Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's track and field teams participated in two separate events on Thursday. The multi-event athletes began the Phil Esten Challenge in La Crosse, Wisconsin, while several pole vaulters competed at the Kansas Relays.

In La Crosse, the Blugolds have shown strong performances in the decathlon and heptathlon. Jace Stolte, a freshman from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, leads the decathlon standings with 3,509 points. Mitch Stegeman, a senior from Coleman, Wisconsin, is close behind with 3,507 points. Both athletes secured first-place finishes in decathlon events on the opening day. In the heptathlon, senior Emilee Booker from Genoa City, Wisconsin, is in the lead with 3,103 points, followed by Emma Gruen of Elroy, Wisconsin, who has 3,031 points. Booker won two events while Gruen claimed victory in one.

In Kansas, competing in one of the largest track and field meets in the country, freshman Johnny Botsch from Brookfield, Wisconsin, topped the men's unseeded pole vault with a height of 4.97 meters. In the women's unseeded pole vault, senior Haley Blagdon from Waukesha, Wisconsin, placed first with a height of 3.69 meters.

The Phil Esten Challenge will conclude on Friday, April 18, with events beginning at 10 a.m. Fans can follow the Blugolds' journey throughout the season at Blugolds.com, on the Blugold Sports app, and on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.