Huskies track and field teams break records
Courtesy of MTU Athletics
WHITEWATER, Wis. – The Michigan Tech track and field teams competed at the Rex Foster Invitational on the campus of UW-Whitewater on Sunday (Apr. 6). The Huskies broke four school records and the men placed third while the women were sixth.
“I’m pretty pleased with how we opened the season,” Tech coach Joe Haggenmiller said. “Everybody really appreciated the spring weather down here. We had some really good performances, and it was good to see a number of young freshmen out here getting after it.”
Freshman Jamie Dompier was a part of three of the records. The 4×100 meter relay team broke a 31-year old record with a time of 50.64. Members of the fifth place squad were Dompier, Lauren Raiford, Hannah Schnack and Ashley Veale. The record from 1983 was 51.26 seconds.
Dompier, Veale and Raiford teamed up with Deedra Irwin to win the 4×400 meter relay and break another school record with a time of 4:02.5. Irwin was a member of the previous record holding squad from last season.
Individually, Dompier also took down the 200-dash record with a time of 26.12. Kim Pearson held the previous mark from 1982. Dompier finished sixth in the event and also scored in the 100 dash with a seventh place finish in 12.85.
“Jamie’s an awesome person to work with,” added Haggenmiller. “She has some great leadership qualities for a freshman, and we’re expecting good things from her.”
Kyle Petermann was the other record-breaker, finishing second in the discus with a toss of 152 feet, 10 inches. He broke Jake Stock’s 2005 mark.
Jani Lane won the 800 with an NCAA provisionally qualifying time of 1:52.02. The Huskies dominated the event with Corey Zeutzius (3rd), Benjamin Kramka (5th), Mike Tuski (6th), Zachary Westphal (9th) and Mark Hallman (10th) also in the top 10.
“Jani had a great time in the 800 to open the season,” said Haggenmiller. “Conditions weren’t ideal with a stiff breeze and hopefully better conditions will improve his time.”
In the 1500, Kyle Hanson (4:08.79) was second. The 5K was littered with Black and Gold runners with Sean Pengelly (15:27.57) winning the event followed by Calvin Nitz (4th), Eric Parsell (6th) and Daniel Kulas (8th) also in the top 10. Jason Saliga (9:38.52) finished third in the 3K steeplechase.
Isaac Pringle sprinted to a third place time in the 400 in 50.36 seconds. Shane McGrath was third in the 400 hurdles and fourth in the 110 hurdles.
Michael Fisher (6-5.5) and Brendan Banker (6-3.5) took the top two spots in the high jump with James Sutton (6-3.5) in fifth. Brent Cousino (144-2) and Matthew Vander Velden (143-8) placed sixth and seventh in the javelin.
The pole vaulters had four Huskies score led by Jake Jurkowski in first place, clearing 14-10. Patrick Spalding (4th), Jake Wiedemeier (5th) and Keith Lemley (7th) were also in the top 10.
Pringle, Kramka, Tuski and Allen Harrison finished fourth in the 4×400 relay. The 4×100 squad was seventh with sprinters McGrath, Brian Frisk, Allen Harrison and Chrispin Johnston representing the Black and Gold.
UW-Stevens Points (186) and UW-Whitewater (151) placed ahead of Tech who scored 140.5 points.
On the women’s side, Irwin (2:20.7) placed second in the women’s 800 while teammate Anna-Catharina Wilhelm (2:41.65) was 10th. Nicole Wehner (14:33.84) was seventh in the 3-kilometer steeplechase. Veale (16:32) had a fifth place finish in the 100 hurdles.
Natalie Berryman placed second in the javelin with a toss of 96 feet, 3 inches. In the discus, Berryman (125-1) was sixth and Ellen Hetcher (115-7) was 10th. Erika Poli cleared 10 feet, 1.25 inches to place fifth in the pole vault.
UW-Oshkosh (151.5), UW-Whitewater (145.5), UW-Stevens Point (144), Wisconsin (118) and Northern Michigan (93) finished ahead of Tech’s 48 points.
The Huskies are back in action on Saturday (Apr. 12) at Concordia-St. Paul’s Holst Invitational.