WIAC Friday Events- Women’s Article

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women’s track & field leads after the beginning day of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Outdoor Championships Friday located at the Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The Eagles managed to lead with 53.33 team points overall while UW-Stevens Point is currently second with 53.0 and finally UW-Platteville is third with 40.0.

UW-Eau Claire followed up in fourth with 38.0, shortly after is UW-Oshkosh with 36.0, UW-Stout with 27.0, UW-Whitewater with 18.33, UW-River Falls with 6.33 and finally UW-Superior with 1.0.

The Eagles are seeking their fourth straight WIAC title as well as a league record of 30th win in UW-L’s history.

UW-L’s own Meaghan Howell captured the conference crown in the pole vault (12-6) Friday night, becoming the first UW-L athlete to win the event since Angela Hilgers back in 2005. UW-L’s Leanna Summer Tietz tied for fifth (11-2 ¼) and Katrina Fuchs managed to tie for eighth in the pole vault Friday.

The Eagles managed to take four of the top-eight places in the javelin throw with Caycee Bean finishing second (123-0), Alex Crain thid (112-22), Kaitlyn Francour fifth (108-10) and Elizabeth May with eighth (103-5).

During the long jump, Bailey Alston took second (19-5 ½) while Lizzie Mattson finished 10th (17-0 ½). The Eagles’ own Julianne Merkes manaed to secure seventh (162-0) in the hammer throw.

On the track, Katelyn Shepardson took sixth (11:47.08) and Kaitlyn McDaniel took eighth (11:58.33) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The Eagles’ Natalie Powell followed up with seventh (39:06.08), Abbey Singleton took ninth (39:44.31) and Elizabeth Frick took 10th (39:45.63) during the 10,000-meter run.

UW-L’s 4×800-meter relay team consisting of Kylie Rumble, Hannah Heidvogel, Theresa Kasper and Mallory Hall managed to claim fourth (9:27.15) on Friday.

After the beginning four events in the heptathlon, UW-L’s Erin McCauley took second with 2,964 points while Francour is in fourth with 2,720. Shelby Graham is now in ninth place with 2,361 points and Rachel Amos is in 13th with 2,211. UW-Stout’s own Meagan Ward ended up leading the heptathlon with a total of 2,996 points. Action was completed in the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put as well as the 200-meter dash. The athletes will then compete in the long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter run on Saturday.

During the preliminary action on the track Friday, Meg Heafy (11.93), Jaime Ludwigson (12.05), Courtney Purcell (12.45), and Maggie Slatter all managaed to advance to the 100-meter dash final scheduled for Saturday.

Heafy (24.53), Ludwigson (24.80), and Claire Gordee (25.14) qualified for the 200-meter dash championship while Bria Halama (56.04) advanced in the 400-meter dash.

Marissa Mahr advanced to Saturday’s final in the 400-meter hurdles, setting a meet record with a time of 1:01.12. This broke the previous record of 1:01.71 that was set by Laura Verdegan of UW-Stout back in 2004 (1:01.72). UW-L’s Mallory Hall (1:02.72) and Jenna Franswa (1:05.31) also managed to march forward to the final.

In the 100-meter hurdles, Erin McCauley (14.25), Ludwigson (14.36), Gordee (14.56), Addie Korb (14.68), and finally Mahr (14.70) all qualified for the final Saturday.

The action concluded on Saturday, May 2.