Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire hosted the second annual Dick & Mary Johnson Invitational, with four other Midwest teams participating. The event served as a final opportunity for the Blugolds to prepare before the upcoming Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Outdoor Championships. The home meet concluded successfully with eight event wins for UW-Eau Claire.

Allyson Kakes from Two Rivers, Wisconsin, achieved two first-place finishes in short track races. She qualified for the finals with a personal best time of 12.47 seconds and won the women's 100m dash in 12.67 seconds. Kakes also claimed victory in the 200m dash with a personal best time of 25.29 seconds.

In javelin events, Laura Bertrang from New Ulm, Minnesota, set a personal best with her winning throw of 35.42 meters in the women's division. Tommy Mestnick from Prior Lake, Minnesota, led the men's division with a top throw of 57.67 meters.

Other field event victories included Isaiah Bauer from DeForest, Wisconsin, who topped the pole vault competition at a height of 4.75 meters and Gage Stankiewicz from Esko, Minnesota, who had the longest shot put throw at 15.86 meters.

On the track, Izak Clendenning from Wisconsin Rapids took first place in the 400m race with a personal best time of 49.74 seconds. The men's 4x400 relay team consisting of Braxton Osterhaus, Dalton Hoel, Drew Eiden, and Harrison Cull finished first with a time of 3:25.79 seconds.

The Blugolds are now preparing for the WIAC Championships on May 3 and 4 at UW-Platteville Track & Field Complex.