Indoor track and field heads to WIAC championship

    The Blugold women won the Titan Challenge meet at UW-Oshkosh and the men took third

    More stories from Kailin Schumacher

    Photo by Submitted Photo

    Of the 14 teams at the Titan Challenge, the women took first and men took third place.

    The Blugolds indoor track and field team had a strong meet over the weekend at the  UW-Oshkosh Titan Challenge where the men took third place and the women won the meet.

    The Blugolds totaled 219 points at the 14-team meet, with the women making 141 of the points earned over the weekend.

    Highlighting the first place finish for the women Blugolds were top finishers in three individual events and one event for the men. Having so many athletes qualify for the WIAC was a big milestone, Coach Chip Schneider said. Schneider has been coaching the team for 17 seasons.

    “This may be the most women that I have had qualify for an indoor championship since I’ve been here,” Schneider said. “So that is a great sign for the depth we have developed on the women’s side.  The men are not as deep, but have a few top end men who will definitely shine.”

    David Kornack, a fourth-year student, was the only Blugold for the men’s team to finish on top. Kornack threw 18.83 meters on Saturday in shot put for the first place title. Erica Oawster also took first place in shot put for the women’s team with a 14.33 meter throw.

    Naomi Long, a first-year student, was one of the women to win on Saturday. Finishing at the front of the pack Long ran the 3000-meter run with a time of 10:43.07. Following close behind was Hannah Lamack, a second-year student, who finished with a time of 10:43.67. Also taking first place for the women was Kady Kochendorfer, a first-year student,  who dominated the triple jump with a score of 11.55 meters. Kochendorfer is looking to continue her success at the upcoming sectional meet this weekend.

    “Each week I try to give myself small goals to strive for,” Kochendorfer said. “So my goal going into the conference championships is to surpass what I did the week before.”

    Three Blugolds also did well in the 400-meter run with Lizzy Keena, a second-year student, taking second place with a time 59.31 and Karli Olsen, a second-year student, right behind her with a time of 1:00.87. Hunter Henk took third for the men’s 400-meter run, finishing with a time of 50.54. Henk also qualified for the 200-meter run running 22.44 securing third place. Lexie Lefever took third in the 200-meter run, finishing with a time of 26.13.

    Allison Weiker, a first-year student, pole vaulted 3.56 meters, guaranteeing her second place and ticket to the WIAC Championship. Also heading to sectionals in second place is Alex Winn with a time of 4.21.72 in the one-mile run and Ashley Agrimson, who hit 5.69 meters in her long jump event.

    The Blugolds men’s 4×400 meter relay team consisting of KJ Munn, a third-year student, Brandon Christnovich, a fourth-year student, Arik Skifstadf, a first-year student, and Lincoln Stultz, a first-year student, is also heading to sectionals. The team ran a 3:19.78 race, leaving them in second place.

    Amongst the seven third-place wins was Tommie Brenner, a fourth-year student, in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 9.16, Brianne Johnsrud throwing 15.89 meters in weight throw, and Amy Chen, a second-year student, who finished with a time of 7.87 seconds in the 60-meter run.

    The Blugolds will compete in the WIAC Championships on Friday, where the team will get a chance to prove themselves, Coach Schneider said.

    “The team is ready for the last few weeks of indoor,” Schneider said. “They have worked very hard and now it is time to see the fruits of their labor.”

    The WIAC Championship will be at the Kachel Fieldhouse at UW-Whitewater.

    Schumacher can be reached at [email protected].