Results

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's track and field team won the 28-team Phil Esten Challenge Saturday night at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.

UWL totaled 215 team points while UW-Eau Claire was second with 100 and Winona State University (Minn.) third with 93. Wartburg College (Iowa) finished fourth (72) and UW-Stout fifth (68.5). 

The Eagles recorded nine first-place finishes with five on the track and four in the field events. The 4x100-meter relay team of Jessica Stelzner, Haley Durst, Emma Lawrence, and Emily Dawidowich came in first (47.09) as did the 4x400 meter relay  of Amber Johnson, Mara Schroeder, Katie Banie, and Emma Lawrence (3:50.00). 

Hannah Zenkovich claimed the title in the heptathlon with 5,033 points.

Other winners on the track included Mara Schroeder in the 400-meter dash (56.92) and Maddie Hannan in the 1,500-meter run (4:37.56).

In the field events, Skye Digman won both the shot put (48-1 1/4) and hammer throw (173-8). Samantha Barrett captured the triple jump (40-0 1/2) while Abby Meidl tied for the crown in the pole vault (11-7).

Allison Anderson finished fifth in the heptathlon (4,101 points).

Other top finishers on the track included Amber Johnson second (57.90), Izi Knoernschild fourth (59.09), and Lily Halvorson sixth (59.46) in the 400-meter dash. Emma Malooly was third (4:39.57) in the 1,500-meter run.

In the 100-meter hurdles, Emma Lawrence was second (14:07) and Brooke McDowell fourth (14:08). Melanie Kunze finished fifth in the 400-meter hurdles (1:06.19) and Hannah Holm sixth (1:06.82).

Dawidowich finished second in the 200-meter dash (24.78). Bethany Miller came in sixth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (12:38.02).

In Saturday's field events, Macie Todd finished second in the high jump (5-3 1/4) with Alia Vanderhoef fourth (5-1 1/4) and Rachel Amoth tied for fifth (5-1 1/4). Stelzner came in third (18-6), Madison Page fourth (18-5 3/4), and Nicole Lord fifth (18-4 1/4) in the long jump. Miah Keller placed fourth (39-1 1/4) in the triple jump.

Leah Surprenant finished second (171-7) in the hammer throw while Sarah Hulstedt was fourth (42-9) in the shot put and Gabby Johnson fourth (120-11) in the javelin throw. Liz Missiaen was sixth (11-7) in the pole vault (11-7). 

Esten served as head coach of the men's cross country program at UWL for 28 years (1970-97).  He led the Eagles to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III title in 1996.  UWL added national runner-up honors in either the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) or NCAA Division III eight times during Esten's tenure.  In all, Esten's squads finished in the national top-10 in 26 consecutive tries and appeared in a national championship in 27 of his 28 cross country seasons. UWL won 20 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) titles under Esten.  He was named the WIAC Men's Cross Country All-Time Coach.

He also served as an assistant track & field coach at UWL for 34 seasons.  Esten is a member of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Hall of Fame, UWL Wall of Fame, NAIA Cross Country Hall of Fame, NAIA District 14 Hall of Fame and Wisconsin Cross Country Coaches' Association Hall.  He is a 1965 graduate of UWL and former cross country and track athlete.

UWL returns to action April 28-30 at the Drake University (Iowa) Relays.