Although no team scores were kept during the UW-Platteville Invitational Sunday, clearly the big winner was the Pioneer track and field program.
The Pioneers' new outdoor complex opened to rave reviews and outstanding times and distances during a high-powered meet that featured UWP, UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh, UW-Stevens Point, Wartburg and athletes from the University of Wisconsin (Madison) and Loras.
"We had a lot of good comments from the other athletes and coaches," UWP Coach Jim Nickasch said. "Our kids were all excited because they ran fast. The weather cooperated, too. Everyone is really pleased. All the field events were done and the meet ran on time, thanks in part to the design of the venue which helped us run the meet efficiently. Everything just went really well."
The Pioneers broke two school records on the new track. Marcia Taddy won the 1,500-meter run in 4:22.56, breaking her own school record by six seconds and automatically qualifying for NCAA Division III nationals. Jessica Scott also took down her school mark, winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 11:20.9, shaving more than 16 seconds off her previous best.
Two UWP athletes provisionally qualified for nationals. Ben Zizis won the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.52, and Emma Dreis was second to Taddy in the 1,500 in 4:36.18.
Tyler Sigl was second in the 5,000 run, as former Pioneer and 2003 national 10,000-meter champion Corey Stelljes held him off to win in 14:57.78. Sigl was runner-up in 14:59.19.
Another former Pioneer national champion won the 800, as Ryan Kleimenhagen returned to win in 1:51.04.
Placing third in their respective events were Aaron Whalen in the 10K with a time of 33:05.11; Derek Shuda in the long jump at 21-10.75; Alison Ross in the 400 hurdles in 1:05.54; and the 4x400 team of Dreis, Taddy, Bobbi Arand and Ross with a time of 4:00.09.
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