The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's and women's track and field programs opened competition in the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Thursday. 

Gracie Holland (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) led the way with a runner-up finish in the pole vault competition. Holland cleared the bar on her second attempt at 4.01 meters (13-1.75) to break the program record in the event. She is now a two-time national runner-up (2022) and three-time All-American (2023, fourth) outdoors. Adding in her national title indoors (2023) along with another All-America finish in 2022 (5th), Holland is now a five-time All-American in her signature event. 

Two Warhawks advanced to the finals in their events Thursday. Christian Patzka (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) won his heat of the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:03.96 to qualify for the finals scheduled for tomorrow evening. Justin Krause (Ixonia, Wis./Pewaukee) posted a time of 3:52.90 to finish sixth and qualify for the finals in the 1,500-meter run. That final is slated for Saturday afternoon. 

Tina Shelton (Janesville, Wis./Parker) competed in a pair of events Thursday. She registered a career-best time of 24.37 to finish 15th in the prelims in the 200-meter dash. That mark is sixth-fastest in program history. Shelton joined teammates Hannah Bilodeau (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem), Jacqueline Kornowski (Green Bay, Wis./Preble) and Danielle Pouska (Algonquin, IL/Jacobs) in the 4x100 meter relay. The squad crossed the line in 46.94, just .08 away from qualifying for the finals in the event. 

In the final event of the evening, Gunner Schlender (Brillion, Wis./Brillion) gave it his all in a tough 10,000-meter run. The heat and humidity created an interesting race as Schlender held fifth for over half of the race. A couple of big moves from a few athletes stretched the group and Schlender crossed the line 14th with a time of 31:28.27. 

On the docket for Friday, Shelton will be back in action for the prelims of the 100-meter dash and Patzka will go for a defense of his 2023 national title in the steeplechase. Saturday's slate features both Patzka and Schlender competing in the 5,000 while Shelvin Garrett II (Beloit, Wis./Memorial) and Jordan Hall (Elkhorn, Wis./Elkhorn) will compete in the triple jump. Kenni Czarnecki (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) will also represent UWW in the hammer throw.