MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (www.bluoglds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire track & field squads were back in action on Friday during day two of the 2024 NCAA Division III Track & Field Outdoor Championships. With Blugolds competing in the final day of multi competitions, the shot put, the 100m prelims, and the 3000m Steeplechase, UW-Eau Claire saw five student athletes earn All-America honors.
 
Raina Stecher (Jr. – Stewartville, Minn.) was the first UWEC athlete to find the podium on day two as Stecher reached a personal best shot-put throw of 14.21 meters and an eighth-place finish. Stecher's placement earned her the first All-America honor of her career.
 
In the women's Heptathlon, Emilee Booker (Jr. – Genoa City, Wis./Badger) earned her first career All-America honor with a personal best 4770 points. Booker's career day earned her a fifth-place finish on the podium, her highest ever finish at nationals.
 
The men's Decathlon came down to the wire as Mitch Stegeman (Sr. – Coleman, Wis./Suring) took the competition lead after first place finishes in the discus throw and the pole vault and a third-place finish in the javelin. In the final event, Stegeman finished 7^th to earn a second-place finish and his seventh All-America honor. Max Foland (Jr. – Middleton, Wis.) also had an impressive second day as he jumped from seventh to fourth place in the final two events with a career best 6841 points. Foland earned his third All-America honor with his top-8 finish.
 
Stefan Klechefski (Sr. – Roberts, Wis./River Falls) looked to rebound this season in the 100m dash after falling one spot short in prelims a year ago. Klechefski did just that as he qualified for Saturday's finals with an 8^th place finish and a time of 10.48.

Before the end of the night, Mason Shea (Sr. - River Falls, Wis.) competed in the 3000-meter steeplechase finals. A strong start set up Shea with a close finish at sixth place with a time of 9:04.71. With that podium placement, Shea earned his third All-America honor of his career.
 
The final day of competition is set for tomorrow, Saturday, May 25^th at the Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium. First events of the day are set to begin at 11:30 a.m. CST.
 
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