The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater track & field opened up the first day of the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championship in Virginia.
Christian Patzka (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) highlighted the day, taking gold in the men's 5000m to become the 2024 NCAA DIII National Champion. Patzka completed the 5k with a time of 13:59.92, beating out second-place by only 0.4 seconds in a tight finish.
Also in the Men's 5000m,
Gunner Schlender (Brillion, Wis./Brillion) earned All-American Honors, placing 7th overall with a time of 14:05.72.
Highlighting the women's side,
Tina Shelton (Janesville, Wis./Parker) moved on to the finals in both of her events. With a season best time of 7.56 in the 60m Dash, Shelton placed fifth in the qualifying rounds. Later on, Shelton recorded a new personal best, finishing the 200m Dash with a time of 24.52, taking fifth in the event and advancing to compete in the finals tomorrow.
A number of Warhawks also earned second-team All-American Honors today for the Warhawks.
Ari De La Cerda (Milwaukee, Wis./Pewaukee) placed 14th overall in the Women's Mile with a time of 5:02.19.
Shelvin Garrett II (Beloit, Wis./Memorial) placed 16th in the Men's Long Jump with a jump of 6.84m in his first attempt. And
Kenni Czarnecki (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) in the Women's Weight Throw with a throw of 16.89m on her last attempt.
Also competing for the Warhawks today,
Gracie Holland (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) in the pole vault and
Myles Anderson (Milwaukee, Wis./Lutheran) in Men's 60m Dash.
To finish out the first day of the Championship. The Warhawk Men's DMR of
Craig Hundley (Grayslake, IL/North),
Kobe Chandler (Beloit, WI/Memorial),
Rhett Reuter (Darlington, Wis./Darlington),
Justin Krause (Ixonia, Wis./Pewaukee) placed 7th overall with a time of 9:52.15.
For tomorrow, Schlender and Patzka will compete in the Men's 3000m as Shelton prepares for the Finals in the Women's 60m and 200m. Garrett II will also head back to the jumping pits, to compete in the Men's Triple Jump.
