MENOMONIE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville track and field teams wrapped up competition at the 2023 WIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday inside the Sports & Fitness Center on the grounds of UW-Stout. The Pioneers men's team placed sixth with 47 points, while the women came in eighth with 11 points.
UW-La Crosse claimed the championship on both sides, with the women totaling 324 points and the men finishing with 228.
Men's Highlights
Senior Ben Veverka finished as the weight throw champion after launching a personal best of 18.49m on his final attempt of the afternoon. His throw moves him up to second in program history in the event. Senior Justin Eichler finished third to collect All-Conference honors with a throw of 17.53m, while sophomore Andrew Cunningham was the third Pioneer on the podium in the event with a seventh-place finish at 16.59m.
Sophomores Spencer Vanek, Zach Zenner, Dylan Miller, and freshman Evan Graves received Second Team All-Conference honors after placing second in the 4x400 relay. The group posted a time of 3:21.30 to score eight points for the Pioneers.
Junior Daniel Inyang placed third in the high jump to earn All-Conference. His mark of 1.99m tallied six points for UW-Platteville.
Senior Cole Stugelmeyer improved upon his time in the 60m hurdles from yesterday's trials, running a time of 8.38 seconds to finish sixth.
Senior Weston Pink recorded a new personal best on his first attempt in the triple jump at 13.94m to finish eighth in the event.
In the heptathlon, sophomore Dale Yerges set several personal bests as he finished with 3645 points to place 16th overall. His time in the 60m (7.36) and 1000m (2:56.66) as well as his distances in the shot put (8.84m) and high jump (1.47m) were each new career marks.
Women's Highlights
Senior Paulina Wienke set a new school record in the weight throw, throwing a 17.01m to finish fifth overall. The throw broke the previous record of 16.65m, which Wienke had tied earlier this season and previously belonged to Bobbi Erickson back in 2001.
Sophomore Margaret Rusch, senior Ashleigh Adamson, sophomore Shannon Wulf, and senior Kaitlyn Galgon placed seventh in the 4x400 relay to score for the Pioneers. The quartet posted a time of 4:11.08 in the event.
Freshman Malina Koepp narrowly missed scoring in the triple jump, as she placed ninth with a leap of 10.75m.
Senior Grace Elvert finished 11th in the pentathlon, finishing with a total of 2820 points. She placed fourth in the pentathlon high jump with a mark of 1.53m.
The Pioneers will host the Platteville Last Chance meet next Friday to try and reach more qualifying marks for nationals. The meet will begin at 4 p.m. inside the Williams Fieldhouse.
