The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater track and field programs competed in the Augustana Midwest Final Qualifier in Rock Island, Illinois Wednesday and Thursday. The meet featured 100 institutions from 16 states. The meet was the final qualifying event for athletes to improve marks before the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships next week.
Justin Krause (Ixonia, Wis./Pewaukee) paced the UWW men at the meet. His time of 3:46.67 in the 1500 Wednesday ranks 15th nationally this season and was second at the meet. That mark improves his personal best time by just over two-tenths and holds his #2 spot in the Warhawk record book.
Tina Shelton (Janesville, Wis./Parker) posted the Warhawks' top time in the 200 this season. Her mark of 24.40 is the 19th fastest time in the event in Division III this season and was good for third at the meet. The mark is also a personal best and ranks sixth in the UWW program record book in the 200.
Gracie Holland (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) improved her top pole vault mark this season to 3.95 meters (12-11.50). That height was tops at the meet and holds her previous position of fourth nationally.
In the 800,
Paige Fassbender (Slinger, Wis./Slinger) was clocked in 2:13.06 -- a season best and top 45 time in Division III.
UW-Whitewater athletes registered a number of season bests Wednesday and Thursday. Warhawk season bests on the women's side set at the meet include:
Maddie Buehler (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) in the 100 (12.57) and the 200 (26.47);
Jacqueline Kornowski (Green Bay, Wis./Preble) in the 200 (26.02); and the women's 4x400 relay team featuring
Abby Giese (Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail),
Katie McNamara (Geneva, Ill./Geneva),
Lily Cooper (Elkhorn, Wis./Elkhorn) and
Hannah Bilodeau (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) (3:57.87)
UWW season bests for the Warhawk men at the meet include:
Nick McFadden (Waukesha, Wis./Pewaukee) in the 100 (10.84) and 200 (22.28);
Gunner Schlender (Brillion, Wis./Brillion) in the 1500 (3:51.25); and
Marlon Cystrunk (DeForest, Wis./DeForest) tied his top time of the season in the 110 hurdles (14.66).
UW-Whitewater was represented by a number of additional athletes finishing among the top eight at the meet including
Danielle Pouska (Algonquin, IL/Jacobs) in the 100 (7th, 12.18),
Ben Bojar (Pewaukee, Wis./Pewaukee) in the 200 (7th, 21.80),
Christian Patzka (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) in the 1500 (3rd, 3:48.20), and
Brady Schaller (Winnebago, Ill./Winnebago) in the pole vault (7th, 4.30 meters).
The 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships are slated for May 23-25 at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach, SC.
