With school record toss, Ruechel earns WIAC/Kwik Trip Athlete of the Week honors

WIAC/Kwik Trip Track & Field Athlete of the Week | NCAA Division III Shot Put Performance List

MENOMONIE (March 9, 2021) - Kevin Ruechel went where no other UW-Stout shot put performer had before when he broke 60-feet with a toss in winning the event at the WIAC Last Chance Meet March 6 at UW-Whitewater. For his efforts, Ruechel was selected as the WIAC/Kwik Trip Field Athlete of the Week.

Ruechel became the first UW-Stout shot putter, indoor and outdoor, to break 60-feet when on his third throw of the day he set a school record with a mark of 60-feet, 1-inch. The mark is currently the top distance in the NCAA Division III by nearly a foot-and-a-half. The second best mark in Division III was set a day earlier by Josh Miller of Capital with a distance of 58-7.25. 

Ruechel's throw Saturday won the event by nearly two meters and broke the school record by nearly two feet, moving 2018 national champion Sam Elsner's mark (58-2) to second on the all-time list. Ruechel's previous best mark was 57-10.50. The record mark was just outside the Top 10 in Division III history and is better than all NAIA marks and would be among the Top 10 in the NCAA Division II. 

This was the first time Ruechel received the WIAC weekly honor.

The meet was the final indoor meet of the season for the Blue Devils. The outdoor schedule is expected to be released soon.