ST. PAUL (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire track and Field teams competed at the St. Thomas Invite on Friday, where several Blugolds turned in strong performances at the Anderson Fieldhouse.
No team scores were kept at the meet where the Blugolds won two events for the men and two for the women.
On the men's side, Darin Lau (Sr. – Eau Claire, WI/Immanuel) won the 5000-meter (14:22.53) while Dylan Cooper (So. - Holmen, WI) won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.62. Cooper also had a second place finish in the high jump (6-2.25).
In the mile, Dylan Lueck (So. – Germantown, WI/Wisconsin Lutheran) and Brendon Paucek (Sr. - Sullivan, WI/Jefferson) took second and third place with times of 4:19.77 and 4:19.86 while Kyle Groven (So. – Pine Island, MN) was third in the 400-meter (51.51).
Aaron Zmolek (So. – Holmen, WI) finished second in the 200-meter (22.68) and also turned in a fourth place finish in the 60-meter dash (7.17). TJ Lui (So. – Dousman, WI/Kettle Moraine) also earned a second place finish, with his coming in the triple jump (46-4.00).
In the 200-meter, Jordan Lijewski (Fr. – Roseville, MN) was fourth (22.74) with Hunter Henk (So. – Beldenville, WI/River Falls) coming in fifth (22.78).
For the women, the 4x400 relay team of Ashleigh Buergi (Sr. – Green Bay, WI/Bay Port), Glory Hecker (So. – Stone Lake, WI/Hayward Center), Sasha Riley (So. – Fairmont, MN) and Lizzy Keena (Fr. – Wisconsin Rapids, WI/Lincoln) won the event with a time of 4:03.07, while the team of Alaina Syverson (Fr. – River Falls, WI), Tommie Brenner (Jr. – Reedsburg, WI), Hanna Reed (Jr. – For Atkinson, WI) and Sarah Moen (Fr. – Blaine, MN/Centennial) took fourth with a time of 4:11.40. Also taking top honors was Ashley Agrimson's (Fr.- Peterson, MN/Rushford-Peterson) who won the long jump (17-7.00).
Brenner also placed fourth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.32) while Hecker was fifth in the 200-meter (26.67) and Reed was fifth in the 800 (2:19.98).
In the shot put, JoHannah Theisen (Sr. – Eau Claire, WI/Regis) and Erica Oawster (Jr. – Lino Lakes, MN/Centennial) finished second and third (45-2.50 and 44-2.50) while Josie Burns (Sr. – Saint Michael, MN/Saint Michael-Albertville) was fifth in the weight throw (49-3.75).
Annika Lerdall ( Fr. – Plymouth, MN/Wayzata) and Teagan Monfils (Fr. – Shawano, WI) finished second and third in the 3000-meter, finishing in 10:40.57 and 10:47.85, while Kelsey Worachek (Sr. – Appleton, WI/Xavier) was second in the 60-meter, finishing with a time of 7.89.
In the high jump, Bailey Waldhauser (Fr. – Loyal, WI) tied for third (5-2.25) while Josie Semerad (Fr. – Eau Claire, WI/Regis) was fifth (5-2.25).
The Blugolds will compete in the UW-Oshkosh Invite Saturday, February 17 as their last meet before the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) meet on Feb. 23-24, which will be hosted by UW-Stevens Point.
