Five Pioneers earn All-North Regional honors in track and field
Platteville, Wis.- Five members of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville track and field program received NCAA Division III All-North Region indoor accolades from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Platteville, Wis.- Five members of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville track and field program received NCAA Division III All-North Region indoor accolades from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Senior Gwen Orr is a two-time honoree. Orr earned the honors after setting school records in the 60- and 200-meter dashes. Breaking her own school record, Orr won the WIAC Indoor Championship in the 60-meter in a time of 7.73 and finished runner-up in the 200-meter with a time of 25.35.
Senior Brianna Leahy received the honor for her efforts in the shot put. Leahy currently holds the second-best throw in the nation with a school record 14.84. In her first indoor season, Leahy finished second in the WIAC Indoor Championship.
Junior Grace Elvert took home the honors in the pentathlon. In two indoor events where the pentathlon was contested, Elvert set personal best in all five events. Elvert finished third at the WIAC in the pentathlon, where she finished first in pentathlon high jump.
In a loaded 60-meter dash at the WIAC indoor championship, junior Cade VanHoot broke his school record to finish third. VanHoot's 6.83 sits 11th nationally. The WIAC has the top three times in the 60-meter dash nationally and six of the top 11. All eight finalist in the 60-meter dash at the WIAC qualified for the NCAA Division III Indoor Nationals.
Senior Bryce Bierman received the honor in the high jump. Bierman cleared a personal best 2.05 meters (6'-8.75") at the UW-Platteville Invitational on Feb. 12. He cleared the mark a second time the following week at the Sol Butler Classic at the University of Dubuque on Feb. 18. He currently sits eighth in the all-time Pioneer Top 10 list.
All five All-North Region honorees will be competing at the NCAA Division III National Indoor Meet March 11-12. Freshman Brenna Noon (shot put), senior Alex Girard (weight throw) and senior Jacob Rice (heptathlon) have qualified and will join the five at the national meet.