By Brett Haffner, UWEC Sports Information
WAVERLY, IA (blugolds.com)- In their final competition before the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships, a select crew of University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire track and field athletes headed down to Wartburg College in hopes of securing qualifying marks for nationals. Three Blugolds made their mark and secured their spot for the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships.
In the heptathlon, Casey Chadwick (Jr. - Poynette, WI/Poynette) started off the meet strongly for the Blugolds, setting nearly a 150-point personal best to score 4,736 in the seven-event contest. Chadwick's performance places him #16 in Division III, earning him a place to the NCAA Championships next week.
Rolling off of her second place finish at the WIAC Indoor Conference 800m, Anna Schueth (So. - Arrowhead, WI/Arrowhead) broke her former school record in the 800m by over two seconds, running 2:13.24 to place third in a very talented field. That mark puts her at #9 in Division III, which qualifies her for nationals.
In a repeat battle between WIAC competitors in the men's Mile, Jake Petri (Sr. - Muskego, WI/Muskego) took third in a deep Mile field, running 4:10.53 to secure his place into nationals, with the #19 performance in Division III.
Yakob Ekoue (So. - Hopkins, MN/Hopkins) was an event winner in the Shot Put, throwing 16.43 meters to best the field. His personal best of 16.80 meters from the UWO Titan Invite currently ranks #4 in Division III.
Highlighted Top 10 Performances:
-Stefan Klechefski (So. - Roberts, WI/River Falls)-- 60m (6.88) & 200m (22.19)
-Jordan Lijewski (Sr. - Roseville, MN/Roseville Area) – 400m (49.56)
-Connor Dolan (Sr. - Nekoosa, WI/Assumption)-- 3000m (8:30.02)
-Wes Keller (Fr. - Richland Center, WI/Richland Center)-- High Jump (1.97m)
-Colin McClowry, Kevin Eizenzimmer, Max Foland, Arik Skifstad– 4x400m Relay (3:19.05)
-Mitch Stegeman (So. - Coleman, WI/Suring)-- Pole Vault (4.41m)
-Tommy Mestnik (Fr. - Prior Lake, MN/Prior Lake)-- Heptathlon (4534 pts.)
-Max Foland (Fr. - Middleton, WI/Middleton)-- Heptathlon (3693 pts.)
-Megan Best (So. - Oshkosh, WI/West)-- 60m (7.86)
-Gianna Kornaus (Fr. - Oneida, WI/Pulaski)-- 200m (25.83)
-Kylie Judd (So. - Anchorage, AK/AJ Diamond)-- Mile (5:08.77)
-Katie Faris (Sr. - Chippewa Falls, WI/Chippewa Falls)-- 3000m (10:09.15)
-Ella Williamson (Fr. - Amery, WI/Amery)-- High Jump (1.56m)
-Emily Williams (Fr. - Waterford, WI/Waterford Union)-- High Jump (1.56m)
-Ayden Fleeharty (Fr. - Viola, WI/Kickapoo)-- Pole Vault (3.43m)
-Abbey Fitzgerald (Fr. - Ephraim, WI/Gibraltar)-- Long Jump (5.18m)
-Teagan Jones (Fr. - Lake Zurich, IL/Lake Zurich)-- Shot Put (11.92m) & Weight Throw (15.18m)
-Catie Fobbe (Sr. - Annandale, MN/Maple Lake)-- Weight Throw (16.63m)
-Jane Kautz (So. - Port Washington, WI/Port Washington)-- Pentathlon (2965 pts.)
Next weekend, the Blugolds will travel to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to the JDL Fast Track to contest the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships. The official qualifiers will be announced on Monday.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
