Pioneers Compete At Warhawk Open Friday

WHITEWATER, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville cross country teams sent runners to the Warhawk Open hosted by UW-Whitewater on Friday afternoon. The men placed second out of three teams with sophomore Paul Pfeifer winning the 8k race, while the women had three runners compete at the meet.

Men's Highlights

Pfeifer was the top finisher in the men's 8k, running a personal-best time of 26:28.1 among the field of 57 runners. The time was over five seconds faster than his previous PR from earlier this season.

Junior Elijah Wade finished as runner-up at 26:30.3, giving the Pioneers the top two runners at the meet. Senior Hunter Reich also placed inside the top 10, running a time of 26:39.9 to take seventh overall.

Sophomore Matt Tippel and junior Justin Behnke rounded out the top five scorers for UW-Platteville. Tippel ran a new personal-best of 26:57.1 to come in 12th, while Behnke took 13th overall with a mark of 27:01.2.

A pair of freshman in Max Sorgenfrey and Owen Danihel capped off the Pioneers top seven. Sorgenfrey placed 16th at 27:06.5, while Danihel posted a PR time of 27:07.3 for 17th.

Women's Highlights

Senior Lydia Oakleaf was the women's top finisher in the 6k race, taking 17th overall with a time of 27:30.1.

Sophomore Ava Garrard was not far behind, taking 20th overall with a time of 27:48.4.

The other two runners for Pioneers were juniors Mikaalya English and Danika Tyler. English placed 27th at 31:57.9, while Tyler was 29th behind a time of 43:55.6.

Up Next

The Pioneers head to the 2024 WIAC Championships, hosted by UW-Stevens Point next Saturday. The meet will begin at noon from the Wisconsin River Club Golf Course in Stevens Point.