Pioneers run nationally ranked distance medley relay

DUBUQUE, Iowa – The distance medley relay, comprised of Logan Steinhoff, Alec Burcham, Nolan Wallenkamp, and Zach Lee, competed at the F. Lee Slick Invitational hosted by North Central College, Naperville, Ill while the rest of the Pioneer track and field team competed at the University of Dubuque Spartan Invitational on Friday, Feb. 15.

The distance medley relay ran a No. 3 nationally ranked time of 9:57.66, the second fastest distance medley relay time clocked in program history. UW-La Crosse and North Central's distance medley relay each ran faster times, making for an excellent venue for a high level of competition.

At the Spartan Invitational the Pioneers competed against teams from Loras, Augustana (Ill.), Simpson, Luther, Clarke, and Cornell College.

In the women's 55m dash, sophomore Gwen Orr finished in sixth place with a personal best time of 7.49 seconds. Orr finished in third place with another personal best on the day of 26.51 seconds in the women's 200m dash. For the men's 200m dash, Ryan Swanson took sixth place with 23.47 seconds, and Connor Rupke finished in eighth place with 23.59 seconds.  

Katie Schilling ran for fifth place in the women's 400m with a time of 1:01.20. Kayla Schneider crossed in 1:02.17 for seventh place, followed by Haley Ott running in at 1:02.39. Schilling took third place in the 55m hurdles with a time of 8.60 seconds. Junior Paul Rapp placed third with a personal best time of 50.31 seconds in the men's 400m dash.

The men's 55m hurdles was won by Charlie Gifford. He ran 7.60 seconds, and was followed up by three teammates. Matt Hokanson took second with 7.80, Sean Komro ran for third with 8.03, and freshman Cole Stugelmeyer took fourth with 8.16 seconds.

In the men's 800m run, freshman Ben Trihey improved his personal best time to 1:58.49 to take fourth place. Senior Alex Clark finished in ninth place in the men's mile run with a personal best time of 4:30.38. The men's 3,000m run was won by Grant Munson, with a time of 9:09.41. Nick Hein followed in second place in the 3,000m run with a personal best time of 9:13.33. Ben Claas also ran a personal best in the 3,000m, clocking 9:30.29 for seventh place.

In the mile run, junior Caitlyn Ifft finished in third place with a personal best time of 5:21.42. Kaitlyn Galgon finished with a time of 5:27.91 for fifth place.

Olivia Saucedo finished tied for second place with a high jump clearance of 1.55m (5-1). Noah Steiner won the men's high jump, clearing 2.05m (6-8.75). Bryce Bierman took third place with a jump of 1.95m (6-4.75).

Senior Brittany Ehlen won the women's pole vault with a jump of 3.60m (11-9.75). Teammate Jordan Meciej finished in fourth place with 3.20 (10-6). In the men's pole vault, multi-athlete Cody Faust took second place with a lifetime best vault of 4.60m (15-1). Freshman Quin Tydrich vaulted 4.30m (14-1.25) taking seventh place. Teammates Greg Vogt and Jordan Monroe tied for eighth place with 4.15m (13-7.25).

In the men's long jump, Drew Stanioch took sixth place with a jump of 6.19m (20-3.75). Damani White jumped a lifetime best in the triple jump, marking 13.48m (44-2.75).

Taking third place in the women's shot put, Rachel Beuthin threw 12.45m (40-10.25). Brianna Hall took fourth place with a throw of 12.43m (40-9.5). Beuthin threw for eighth place in the women's weight throw with a mark of 14.44m (47-4.5).

In the men's shot put, Alex Girard capitalized on a personal best throw of 15.30m (50-2.5) to win the event. Cole Eastlick threw in fourth place with 14.75m (48-4.75), and Alexander Walechka threw a personal best of 13.54m (44-5.25) for ninth place. In weight throw, Walechka took third with 16.31m (53-6.25), and Alex Girard followed in fourth place with 16.00m (52-6). Eastlick finished in ninth place in the men's weight throw with a mark of 15.21m (49-11).

Up next for the Pioneers will be the WIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by UW – Whitewater on Feb. 22 and 23.