Leahy crowned NCAA DIII women's shot put champion

Geneva, Ohio - Two more Pioneers earned All-American honors on day two at the NCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Senior Brianna Leahy won the women's shot put competition, and freshman Brenna Noon took home seventh place for the Pioneer women. 

Leahy, a senior from Shullsburg, Wisconsin, won with a lifetime best throw of 15.60m (51-2.25) on her second attempt. This throw ranks fifth all-time in NCAA DIII Championship history. Noon, also throwing a lifetime best, threw 14.31m (46-11.5) to lock in seventh place.

Together, Leahy and Noon scored 12 points for the Pioneer women's track and field team. With one day to go in the championships, the Pioneer women are tied for eighth place with UW-Eau Claire. 

Gwen Orr and Cade VanHout took to the track to compete in the priliminary round of the 100m dash. In the third heat of the women's 100m, Orr ran 12.07 seconds finishing 16th overall. Despite not moving on to finals, Orr leaves behind a legacy at UW-Platteville. As the fastest student-athlete in Pioneer women's track and field history, Orr owns 4 individual school records and 2 relay school records. 

VanHout raced in the first heat of the men's 100m, and advanced to the finals. He ran 10.62 seconds, seeded as the ninth and final competitor moving on to finals. VanHout will race at 1:40 p.m. EST on Saturday, May 27, 2022. 

Rounding off the day, Jacob Rice concluded his final decathlon of his career. Although it did not go as planned, Rice finished with 5,282 points. He ran 15.53 seconds in the 110m hurdles, threw 33.10m (108-7) in the discus, did not clear a bar in the pole vault, and scratch from the javelin. However, after a brief lightning delay, he returned to the track to finish out what he started and ran 1500m in 5:08.56. Rice made his mark on the Pioneer All-Time Top Ten List, with his performance at the WIAC Championships this season ranking in at the second best decathlon in program history.

Finishing off competition for the Pioneers, Justin Eichler will compete in the hammer throw at 1:45 p.m. EST tomorrow. Follow along at letsgopioneers.com.