Galgon followed running their respective times of 5:04.47, 5:04.64, and 5:05.20. 

On the field, a new personal best was reached by Noah Steiner in the high jump. Steiner cleared 2.09m (6-10.25) to tie the outdoor track and field school record in the high jump. Brian Spaeth jumped for 13.06m (42-10.25) in the triple jump taking second place.

In the discus, Alex Walechka threw near his personal best making a mark of 42.74m (140-3). Cole Eastlick threw a personal best in the hammer throw, 43.67m (143-3) for third place. Sean Cormican also saw a personal best in the hammer throw with a mark of 41.09m (134-10). Teammates Alex Girard and Alex Walechka were close behind coming in at 40.60m (133-2) and 40.50m (132-10) respectively. Freshman Jacob Rice took second place in the javelin of 13 men, throwing a lifetime debut best of 47.45m (155-8). 

For the UW–Platteville women's throws, Rachel Beuthin began the day winning the hammer throw with a mark of 37.14m (121-10). Later, Beuthin would also take first in the shot put with a mark of 12.28m (40-3.5). Freshman Murphy Bleymeyer threw 35.32m (115-10) to win discus. Bleymeyer threw a personal best of 11.45m (37-6.75) in the shot put for second place. Teammate Lindsey Francque competed for second place in the discus with a throw of 33.92m (111-3). 

Next week the Pioneers with host the UW–Platteville Invitational on Friday, April 13 – Saturday, April 14.