LA CROSSE, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville track and field teams kicked off the 2026 NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships on Thursday from UW-La Crosse's Roger Harring Stadium. 

Senior McKade Jelinek finished 14^th in the discus throw, with his best mark, 48.33m, coming on his third and final throw of the day. Qualifying for his fourth national meet, Jelinek wraps up an illustrious career as one of the best discus throwers in UW-Platteville program history. A four-time national qualifier in the discus throw, Jelinek entered competition already a two-time All-American, most recently finishing fourth at the 2025 NCAA Championships. Less than three weeks ago in the same throwing circle, Jelinek threw a personal best throw of 54.09m in the WIAC Championship meet.

Senior Izzy Peterson will advance to Saturday's finals in the 200m after finishing third in the prelims of the event. Winning her heat with a time of 23.81seconds, Peterson claimed one of nine spots in the finals of the event which will take place Saturday at 3:40 p.m.

Senior Caden Schneider closed out the day for the Pioneers, placing 16th and running a time of 9:11.04 in the 3000m steeplechase prelims. The UW-Platteville steeplechase school record holder was four runners shy of making his third consecutive appearance in the NCAA finals in the event.  Schneider will next compete on Saturday in the 5000m. 

Tomorrow, junior Hailey Campbell will compete in the high jump at 2 p.m. while Peterson will run in the 100m prelims at 5:20 p.m.