The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's track and field program opened competition in the 2024 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships hosted by UW-Platteville Friday. UWW is in fourth after the first day of competition.
Gracie Holland (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) led the Warhawks on day one with her third career gold in the pole vault.
Holland defended her 2022 and 2023 WIAC titles in the pole vault Friday. Her height of 3.92 meters (12-10.25) won the event by nearly six inches. Holland now holds five WIAC golds in the pole vault including indoor titles in 2022 and 2023. Teammate
Ella Maher (Rockford, Ill./Winnebago) finished sixth in the event with a height of 3.47 meters (11-4.5). Holland added another point to the team total with an eighth-place finish in the long jump. She registered a leap of 5.55 meters (18-2.5) - a distance ranked among the top 50 nationally.
Kenni Czarnecki (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) claimed bronze in the hammer throw with a toss of 52.67 meters (172-10).
Tina Shelton (Janesville, Wis./Parker) secured fourth in the javelin with a distance of 36.30 meters (119-1) to round out the throws competitions Friday.
On the track,
Ari De La Cerda (Milwaukee, Wis./Pewaukee) crossed the line in 11:12.75 to finish sixth in the 3,000 steeplechase. That mark ranks among the top 35 in Division III this season.
Four Warhawks qualified for finals in five events during Friday's preliminaries. UW-Whitewater runners qualifying for the finals on Saturday include
Lena Becker (Toulon, Ill./Stark County) in the 100 hurdles,
Hannah Bilodeau (Machesney Park, IL/Harlem) in the 400,
Paige Fassbender (Slinger, Wis./Slinger) in the 800 and
Danielle Pouska (Algonquin, IL/Jacobs) in both the 100 and 200.
Team Scores after Day One: UWL 84.50, UWEC 52.75, UWS 31.75, UWW 28, UWO 26, UWRF 7, UWSP 4
The conclusion of the 2024 outdoor championship on Saturday will feature the women's triple jump, high jump, shot put and discus for field events. The track will feature the 1,500, 5,000 and both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays along with the finals in the 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, 100, 200, 400 and 800.
