PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – With just two weeks until conference championships, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville track and field teams hosted the UW-Platteville Invitational on Saturday. The Pioneer women finished with 146 points to win the meet, while the men totaling 160.5 points to place second.
Men's Highlights
Sophomore Spencer Vanek put together an impressive time of 49.99 seconds to win the 400m, while sophomore teammate Zach Zenner finished second at 50.67 seconds.
In the mile, freshman Caden Schneider ran a strong time of 4:22.95 to win the event. Four other Pioneers scored in the event, led by sophomores Joey Madsen (4:29.09) and Jakob Eggen (4:37.77) who placed second and third, respectively.
Senior Troy Humpal won the 3000m with a time of 8:56.62, winning the event by over 30 seconds.
Junior Daniel Inyang recorded a leap of 1.96m in the high jump to win the event, while freshman Baylor Smith took third at 1.86m. In the pole vault, sophomore Kyle Lang was runner-up at 3.82m and freshman Gunner Katzenmeyer finished fourth at 3.67m.
In the throws events, senior Ben Veverka posted a personal-best of 17.82m in the weight throw to finish second in the event. He also placed fourth in the shot put with a toss of 14.54m. Sophomore Andrew Cunningham had a strong day as well with a pair of PRs. Cunningham took third in the weight throw at 16.44m and threw a 11.24 in the shot put for his second personal-best.
The duo of senior Cole Stugelmeyer (8.47) and junior Jason Gleichauf (8.64) posted solid times in the 60m hurdles to finish fourth and fifth.
Four Pioneers scored in the 800m, with senior Jason Voelker recording a third-place finish at 2:02.01. Freshmen James Ketterer (2:03.28), Gabriel Coleman (2:04.30), and Dylan King (2:04.47) finished in the next three spots behind Voelker.
Women's Highlights
Senior Paulina Wienke tied the Pioneers school record in the weight throw at 16.65m, which was good for second on the day. Wienke also recorded a third-place finish in the shot put at 12.29m. Sophomore Brenna Noon also had a strong day in the throws, as she placed second in the shot put at 14.08m and threw a personal-best 14.66m in the weight throw.
Sophomore Margaret Rusch won the 400m with a personal-best time of 1:01.20. In the 5000m, sophomore Lydia Oakleaf won with a time of 20:51.01. Senior Ashleigh Adamson finished second in the 200m, posting a time of 27.24 seconds.
The Pioneers had four score in the 800m, with freshman Leah Digmann leading the group with a PR of 2:33.75. Senior Kaitlyn Galgon (2:36.09) and sophomore Caitlin Gorge (2:36.27) crossed the line right behind Digmann for fifth and sixth, while freshman Angela Meiners finished eighth at 2:40.70. Galgon also took third in the mile (5:45.99) and second in the 3000m (12:39.81). Sophomore Hannah Fliss placed fourth in the mile with a time of 5:46.51.
Freshman Savannah Morgan ran a personal-best time in the 60m prelims at 8.10 seconds.
In other field events, senior Grace Elvert placed third in the high jump with a mark of 1.50m, while junior Alexis Healey finished third in the long jump (5.06m). Senior Kelli Schneider took second in the triple jump with a leap of 10.72m, and freshman Malina Koepp (10.63m) and sophomore Lizzie Andrews (10.38) placed third and fourth in the event.
The Pioneers will compete at the Sol Butler Classic hosted by the University of Dubuque next Friday at 3 p.m. It will be the final meet before the WIAC Championships, which beginning the following week on Friday, February 24.
