By Colin McClowry, UWEC Sports Information
WHITEWATER, Wis (blugolds.com) - Day 1 of the WIAC Conference Championships wrapped up late Friday night as the UW-Eau Claire men's and women's track and field teams opened up the competition in strong fashion.
Teagen Jones (Jr. Lake Zurich, Ill.) surpassed her own school record in the women's hammer throw with a heave of 57.19m. This throw, which was nearly 3 meters over her previous record, placed her second in the meet. Also placing second and earning 2nd Team All-Conference was Yakob Ekoue (Sr. - Hopkins, Minn.) in the men's hammer throw. Ekoue's throw of 59.68m currently puts him sixth in the nation in the event.
Blugold short sprinters showed their skill as Megan Best (Sr. - Oshkosh, Wis/West) became the third Blugold in school history to run sub 12s in the 100m dash with a time of 11.95s in the prelim. Best will compete in the final tomorrow with the third fastest seed time. In the men's 100m prelim, Stefan Klechefski (Jr. - Roberts, Wis./River Falls) dominated the field with a blistering time of 10.42s. This time places Klechefski as the third fastest 100m runner in the nation.
Senior, Naomi Long (Sr. - Medina, Minn/Wayzata), earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors by placing third in the 10,000m run with a time of 37:17.24.
In the women's heptathlon, Emilee Booker (So. - Genoa City, Wis./Badger) currently sits at the top with a score of 2991 points. Fueled by massive personal records in the 100m hurdles (14.21m) and 200m dash (25.36s), Booker is on pace to crush the field and qualify for the National Championships later this month. In the decathlon, Max Foland (So. - Middleton, Wis.), currently sits in second place with a score of 3620 points. Not too far behind are Blugolds Mitch Stegeman (Sr. - Coleman, Wis./Suring) and Tommy Mestnik (So. - Prior Lake, Minn.) in fourth and sixth place. With five events left, these three Blugolds will compete for the conference championship in the event and record qualifying marks for the National Championships.
Second Team All-Conference
Teagen Jones (Jr. Lake Zurich, Ill.): Weight Throw (57.19m)
Yakob Ekoue (Sr. - Hopkins, Minn.): Weight Throw (59.68m)
All-Conference Honorable Mention
Naomi Long (Sr. - Medina, Minn/Wayzata): 10,000m (37.17.24)
4th Place:
Christi Forman (Jr. - Waterloo, Wis.): 10,000m (38:13.34)
Brandon Roberts (Sr. - Maple Park, Ill./Kaneland): Weight Throw (54.53m)
Ayden Fleeharty (Sr. - Viola, Wis./Kickapoo): Pole Vault (3.61m)
5th Place:
Abbey Fitzgerald (So. - Ephraim, Wis./Gibraltar): Long Jump (5.28m)
Leah Zastrow (Fr. - Spencer, Wis.): Pole Vault (3.61m)
6th Place:
Mason Shea (Jr. - River Falls, Wis.): 3,000m Steeplechase (9:21.74)
Jenna Trzebiatowski (Jr. - Rosholt, Wis.): 10,000m (38:28.80)
7th Place:
Ashley Kachurik (Sr. Wadsworth, Ill./Warren Township): 3,000m Steeplechase (11:32.99s)
Jessica Kemstra (Sr. - New Berlin, Wis./Eisenhower): Javelin Throw (34.34m)
Haley Blagdon (Jr. - Waukesha, Wis./North): Pole Vault (3.46m)
Tyler Oslage (Jr. - Antioch, Ill.): Pole Vault (4.40m)
8th Place:
Zach Yengo (Sr. - Eau Claire, Wis/Regis): 10,000m (31:25.38)
Morgan Jensen (Jr. - Colfax, Wis): Weight Throw (48.10m)
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