Spring Term is the beginning of outdoor adventures and warmer weather, which is perfect for the beginning of the outdoor track and field season. This past weekend, the men’s and women’s track and field teams split and competed at both the University of Wisconsin–Platteville and Beloit College meets.
At the UW–Platteville Invitational, senior Cristyn Oliver once again set a school record in the 5,000 meter run. Her previous record, set just the week prior at the Wisconsin Private College Championships, was 18:03.11; however, she now holds the new school record at 17:39.82. This also means Oliver has posted the second-fastest time in the Midwest Conference this season. First-year Finn Lee also competed in the 5,000 meter for the men’s side and completed the run with 15:22.73.
The Beloit Relays saw several personal records for the team and a few first-place finishers. First-year Ryan Cassiday took home first place in the men’s 5,000 meter, finishing with 15:50.64, followed by sophomore Sam Brewer in third with 16:19.74 and junior Owen West in fourth with 16:38.10. First-year Gabby Skorczewski won the women’s 800 meter race with a time of 2:24.65, with first-year Ella Fajardo-Wilde close behind with a third-place time of 2:27.62. The women’s 4×400-meter relay, starring Skorczewski, Fajardo-Wilde, sophomore Faith Onukaogu and first-year Laura Henze, got second place with a time of 4:12.24. Junior Riley Winebrenner grabbed a second-place finish in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (12:13.09) and first-year Jane Partsch got fifth in the 1,500 meter with 5:06.99. Sophomore Tristan Zook achieved fifth in the high jump, reaching a height of 5 feet, 8 inches. Zook also got third place in the open 400 meter, finishing with 51.81, and competed alongside first-years Parker Wittmayer and Brendan Cross and senior David Benjamin in the men’s 4×100-meter relay to race to fifth place (44.48). First-year Leo Hagberg jumped to third place in the triple jump with a leap of 42-7.5.
You can keep up with the Lawrence Track and Field team on instagram @lawrencexctrack or the Vikings athletic page @luvikesathletics. The track and field teams will both be competing at the first home meet on Friday, April 19 at 5 p.m. and again on Friday, May 3 at 4 p.m.