WINSTON-SALEM, NC (blugolds.com)-- On the second day of the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships at the JDL Fast Track, the Blugolds fought hard, endured struggles, and came away victorious as the men's track & field team claimed their third indoor national title in school history.
After waiting over an hour for the official results of the men's 4x400m relay due to reviewing protests, the Blugolds received the news that they had tied with Washington University (St. Louis) for the national championship, with each team having earned 35 points.
The women's team, led by scoring performances by Catie Fobbe and Anna Schueth, earned 10 points to place 22nd overall. There were many key performances that set up the Blugolds' incredible weekend, both on the men's and women's side.
Continuing their momentum from yesterday, Abrahm Schroedl (Sr. - DeForest, WI/DeForest) and Mitch Stegeman (So. - Coleman, WI/Suring) continued a hot streak in the heptathlon, moving up throughout the second day to take 3rd and 4th places overall, respectively. Both Schroedl and Stegeman eclipsed 5,000 points for the seven-discipline event, with Schroedl had 5094 points, while Stegeman had 5,059 points.
Schroedl and Stegeman each earned their second All-American honor of the weekend, earning many valuable points for the Blugolds' team score.
Catie Fobbe (Sr. - Annandale, MN/Maple Lake) saved her best performance when it mattered most, throwing 14.42 meters in the shot put to place 3rd overall, earning All-American honors.
Yakob Ekoue (So. - Hopkins, MN/Hopkins) followed up his 9th place performance in yesterday's weight throw with an impressive 4th place finish in the shot put, throwing a mark of 16.29 meters. This was Ekoue's first All-American honor in his track & field career.
Jordan Lijewski (Sr. - Roseville, MN/Roseville) delivered a breakout performance in the 400m dash, running a personal best of 48.88 seconds to place 4th overall, earning All-American honors. Lijewski demolished his seed placement, as he was the #18 ranked 400m runner headed into the meet, earning necessary points to add to the team score.
Colin McClowry, Arik Skifstad, Kevin Eizenzimmer, and Jordan Lijewski of the 4x400m relay were able to grab the final points necessary to clinch the national championship, placing 4th with a time of 3:17.49.
Anna Schueth (So. - Arrowhead, WI/Arrowhead) ran an impressive race in the 800m, placing 5th overall in the final, running 2:13.39. She earned her first All-American honor of her career.
Casey Chadwick (Jr. - Poynette, WI/Poynette) finished out a solid first national competition, scoring a total of 4,616 points to place 13th overall in the heptathlon.
Kady Kochendorfer (Jr. - Hudson, WI/Hudson) finished 9th in the triple jump with a mark of 11.75 meters.
Wes Keller (Fr. - Richland Center, WI/Richland Center) finished 13th in the high jump with a mark of 2.00 meters.
Marcus Weaver (So. - Lewiston, MN/Lewiston-Altura) was disqualified in the 60m hurdles in the heptathlon. He competed in the heptathlon pole vault afterward, clearing 4.50 meters, but did not contest the final discipline, the 1000 meters.
The Blugolds will take a few weeks to rest and recuperate in between the indoor and outdoor seasons, then will kick things off at the Ashton May Invite at UW-La Crosse on April 9th.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
