Results

Menomonie, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's track & field team leads after the first day of competition at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championships (presented by Culver's) Friday night in Johnson Fieldhouse. The Eagles totaled 168.0 team points on Friday while UW-Eau Claire is in second-place with 53.0 and UW-Oshkosh third with 24.0.

UW-Whitewater is in fourth-place (20.0) followed by UW-Stevens Point and UW-Stout tied for fifth (15.0), UW-River Falls seventh (11.0) and UW-Platteville eighth (5.0). 

UWL is looking for its third straight league title and ninth in the last 10 seasons. The Eagles have won a league record 28 titles (1978-81, 1983, 1985-87, 1994, 1997, 2000-05, 2007-10, 2013-18, 2020, 2022) in school history. The 2021 WIAC Championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 public health threat. 

UWL won four titles on Friday, two in the field events and two on the track. 

The Eagles' Ainsley Hansen took the high jump with a school record mark of 5-8 1/2, breaking her own record of 5-8 set at the Midwest ELITE on February 11. Olivia Owens was second (5-7- 1/4) on Friday with Macie Todd third (5-7 1/4), Alia Vanderhoef tied for fourth (5-2 1/4) and Mady Friese tied for 15th (4-10 1/4). It marks UWL's second straight league title in the high jump after Owens captured the crown last season.

Maddie Hansen won the long jump (17-6 3/4) on Friday as the Eagles had five of the top-six finishers. She is the first UWL athlete to win the long jump at the conference championships since Caitlin Schetter in 2009. Ava Foley was second (17-4 3/4) on Friday with Dyllan Powers third (17-2 1/4), Hailie Kent fifth (16-11 1/2) and Jenna Miller sixth (16-10). Brenna Meidl was ninth (16-5) while Madison Page placed 10th (16-4 1/4) and Noelle Hackenmueller 11th (16-1 3/4).

On the track, Mara Schroeder captured the 400-meter dash (58.74) as UWL recorded seven of the top-10 finishes. It is Schroeder's second career title after winning the event in 2020. Morgan Jennings placed second (59.00) on Friday with Izi Knoernschild third (59.4), Lilly Halvorson fourth (59.11), Amber Johnson sixth (59.46), Melanie Kunze seventh (59.47) and Grace Lundie 10th (1:00.12). Ellie Jillson finished 12th (1:00.28).

The Eagles' Maddy Vantassel won the 5,000-meter run (17:40.93) as UWL took the top-four places overall. She is first UWL runner to win the event since Madeline Sweeney in 2020. Julia Anderson was second (17:43.79) in Friday's race while Katelyn Chadwick finished third (17:49.49) and Madelynn McIntyre fourth (17:50.00). UWL's Lucile Duchac placed ninth (18:27.41), Karlie Meyer 14th (18:55.61), Ella Pahl 18th (19:22.37) and Lauren Beauchaine 19th (19:25.89).

UWL's Araceli De Leo Lopez finished second (12-9) in the pole vault on Friday with Ashley O'Connell fourth (12-3 1/4), Nina Morrison seventh (11-3 1/2), Abby Meidl ninth (11-3 1/2), Ella Spilker 11th (10-9 1/2) and Emily Shafron 13th (10-3 1/2).

Skye Digman was second (48-11 3/4), Izzy Carroll fourth (43-7 3/4) and Sarah Hulstedt eighth (12.79) in the shot put. The Eagles' Ella Puls finished 17th (38-0 1/4), MonRaye Ermis 21st (35-11 1/2) and Alayna Digman 24th (35-4).

On the track, Emma Malooly was third (5:03.21) in the mile run while Kimberly Carviou was sixth (5:05.59) and Greta Koehler seventh (5:05.99).

UWL's distance medley relay of Bryn Sato, Kaydee Johnson, Kylie Stockton and Gwen Hinz finished third (12:30.48). 

In preliminary action on the track, Emma Lawrence (8.50) and Brooke McDowell (8.87) advanced to Saturday's 60-meter hurdles final. Lawrence recorded the fastest time Friday's prelims. She also set a school record, breaking the time of 8.55 set by Claire Gordee in 2015. Amber Grosse (9.47) and Macee Redman (9.52) failed to advance to Saturday's final.

Three sprinters advanced to Saturday's 60-meter dash final, including Lauren Jarrett (7.64), Emily Dawidowich (7.72) and Lawrence (7.74). Bella Seitz (7.98), Maya Evans (8.09) and Jenna Coty (8.16) failed to advance in the 60-meter dash. 

The WIAC Championships continue Saturday, February 25 starting at 10 a.m.