LA CROSSE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — After two days at the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track &Field Championships, the UW-Eau Claire men's track & field team currently sits in 8th place with 10 points. The Blugolds have seen one champion and one All-American as Gage Stankiewicz took home the crown in the shot put. Heading into championship Saturday, the Blugolds will have nine student athletes in the finals of the their respective events to add to their team score.

In addition to multiple Blugolds qualifying for their final events, the highlight of Thursday and Friday was Gage Stankiewicz's shot put title. After winning his first national championship in the Indoor Championships in March, Stankiewicz came into the Outdoor meet as the third ranked competitor. With a throw of 17.77 meters on his second throw of the day, Gage was one of 9 competitors in the finals. As he lengthened his distance with each throw, Stankiewicz's saved his best for last with a career long 18.77 meter throw on his final throw to earn his second national championship of his career. Gage is the sixth Blugold in the last twelve years to win the shot put in both Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

Blake Postler and Tyler Botz qualified for the men's 110 meter hurdle final on Saturday after placing fourth and eighth respectively on Friday. UWEC's 4x400 meter relay team of Cameron Pease, Reilly Templeton, Fischer Wait, and Postler qualified for the relay finals with the top time in the prelims of 3:10.39. Templeton also qualified for the 200 meter finals on Thursday with a final time of 21.28. Postler qualified for the 400 meter final with a top time of 51.62 seconds. 

Johnny Botsch will make his weekend debut on the pole vault and will look to build off his 7th place finish in 2025.

First events on Saturday are scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. at Veteran's Memorial Field in La Crosse, Wis.