The Warhawk athletes competed this weekend in the UW-Platteville Opener to kick-off their 2023 Outdoor Track & Field Season.

On the women's side, the field events saw some top-five finishers. Danielle Pouska (Algonquin, IL/Jacobs) cleared the 5' 1" (1.55m) bar on her last attempt in the high jump. By clearing it, Pouska tied for second place in the High Jump. Only Michigan Tech's Jamie Hendrickson cleared the bar at 1.60 meters. Rebecca Lawrence (Rhinelander, Wis./Rhinelander), Rennee Rittmeyer, & Kiara McKowen (New Berlin, Wis./Eisenhower) all cleared the 4' 9" (1.45m) bar, tying for 10th place. Pouska's & Rittmeyer's marks were both a collegiate-best for them. Pouska also recorded the 10th best height for the Women's High Jump in Warhawk history.

In the women's pole vault, Gracie Holland (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) recorded the top vault in the meet. Holland cleared the 12' 9.5" (3.90m) bar. Margaret Helbig (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park and River Forest) also earned a top-five finish, clearing the 11' 3.75" (3.90m) mark. Ella Maher (Rockford, Ill./Winnebago) finished first in her flight and 11th overall, vaulting over a 9-feet & 10-inch (3.00m) bar.

In the Hammer Throw, Kenni Czarnecki's (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) throw was marked at 142' 4" (46.42m), placing second behind Oshkosh's Brenna Maslorof (154' 7" - 47.12m). Also making a top-five appearance, Mikayla Madlena (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) recorded a 136' 10" (41.70m) toss on her first attempt of the meet.

Czarnekci would also go on to place third in the Discus Throw, making a 118' 9" (36.19m) throw and fifth in the Shot Put with a 39' 2.5" (13.42m) mark. Rialey Martin (Jefferson, Wis./Jefferson) finished ninth in the discus with a throw at 107' 5" (35.75m).

There was a dramatic finish in the javelin throw on the women's side, as Tina Shelton (Janesville, Wis./Parker) topped Luther's Gabbie Schei throw on her last attempt. Schei had the top throw at 116' 6" (35.50m), but on her last throw Shelton passed that mark, earning first place with a 116' 10" (35.62m) throw. Shelton's mark was also her collegiate-best. Brynn Oremus (Waukesha, Wis./West) also placed in the top-10 for the Javelin. Oremus's throw of 116' 10" (35.62m) placed her in ninth place.

The Women Triple Jump also featured two top-10 jumps. Rileigh Elgas (Janesville, Wis./Craig) and Lexie Weier (Mount Horeb, WI/) finished tied for fifth. Both jumped 33' 8" (10.26m).

On the men's side, Chris Bitz (Brookfield, Wis./East) tied for second in the pole vault after clearing the 15' 1" (4.60m) bar in his last attempt. Only Oshkosh's Eli Tranel vaulted higher, with a 15' 7" (4.75m) vault.

For the men throwers, Sean Larsen (Waukesha, Wis./South) earned a fifth place finish in the hammer throw, tossing the hammer for 147' 5" (44.93m). Larsen also placed sixth in the discus throw, making a 131' 2" (39.99m) mark. Both of these marks were collegiate-bests for Larsen.

Tyler Jensen (Hilbert, Wis./Hilbert) was the bronze finisher in the discus, making a 144' 9" (44.12m) throw on his last attempt to jump into the third place spot. Jensen's discus was a career-best, topping his mark from last year at the UW-Whitewater Drake Alternative by nearly 10-feet.

The men's long jumpers featured Shelvin Garrett II (Beloit, Wis./Memorial) and Christian Crump (Kenosha, Wis./Bradford). Garrett II took the bronze with a 21' 10.5" (6.67m) jump. Crump was narrowly behind him in fourth, jumping for 21' 8.25" (6.61m). In the triple jump, Brayden Zettle (Monroe, Wis./Monroe) made the top mark overall, jumping a 46' 0.75" (14.04m) in the triple, finishing first at the UW-Platteville Opener.

The Warhawk track runners featured Brayden Zettle (Monroe, Wis./Monroe) in the 200m, Rhett Reuter (Darlington, Wis./Darlington) in the 400m, and Alex White (West Allis, WI/Nathan Hale) in the 1500m. Zettle finished 18th with a time of 24.17, Reuter finished 7th with a time of 52.47, and White with a time of 4:20.12, placing 22nd.

The Track & Field team will be back in action on the Warhawk's own Rex Foster Track on Friday, April 7th. The Warhawks invite Augustana College, Aurora University, Beloit College, Benedictine University, Carthage College, Elmhurst College, MSOE, & UW-Stevens Point to compete. The field events are scheduled to start at noon, with the track events shortly after.