Christian Patzka (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) is golden once again as he secured his second individual national title of the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday evening. Warhawk sprinter Tina Shelton (Janesville, Wis./Parker) and triple jumper Shelvin Garrett II (Beloit, Wis./Memorial) finished as the national runners-up in their events Saturday. The UWW men tied for sixth while the women tied for eleventh at the championships in Myrtle Beach, SC. 

The final individual track event of the championships, the 5,000-meter run, ended up as a one-man race. Despite weather delays and pushing for a national title in the 3,000 steeplechase just 14 hours before, it looked like Patzka had fresh legs throughout the race. He hung in the front of the pack for the start of the race. Looking like he was pinned on the inside rail about halfway through, Patzka made a move to the outside and pushed the pace to have a clear path. Before long, Patzka was leaving the field behind. With one lap left, he had built a nearly 50-meter lead. As he came down the home stretch, Patzka pumped up the crowd cruising to a seven second victory with a time of 14:07.74. His final three laps were nothing short of phenomenal as he ran the final 1200 meters in just over three minutes. 

The title is Patzka's first in the 5,000 and third in outdoor competition (3,000 steeplechase in 2023 and 2024). However, he is no stranger to the top of the podium in the 5,000 as a two-time national champion in the event indoors (2023 and 2024). He is now a 10-time track and field All-American - five honors indoor and five honors outdoors. 

Shelton secured her second career All-America honor in the 100-meter dash (5th in 2023) finishing as the national runner-up Saturday. The second-fastest woman in Division III, Shelton crossed the line in 11.92 to register her best finish in a national championship. 

Garrett II claimed silver in the triple jump for the second consecutive season Saturday. He advanced through the first round of jumps with a leap of 15.00 meters (49-2.5). Down to his final jump, Garrett II made the best of it - his leap of 15.38 meters (50-5.5) secured his place as the national runner-up. That mark is his career best and ranks second in the program record book. Garrett II is now a three-time triple jump All-American outdoors and six-time honoree overall. He has never finished below fifth in six combined indoor and outdoor national championship appearances. 

Justin Krause (Ixonia, Wis./Pewaukee) added three points to the team total in the 1,500-meter run. He crossed the line sixth in an extremely tight race - just half of a second separated fourth through eighth places with all podium finishers crossing the line in a 1.9 second span. Krause is now a two-time All-American in the event (4th in 2022). 

Kenni Czarnecki (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) led off the hammer throw competition on a high note securing her first All-America honor on her first toss. Czarnecki's opening throw was her best of the day at 51.70 meters (169-7). That mark held for 13th at the championship and garners Second Team All-America accolades.

Gunner Schlender (Brillion, Wis./Brillion) also represented UW-Whitewater in the 5,000-meter run. He finished 17th with a time of 14:32.59. Jordan Hall (Elkhorn, Wis./Elkhorn) joined Garrett II in the triple jump competition. His leap of 14.07 meters (46-2) was 20th at the championship. 

The strength of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was on display once again as four league institutions finished among the top six in the men's standings. On the women's side, three WIAC programs were among the top 11. 

2024 NCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field All-America Summary
Christian Patzka (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) - National Champion - First Team - 3,000 Steeplechase
Christian Patzka (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) - National Champion - First Team - 5,000-Meter Run
Tina Shelton (Janesville, Wis./Parker) - National Runner-Up - First Team - 100-Meter Dash
Shelvin Garrett II (Beloit, Wis./Memorial) - National Runner-Up - First Team - Triple Jump
Gracie Holland (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) - National Runner-Up - First Team - Pole Vault
Justin Krause (Ixonia, Wis./Pewaukee) - 6th Place - First Team - 1,500-Meter Run
Kenni Czarnecki (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) - 13th Place - Second Team - Hammer Throw
Gunner Schlender (Brillion, Wis./Brillion) - 14th Place - Second Team - 10,000-Meter Run