Written by: Eileen McGuine
La Crosse, Wis.— The University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers competed in the final day at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The Pioneers finished 28th with nine points as the WIAC swept the top four, and host UW-La Crosse taking home the Division III National title with 66 points followed by a close second to UW-Eau Claire with 64 points. UW-Oshkosh finished third with 51.50 points as UW-Whitewater took fourth with 40 points.
Aaron Hrubes, a senior from Madison, Wis., ran the 200-meter dash in a time of 21.77 placing sixth.
"I knew there was a headwind coming into the race and I was expecting to place seventh or eighth," said Hrubes. "Its been great this year, making it in my own individual event. The 200 meter dash is my favorite race; it makes it all the more sweet to qualify and get 6th in it."
Mark Niemann of Crystal Lake, Ill., contested for All-American status in the men's javelin throw, making it to finals early in the day. He threw a mark of 207 feet and eight inches which landed him a ninth-place finish, just shy of becoming an All-American. He did however break UW-Platteville's javelin record, a record he set earlier this season by about seven feet.
Dan Poh, a sophomore from Crivitz, Wis., placed 19th in the nation in the javelin throw at 174 feet and five inches.
Matt Ziegler, a senior from Madison, Wis., took out the men's 400 meter run finals quick, and finished in ninth-place with a time of 48.20.
"Having 10 guys make it to the national meet is an awesome accomplishment for our team; and Lynea coming out of nowhere and doing what she did is crazy special," said head track and field coach Chris Rotzenberg. "This meet in itself, you experience every intense, extreme emotion. Reflecting back, as the season ends, and as my first head coaching season ends, I feel like I take in that emotion a little bit more than I used to. Every single one of the athletes has a little bit more of an emotional attachment to you and how they perform; their excitement and their disappointment."
