MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (www.bluoglds.com) – The 2024 NCAA Division III Track & Field Outdoor Championships got underway on Thursday as the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire student athletes competed on the national stage. The men sit tied for 3
rd place with 10 points and the women sit tied for 15
th with 5 points.
Day one started on a high note for the Blugolds as
Yakob Ekoue (Sr. – Hopkins, Minn.) was crowned a national champion in the discus. Ekoue's 55.20-meter throw was 0.06 meters further than the runner-up, Steven Hermsen (Carroll). Hermsen held the edge over Ekoue in 2023 when Yakob took second, but the Blugold got the upper hand over the Pioneer on Thursday to take home his third national title.
Kayla Behnke (Jr. – Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) earned her third career All-American placement with a 4th place finish in the discus with a throw that reached 46.66 meters
Along with the three podium finishers, the men's 4x400 team qualified for finals during their prelims. The team of
Kevin Eisenzimmer (Gr. – Mineral Point, Wis.),
Colin McClowry (Jr. – Neenah, Wis.),
Izaak Clendenning (Fr. – Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln), and
Josiah Ziebell (Sr. – Mauston, Wis.) finished 9
th overall with a final time of 3:12.60.
The men's decathlon and women's heptathlon were in full force after one day of competition as the Blugolds competed strong during their first set of events. The separation between athletes on both sides is marginal as
Max Foland (Jr. – Middleton, Wis.) currently sits in third place with 3644 points and the defending champion,
Mitch Stegeman (Gr. – Coleman, Wis./Suring), sits in fifth with 3636 points. On the women's side,
Emilee Booker (Jr. – Genoa City, Wis./Badger) sits in 7
th with 3012 points and
Jane Kautz (Gr. – Port Washington, Wis.) and
Lauryn Rustad (Fr. – Perham, Minn.) sit in 11
th and 12
th.
Day two of the 2024 NCAA Division III Track & Field Outdoor Championships will feature Blugolds in the final multi events as well as the shot put, 100m prelims, and the 3000-meter Steeplechase. First events of the day are set to begin at 11 a.m. CT.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at
Blugolds.com or on our app,
Blugold Sports.
