Two Pioneers crowned champions on day 1 of WIAC Championships

La Crosse, Wis. – The Pioneers competed at UW-La Crosse in day one of the 2022 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Highlights from day one include:  

Justin Eichler won the hammer throw with a throw measuring 59.31m (194-7). Teammates Alex Girard and Alexander Walechka placed fifth and seventh respectively. Collectively, these three throwers gave the Pioneer men's track and field team their first 16 points.

Becoming champion in the javelin throw, Will Lawrence capitalized on the day and threw a personal best of 60.69m (199-1). He now ranks among the top 10 javelin throwers in the country for NCAA DIII.

For the Pioneer women, Kirstie Ramsey put points on the board when she took eighth place in the 3,000m steeplechase. Ramsey ran 11:27.68, a personal best time.

Live results can be found at wiacsports.com. Day two of the conference championships will begin tomorrow at 10:30am. Continuing competition and advancing to finals tomorrow include:

Pioneer Men

Jacob Rice – Rice sits in fourth place currently in the decathlon. He ran 11.11 seconds in the 100m, marked 6.46m (21-2.5) in the long jump, 11.21m (36-9.5) in the shot put, 1.71m (5-7.25) in the high jump, and ran 51.97 seconds in the 400m. Tomorrow the decathlon will include the 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1500m.

Cole Stugelmeyer – Advanced to the finals of the 110m hurdles. Stugelmeyer ran 14.96 seconds to qualify him to the final heat.

Jacob Downing – Advanced to the finals of the 400m and 200m dashes. Downing ran 49.23 seconds in the 400m dash, and 22.05 seconds in the 200m dash.

Zach Zenner – Ran 49.30 seconds in the 400m dash to qualify for the finals.

Cade VanHout – He will move on to run finals in the 100m and 200m dashes. VanHout ran 10.49 seconds in the 100m preliminaries, and he ran 21.44 seconds in the 200m preliminaries.

Pioneer Women

Kayla Lipsey – Lipsey holds ninth place currently in the heptathlon. She ran 17.37 seconds in the 100m hurdles, jumped 1.36m (4-5.5) in the high jump, threw 7.36m (24-1.75) in the shot put, and ran 27.38 seconds in the 200m dash. To finish the heptathlon on day two, athletes will contest the long jump, javelin throw, and 800m.

Gwen Orr – Orr qualified on to the finals of the 100m dash with the top time of 11.89 seconds, a personal best. She has also qualified on to the finals of the 200m dash with the top time of 24.83 seconds.

Jessica Buss – With a personal best time of 1:05.33, Buss has qualified onto the finals of the 400m hurdles.