Results

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

The Eagles finished with 220.5 team points while UW-Stout was second with 151.0 and UW-Eau Claire third with 127.83. A total of 12 teams scored points.

UWL won a pair of events on Friday as Addy Moseler won the shot put (42-2 ¼) while Ashley Keleher, Jocelyn Thomson, Sarah Grubbs and Andie Otto took the 4x400-meter relay (3:58.56).

The Eagles had three of the top-seven finishers in the heptathlon as Amber Grosse placed third (4,869 points), Alexys Scheuerell fourth (4,663) and Madeline Thoreson seventh (4,302).

Other top-six finishes in the field events included Jaydn Roden recording a pair of third-place finishes in the shot put (41-10 ½) and hammer throw (159-8). Ella Puls finished fourth in the javelin throw (116-8) and fifth in the shot put (40-8 ¾) while Noelle Hackenmueller placed fifth in the javelin throw (112-7). Lydia Delene was fifth in the discus throw (127-11).

Araceli De Leo Lopez finished second (12-10 ¼) and Madison Habberstad third (12-6 ¼) in the pole vault with Macie Todd placing second (5-3 ¼) and Izzy Bender tied for fifth (5-1 ¼) in the high jump.
 

UWL had a pair of top-four finishers in the long jump as Rachel Halverson placed second (17-11 ½) and Josie Blum fourth (17-4 ¾). Jaden Hackel was third (35-11 ½) in the triple jump.

On the track, UWL's 4x100-meter relay of Jenna Miller, Katie McGlothlen, Taylor Molling and Maya Evans were third (48.14).

The Eagles had four runners in the top-six in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with Lily Higgins second (11:13.60), Julia Zalewski fourth (11:27.23), Hanna Martensen fifth (11:44.79) and Ella Pahl sixth (11:45.54).

Grubbs placed second (59.04), Keleher third (59.39) and Maddie Hecker fifth (59.81) in the 400-meter dash while McKenna Sedlacek finished second (12.18) and Taylor Molling third (12.28) in the 100-meter dash. Brie Eckerman was fifth in the 200-meter dash (25.57) and 110-meter hurdles (14.69).

UWL's Regan Scott finished fourth (14.59) in the 110-meter hurdles with Gretchen McNeal fourth (1:04.65) and Ava Sullivan fifth (1:05.72) in the 400-meter hurdles.

In the 800-meter run, Jessica Wilson placed fourth (2:21.36) and Rebecca Belany fifth (2:22.23). Ryana Mathis finished fifth (4:43.78) in the 1,500-meter run.

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 Saturday, April 19 at the Long Beach State University (Calif.) Beach Invitational.