Results

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's track & field team completed first day action at the Phil Esten Challenge Friday night at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The Eagles are in second-place with 29.0 team points while UW-Eau Claire leads with 37.5. A total of 10 teams have scored points.

UWL's Skye Digman won the discus throw (155-6) Friday while placing second in the shot put (46-11 1/2). Izzy Carroll was fourth in the shot put (41-2 1/2) and seventh in the discus throw (130-8). Other top-10 finishers in the field events included Alayna Digman ninth (124-1) in the discus throw while MonRaye Ermis was 10th (38-5) in the shot put. 

After four events in the heptathlon, UWL's Allison Anderson is in third-place with 2,634 points while Alexys Scheuerell is in fourth with 2,570. Noelle Hackenmueller is in ninth-place (2,425) with Skylar White 10th (2,407) and Audrey Braun 15th (2,197). Competition included the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200-meter dash on Friday. The heptathlon concludes Saturday with the long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter run.   

In the 10,000-meter run, UWL's Madelynn McIntyre placed fifth overall (36:24.22). Other top-20 finishers included Charlotte Mueller 12th (37:44.15) and Lucy Duchac 18th (37:54.45). 

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.

Action continues with the second day of the Esten Challenge on Saturday, April 22 at 10:45 a.m.