LA CROSSE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The buses for the Blugold track and field teams were a bit lighter this past Saturday with the distance squad taking the week off but the shorthanded Blugolds performed well at the unscored meet, the Mark Guthrie Legacy Invitational at UW-La Crosse.
Junior
Raina Stecher highlighted the meet for the Blugolds as she broke the Blugolds school record in the women's weight throw. The record stood for 12 years and was previously held by Brittany Fredrick in 2012.
As if I don't write about
Yakob Ekoue enough already, Yakob achieved one of his greatest throwing feats of his career on Saturday. Yakob threw a more than a half a meter personal record in the shot put with a throw of 18.79m. For reference, Yakob won the national championship in the event last season with a throw of 17.63m. Not only is Yakob setting new standards for himself, he is inching closer and closer to the impressively high school record in the event.
Adam Strouf was close behind, throwing 17.90m on Saturday to finish in second place. Strouf improved on his season best and sits at #3 in the nation.
Pole Vaulter,
Ayden Fleeharty, took 1st in her event with a vault of 3.77m. This mark will likely qualify her for the National Championships in March. Additionally, Freshman
Nina Wintermute finished 5th in the event with an impressive mark of 3.57m. She is the 4th ranked freshman in the nation in the event and showing plenty of potential to reach new heights in the near future.
Top Men's Performances
1st Place Finishers
Yakob Ekoue (Sr. - Hopkins, Minn.): Shot Put (18.79m)
Nathan Johannsen (So. - Frazee, Minn.): 600m Run (2:00.45)
2nd Place Finishers
Yakob Ekoue (Sr. - Hopkins, Minn.): Weight Throw (18.98m)
Colin McClowry (Jr. - Neenah, Wis.): 200m Dash (22.16s)
Adam Strouf (Sr. - Rice Lake, Wis.): Shot Put (17.91m)
Adam Strouf (Sr. - Rice Lake, Wis.): Weight Throw (17.39m)
3rd Place Finishers
Wes Keller (Jr. - Richland Center, Wis.): High Jump (2.00m)
Mitch Stegeman (Sr. - Coleman, Wis./Suring): Pole Vault (4.67m)
Gage Stankiewicz (Jr. - Esko, Minn.): Shot Put (16.41m)
Top Women's Performances
1st Place Finishers
Raina Stecher (Stewartville, Minn.): Weight Throw (18.30m)
Ayden Fleeharty (Sr. - Viola, Wis./Kickapoo): Pole Vault (3.77m)
2nd Place Finishers
Kayla Behnke (Jr. - Kimberly, Wis.): Weight Throw (17.93m)
3rd Place Finishers
Hope Schueller (Fr. - Saint Cloud, Minn./Cathedral): 60m Dash (7.86s)
Teagan Jones (Sr. - Lake Zurich, Ill.): Weight Throw (17.69m)
The Blugolds will be back at UW-Stout on Friday, February 9th, for the Stout Quadrangualar.
