LA CROSSE, Wis. (www.blugolds.com) – Blugold track and field is back in action! The Blugolds traveled to La Crosse this past Saturday for the Ashton May Invitational. In their first competition since the NCAA Indoor National Championships in March, the men's and women's teams placed third overall.
The men's team swept the throws events with Yakob Ekoue winning Shot Put (17.44m), Discus (52.67m), and Hammer Throw (56.41m), and Tommy Mestnik winning Javelin (56.41m). Yakob Ekoue earned All-American honors in all three throwing events last year at the 2023 NCAA National Championships including back-to-back National Championship wins in the shot put. Tommy Mestnik will look to double the Javelin along with the Decathlon at Nationals in May.
On the women's side of throws, Kayla Behnke started her season off strong with an event win in Discus (48.95m) and Hammer Throw (54.40m). Since Kayla didn't compete outdoor last season, Kayla's marks were huge personal records, specifically in the hammer throw as her previous best was 24.56m.
The men's 4x400m relay started off their season with a solid time of 3:18.59s. Coming off of a 6th place finish at the Indoor Championships, the team has their sights set on placing much higher in the outdoor season. The team of Kevin Eisenzimmer, Josiah Ziebell, Sam Schreiber, and myself have been laying the groundwork to drop some serious time by seasons end.
Men's Top Results:
1st: Yakob Ekoue (Sr. - Hopkins, Minn.): Discus (52.67m) Shot Put (17.44m) Hammer Throw (56.41m)
1st: Tommy Mestnk (Jr. - Prior Lake, Minn.): Javelin (56.41m)
2nd: Eisenzimmer, Ziebell, Schreiber, McClowry: Mile Relay (3:18.59s)
2nd: Gage Stankiewicz (Jr. - Esko, Minn.): Shot Put (16.94m)
3rd: Stefan Klechefski (Jr. - River Falls, Wis.): 100m Dash (10.89s)
3rd: Josiah Ziebell (Sr. - Mauston, Wis.): 400m Hurdles (54.09s)
3rd: Gage Stankiewicz (Jr. - Esko, Minn.): Discus (48.49m)
Women's Top Results:
1st: Kayla Behnke (Jr. - Kimberly, Wis.): Discus (48.96m) Hammer Throw (54.50m)
2nd: Teagan Jones (Sr. - Lake Zurich, Ill.): Discus (42.56m)
3rd: Michaela Dick (Fr. - Marshfield, Wis.): 400m Hurdles (1:05.93s)
3rd: Emily Williams (Jr. - Waterford, Wis./Union): High Jump (1.63m)
3rd: Kayla Behnke (Jr. - Kimberly, Wis.): Shot Put (13.11m)
3rd: Teagan Jones (Sr. - Lake Zurich, Ill.): Hammer Throw (53.34m)
The Blugolds will be headed to Platteville next weekend for the Platteville Triangular. Hammer Throw and the 5,000m run will be run on Friday, and the rest of the meet will be conducted on Saturday.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugolds.com or on our app, Blugold Sports.
