LA CROSSE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's and women's track and field teams opened their 2025 outdoor season at the Ashton May Invitational at UW-La Crosse's Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Blugold men started their outdoor campaign on a high note, winning the team title, while the women finished third.

The UW-Eau Claire men tallied 162 points to finish atop the standings, which featured two NCAA Division I schools. The Blugold women had 96.5 points, finishing only behind UW-La Crosse and Milwaukee.

The Blugolds had two athletes win two events apiece. Yakob Ekoue (Sr. - Hopkins, Minn.), the Blugolds' three-time national champion making his 2025 debut, won the men's discus and hammer throw. Kylee Grabarski (Jr. - Waunakee, Wis.), fresh off earning All-America honors in indoor season, won the women's 400-meter and was also part of the victorious 4x400-meter relay.

Individual event winners

• Men
  • Ben Skellenger, Lucas Porcell, Johnny Botsch, Paul Missiaen - 4x100-meter relay (47.02 seconds)
  • Sam Verkerke - 1,500-meter run (3:35.59)
  • Stefan Klechefski - 100-meter dash (10.52)
  • Yakob Ekoue - discus (52.54 meters) and hammer throw (54.61)
  • Adam Strouf - shot put (17.59 meters)
• Women
  • Hope Schueller, Allyson Kakes, Libby Huber, Sophia Crespo - 4x100-meter relay (47.89 seconds)
  • Kylee Grabarski - 400-meter run (57.62 seconds)
  • Mya Cinnamo, Michaela Dick, Lauren Jex, Kylee Grabarski - 4x400-meter relay (3:56.36)

Jim Click Shootout and Multis

The Blugolds also had two-time national champion Mitch Stegeman (Sr. - Coleman, Wis./Suring) competing at the University of Arizona on Saturday. In a field of mostly high-level Division I athletes, Stegeman finished 10th in decathlon.

UP NEXT

The Blugolds will compete at the UW-Platteville Invitational on April 11-12.

Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugolds.com or on our app, Blugold Sports, and on social media on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.