Both the UW-La Crosse men’s and women’s track & field teams opened their 2015 outdoor season with victories in the 3rd Annual Ashton May Invitational Friday night, April 3, at the Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.
In the men’s competition, the Eagles finished with 161.5 points, while UW-Eau Claire placed second with 115.0 and the University of Minnesota-Duluth finished third with 108.0.
Four individuals won championships Friday night for the Eagles, including Ross Denman winning the 200 (21.99 seconds) and 400 (48.99 seconds) meter dashes, while Joe Koenecke won the 100-meter dash (10.83 seconds).  During the field events, UW-L’s Jeffery Hill won the pole vault (15-7 ¼ ft.) while Grant Havard took the hammer throw (189-0).
More top finishes from the men’s team on Friday included Matt Eidenschink scoring second (9:33.48 minutes) and Ian Ewers third (9:41.19 minutes) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, while Garrett Kerska was third (3:58.03 minutes) and Tom Linner fourth (3:58.47 minutes) in the 1,500-meter run.
The Eagles also took four of the top-eight places in the 100-meter dash.  Along with Koenecke’s first place finish, Zach Rothering was third (10.92 seconds), Matt Adams sixth (11.13 seconds) and Chrisopher Eberle was seventh (11.23 seconds).  The Eagles’ Alex Jelich placed fourth (22.52 seconds) and Ben Jordan eighth (22.81 seconds) in the 200-meter dash.  In the 400-meter dash, UW-L also had four of the top-eight finishers.  Besides Denman winning the event, Nick Tehan placed third (49.63 seconds), Dean McGuire seventh (50.33 seconds) and Zak Wallenfang eighth (50.36 seconds).
The UW-L’s women’s track & field team finished with 241.0 team points while UW-Stout was second with 90.5 and Winona State University (Minn.) third with 85.0.  There were a total of nine teams that scored points.  UW-L has now captured all three Ashton May Invitational.
Seven students from UW-L claimed first place finishes on Friday for UW-L, including five on the track.  The Eagles’ Meg Heafy swept the 100 (12.24 seconds) and 200 (25.32 seconds) meter dashes, while Claire Gordee won the 100-meter hurdles (14.22 seconds), Marissa Mahr the 400-meter hurdles (1:02.96 minutes) and Bria Halama the 400-meter dash (58.46 seconds).  UW-L also managed to take the 4×100 meter relay (50.06 seconds) with Laura Muzia, Bailey Alston, Elizabeth May and Amber Pethke.
During the field events, Alson won the long jump (18-9), Meaghan Howell the pole vault (12-0) and Alex Crain the javelin throw (119-0).  UW-L also took five of the top-seven places in the 100-meter hurdles.  Besides Gordee’s first place finish, Jaime Ludwigson took second (14.24 seconds), Addie Korb third (14.72 seconds), Erin McCauley fifth (15.03 seconds) and Mahr seventh (15.09).  The Eagles also had five of the top-eight finishers in the 100-meter dash.  Along with Heafy’s win, Ludwigson finished second (12.48 seconds), Maggie Slatter (12.60 seconds), Gordee sixth (12.80 seconds) and Courtney Purcell with eighth (13.25 seconds).
More top finishes on the track Friday included Natalie Powell with second (18:23.90 minutes), Sara Normington fourth (18:46.66 minutes), Mackenzie Keller-Miller fifth (18:47.91 minutes) and Katie Henriksen with eighth (18:59.69 minutes) in the 5,000-meter run.
Both the men’s and women’s track teams will return to action once more on Friday, April 10, at the UW-Platteville Invitational.