Meister races to runner up in the mile at WIAC Championships
Oshkosh, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin – Platteville track and field team began day one of competition at the WIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by UW-Oshkosh. When it comes to track and field, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) is arguably one of the most competitive conferences in the NCAA DIII. Highlighting the day, senior Johanna Meister ran for second place in the women's mile. The Pioneers will return to the Kolf Sports Center on Saturday with competition beginning at 10 a.m.
Oshkosh, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin – Platteville track and field team began day one of competition at the WIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by UW-Oshkosh. When it comes to track and field, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) is arguably one of the most competitive conferences in the NCAA DIII. Highlighting the day, senior Johanna Meister ran for second place in the women's mile. The Pioneers will return to the Kolf Sports Center on Saturday with competition beginning at 10 a.m.
Mile and Distance Medley Relay
Showing her true competitive nature, Meister ran a lifetime best time of 5:05.88 in the women's mile to take second place. Fellow senior teammate Caitlyn Ifft ran 5:22.35 to place 11th. Both Meister and Ifft paired up to tackle the distance medley relay along with Haley Ott and Kirstie Ramsey. The relay finished in seventh place with a time of 13:19.61. The men's distance medley relay consisting of Jason Voelker, John Huntley, Tyler Doering, and Ben Trihey ran 10:42.42 for seventh place as well.
In the men's 5,000m, Caleb Christiansen made his debut at the WIAC Indoor Championships and ran 16:36.47, a personal best time. Following Christiansen, senior Evan Krug finished the race in 16:58.97. Anna Drazkowski ran a personal best time of 19:50.12 to place 17th in the women's 5,000m. Brenna Kautz and Haley Daniels ran 20:53.77 and 21:04.66 respectively.
Sprints and Hurdles
In the women's 60-meter dash, junior Gwen Orr ran yet another personal best time this season. Orr clocked a personal best time of 7.91 seconds to finish in ninth place. In the women's 400-meter dash Katie Schilling ran a personal best time, breaking 60 seconds for the first time, running 59.13 seconds. Schilling finished in fourth place. Sophomore Jessica Buss ran a personal best time in the 400-meter as well. Buss Ran 1:02.07 and finished in 17th place.
Jacob Downing ran a personal best time of 50.05 seconds in the men's 400-meter dash. Zach Frei finished in 50.14 seconds, also a personal best time, and placed 13th. Senior Paul Rapp ran 50.35 seconds, placing 16th.
Advancing in the men's 60-meter hurdles is senior Charlie Gifford. Gifford ran 8.19 seconds in the preliminaries and is the current leader going into the final heat on day two. In the women's 60-meter hurdles, Casey Rielly finished in 9.80 seconds to run a personal best time for 16th place.
Shot Put, Long Jump, Pole Vault
In the women's shot put, Brianna Hall threw a season best 13.05m (42-9.75) to place sixth. Murphy Bleymeyer and Rachel Beuthin threw 11.72m (38-5.5) and 10.63m (34-10.5) respectively.
Six Pioneer men qualified and competed in the men's shot put. Alex Girard finished in tenth place with a season best throw of 15.18m (49-9.75). Alexander Walechka threw 14.91m (48-11), a personal best mark, for 12th place. Cole Eastick followed with a toss of 14.88m (48-10). Tyler Bacon threw a personal best of 14.58m (47-10). Sophomore Ben Veverka threw 14.00m (45-11.25) and freshman Justin Eichler threw 13.54m (44-5.25).
Adam Wildman made his conference championships debut in the men's long jump. Wildman jumped 6.24m (20-5.75) and finished in 18th place.
In the women's pole vault, junior Jordan Meciej finished in ninth place clearing 3.43m (11-3). Rielly reached for a personal best mark of 3.28m (10-9) and placed 13th. Freshman Catt Moeller cleared 2.98m (9-9.25).
Heptathlon
Jacob Rice and Hunter Liddell competed in four of the seven total events of the heptathlon. On day one, Rice and Liddell competed in the 60-meter dash, long jump, shot put, and high jump.
In the 60-meter dash, Rice ran 7.25 seconds and Liddell ran 7.43 seconds.
Rice finished the long jump with a best jump of 6.24m (20-5.75). Liddell long jumped 6.20m (20-4.5), a personal best mark.
In the shot put, Rice threw a personal best mark of 11.58 (38-0) as did Liddell, throwing 9.08m (29-9.9.5).
Liddell continued to pursue personal best marks in the high jump, clearing 1.82m (5-11.5). Rice cleared 1.64m (5-4.5) in the high jump to finish day one. During day two of the heptathlon, Rice and Liddell will compete in the 60-meter hurdles, pole vault, and 1,000m run.
The Pioneers will begin day two of the WIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 29. The first event of the day will be the women's pentathlon 60-meter hurdles.
