By Colin McClowry, UWEC Sports Information
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire track and field program produced two national champions at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships over the weekend at Polisseni Track and Field Complex. Yakob Ekoue (Sr. - Hopkins, Minn.) won the men's shot put national title, and Mitch Stegeman (Sr. - Coleman, Wis./Suring) claimed the men's decathlon national championship. The Blugold men placed fifth in the team standings, while the women tied for 49th.
Ekoue earned All-America status in three events. His heave of 17.63 meters handily won the shot put competition, beating second place by 0.61 meters. It earned him his first career national championship. Ekoue also was the national runner-up in discus and took third in hammer throw.
Headlining the three-day competition for the Blugolds was Yakob Ekoue (Sr. - Hopkins, Minn.). Ekoue entered the meet as a 4x All-American, and leaves the meet as a 7x All-American. On Friday, Ekoue was crowned National Champion in the Shot Put with a heave of 17.63m. The day prior, Ekoue placed second in the Discus with a personal best of 56.55m. Ekoue ended the meet for the Blugolds on Saturday by placing third in the Hammer Throw with a toss of a 59.71m. Yakob Ekoue cemented himself as one of the greatest throwers in Blugold history with his performance. On the women's side, Teagen Jones capped off her historical season by placing fourth in the Hammer Throw with a distance of 56.47m. Jones will be ending her season as the school-record holder as well as with All-American honors.
Top Throws Finishers
1st:
Yakob Ekoue (Sr. Hopkins, Minn.) Shot Put (17.63m)
2nd:
Yakob Ekoue (Sr. Hopkins, Minn.): Discus (56.55m)
3rd:
Yakob Ekoue (Sr. Hopkins, Minn.): Hammer Throw (59.71m)
4th:
Teagen Jones (Jr. Lake Zurich, Ill.): Hammer Throw (56.47m)
10th:
Catie Fobbe (Sr. Annandale, Minn./Maple Lake): Shot Put (13.95m)
18th:
Catie Fobbe (Sr. Annandale, Minn./Maple Lake): Discus (40.58m)
19th:
Teagen Jones (Jr. Lake Zurich, Ill.): Discus (40.46m)
21st:
Morgan Jensen (Jr. Colfax, Wis): Discus (40.16m)
The Blugolds multi squad defended their claim as "Multi University" by qualifying 6 multi athletes between the mens and womens team. The Blugold men continued their streak of National Champion decathletes as Mitch Stegeman (Sr. - Coleman, Wis./Suring) placed first in the 2-day event, with a score of 7165 pts. Stegeman had his fair share of adversity throughout the year, including the indoor National Meet where Stegeman was unable to finish due to injury. Even though he had to fight off several injuries during the outdoor season as well, Stegeman was able to overcome the odds and finish his season on top of the podium. Max Foland achieved his first ever All-American honors as he placed sixth in the Decathlon with a score of 6661 pts.
Top Multi Finishers
1st:
Mitch Stegeman (Sr. - Coleman, Wis./Suring): Decathlon (7165pts)
6th:
Max Foland (So. - Middleton, Wis.): Decathlon (6661pts)
10th:
Tommy Mestnik (So. - Prior Lake, Minn.): Decathlon (6482pts)
Emilee Booker (So. - Genoa City, Wis./Badger): Heptathlon (4746pts)
15th:
Emma Gruen (So. Elroy, Wis./Royall): Heptathlon (4536pts)
17th:
Jane Kautz (Sr. Port Washington, Wis.): Heptathlon (4510pts)
The duo hailing from River Falls High School, Mason Shea and Stefan Klechefski, finished highly at the Championships. Shea broke the school record in the 3,000m Steeplechase with a time of 8:53.18s in the prelims. Shea went on to finish 12th overall in the event. Fighting an illness, Klechefski finished 9th overall in the 100m dash and 13th in the 200m dash.
All Other Finishers
9th:
Stefan Klechefski (Jr. Roberts, Wis./River Falls): 100m Dash (10.53s)
12th:
Mason Shea (Jr. River Falls, Wis.): Steeplechase (9:01.11s)
13th:
Stefan Klechefski (Jr. Roberts, Wis./River Falls): 200m Dash (21.49s)
14th:
Carolyn Shult (Sr. Augusta, Wis.): 1,500m (4:31.80s)
Wes Keller (So. Richland Center, Wis.): High Jump (1.97m)
22nd:
Megan Best (Sr. Oshkosh, Wis/West): 100m Dash (12.35s)
Check out the season results for the Blugolds at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
