By Colin McClowry, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) -  The Blugold Track and Field teams started off their seasons in a dominant fashion this past weekend at the UWEC Triangular Pole vaulters Ayden Fleeharty and Haley Blagdon placed 1st and 2nd in the meet and both surpassed the facility record at UWEC. Their marks put them in a good position to build on their respective performances and qualify for the National Championships in March.

It only took one meet for the men's shot putters to find themselves in the top 10 in the nation. Yakob Ekoue currently sits in 3rd place (17.41m), Adam Strouf sits in 7th (16.86m), and Gage Stankiewicz sits in 8th (16.78m). These marks are likely to hold throughout the season as our throwers will continue to build and prepare for the National Championships. Yakob Ekoue also set a facility record in the men's weight throw with a toss of 19.43m. Yakob blew away the competition and set a new personal record in the event to go along with his first place finish in shot put.

The women weight throwers also find themselves ranked highly in the national following the meet. Raina Stecher is ranked 4th (17.79m), Teagan Jones is 10th (17.22m), and Kayla Behnke is 11th (17.11m). The future is bright for the Blugold throws squad who are known for peaking late in the season.

Top Men's Performances
1st: Max Foland (Jr. - Middleton, WIs.): 55m Hurdles (7.97s)
1st: Josiah Ziebell (Sr. - Mauston, WIs.): 800m Run (1:59.36s)
1st: Mitch Stegeman (Sr. - Coleman, Wis./Suring): Pole Vault (4.76m)
1st: Wes Keller (Jr. - Richland Center, Wis.): High Jump (2.00m)
1st: Eickhoff, Clendenning, Osterhaus, Hoel: 4x400m Relay (3:28.95)
1st: Yakob Ekoue (Sr. - Hopkins, Minn.): Shot Put (17.41m)
1st: Yakob Ekoue (Sr. - Hopkins, Minn.): Weight Throw (19.43m)
2nd: Nathan Johannsen (So. - Frazee, Minn.): 800m Run (2:01.07s)
2nd: Tommy Mestnik (Jr. - Prior Lake, Minn.): 55m Hurdles (8.05s)
2nd: Jacob Eickhoff (Fr. - Saint Cloud, Minn./Cathedral): 200m Dash (23.13s)
2nd: Harrison Cull (Fr. - Oconomowoc, Wis.): 400m Dash (52.74s)
2nd: Sam Piontek (Fr. - DeForest, Wis.): 55m Dash (6.54s)
2nd: Isaiah Bauer (Fr. - DeForest, Wis.): Pole Vault (4.46m)
2nd: Nicky Odom (Fr. - Onalska, Wis.): Long Jump (6.33m)
2nd: Adam Strouf (Sr. - Rice Lake, Wis.): Shot Put (16.86m)
3rd: Nicky Odom (Fr. - Onalska, Wis.): 55m Dash (6.60s)
3rd: Mason Lijewski (So. - Roseville, Minn.): 400m Dash (52.80s)
3rd: Braxton Osterhaus (Fr. - Pine Island, Minn.): 800m Run (2:01.18s)
3rd: Daylan Berger (So. - Wheeling, Ill.): 55m Hurdles (8..39s)
3rd: Brad Roe (So. - Burlington, Wis.): High Jump (1.95m)
3rd: Adam Strouf (Sr. - Rice Lake, Wis.): Weight Throw (17.34m)
3rd: Gage Stankiewicz (Esko, Minn.): Shot Put (16.78m)
 
 
Top Women's Performances
1st: Emilee Booker (Jr. - Genoa City, Wis./Badger): 55m Hurdles (8.53s)
1st: Molly Kallenbach (Jr. - Hudson, Wis.): 55m Dash (7.35s)
1st: Allyson Kakes (Fr. - Two Rivers, Wis.): 200m Dash (26.63s)
1st: Mikayla Hady (Sr. - Mount Auburn, Ill./Sacred Heart-Griffin): Mile Run (5:16.28s)
1st: Dimler, Dick, Gruen, Rustad: 4x400m Relay (4:13.67s)
1st: Ayden Fleeharty (Sr. - Viola, Wis./Kickapoo): Pole Vault (3.63m)
1st: Ella Williamson (Jr. - Amery, Wis.): High Jump (1.58m)
1st: Abbey Fitzgerald (Jr. - Ephraim, Wis./Gibraltar): Long Jump (5.08m)
1st: Raina Stecher (Stewartville, Minn.): Weight Throw (17.79m)
2nd: Haley Blagdon (Sr. - Waukesha, Wis./North): Pole Vault (3.63m)
2nd: Hope Schueller (Fr. - Saint Cloud, Minn./Cathedral): 55m Dash (7:40s)
2nd: Lauryn Rustad (Fr. - Perham, Minn.): 55m Hurdles (8.61s)
2nd: Molly Kallenbach (Jr. - Hudson, Wis.): Long Jump (10.52m)
2nd: Kailee Sellen (Sr. - Crivitz, Wis.): Shot Put (13.08m)
2nd: Teagan Jones (Sr. - Lake Zurich, Ill.): Weight Throw (17.22m)
3rd: Allyson Kakes (Fr. - Two Rivers, Wis.): 55m Dash (7.44s)
3rd: Lauren Dimler (So. - Janesville, Minn./Mankato West): 55m Hurdles (8.78s)
3rd: Hope Schueller (Fr. - Saint Cloud, Minn./Cathedral): 200m Dash (27.19s)
3rd: Christi Foreman (Sr. - Waterloo, Wis.): (5:18.47s)
3rd: Nina Wintermute (So. - Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard West ): Pole Vault (3.33m)
3rd: Emilee Booker (Jr. - Genoa City, Wis./Badger): High Jump (1.58m)
3rd: Kayla Behnke (Jr. - Kimberly, Wis.): Weight Throw (17.11m)