LA CROSSE – The UW-Stout men's and women's track and field teams opened the 2026 indoor season Friday at the Pat Healy Classic, hosted by UW-La Crosse inside the Hetzel Fieldhouse.
Men's Highlights
UW-Stout finished second in the team standings with 100 points, trailing only host UW-La Crosse
Thomas Casey set a school record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.09 seconds. Malachy Driscoll finished in 8.36 and
Eli Key rana 8.83.
In the sprints, sophomore
James John led UW-Stout in the 60-meter dash, clocking a 7.07 in preliminaries. Freshman
Ramdy Goyke (7.22) and freshman
Kendall Jaenicke (7.30) also opened their collegiate careers in the event. Driscoll followed with a strong showing in the 200 meters, finishing fourth overall in 22.65 seconds.
Freshman
Nolyn Lindner highlighted the 400 meters for the Blue Devils, placing seventh in 51.32 seconds, while
Conner Blade added a solid with a 52.76.
In the middle distances, freshman
Walter Strait opened his collegiate career with a win in the 800 meters (1:59.59), followed closely by freshman
Josh Ellerman (2:01.51). The Blue Devils placed multiple athletes in the mile, led by freshman
Niko Dayment (4:25.08) and junior
Nick Stitzer (4:26.66).
UW-Stout made its mark in the field events, led by senior
Matthew Binstock, who placed second in the high jump by clearing 1.95 meters (6-4.75). Junior
Ethan Rupakus followed in third (1.85m), while sophomore
Ethan Kroeger added a fourth-place finish (1.75m).
Freshman
Patrik Dortch delivered one of the top field performances of the day, placing fifth in the long jump (6.40m) and third in the triple jump (13.09m). Senior
Karter Rashke opened the season with a third-place finish in the shot put (16.71m), and added a strong showing in the weight throw.
Jesse Fowler placed fourth in the weight throw with a mark of 17.01 meters.
The UW-Stout 4x400 relay team finished second overall, posting a time of 3:25.45.
Women's Highlights
The UW-Stout women placed fourth overall in the team standings with 25 points.
Junior
Lilly Gamache led UW-Stout in the sprints, finishing the 60 meters in 7.90 seconds and placing 10th in the 200 meters (26.73). Junior
Makayla Durango followed closely in the 200 with a time of 26.77. Freshmen
Paige Kosmatka and
Ava Budworth added early-season experience in both events.
In the 400 meters, junior
Corrina Tvedt paced the Blue Devils with a time of 1:00.74, while junior
Megan Liebers (1:03.20) and freshman
Ava Budworth (1:03.41) followed. Freshman
Alexys Smith led UW-Stout in the 800 meters, placing fourth overall in 2:28.27.
Junior
Arlie Kapaun was UW-Stout's top finisher in the mile, crossing the line in 5:27.54.
In the field events, senior
Leah Zastrow highlighted the day with a winning performance in the pole vault, clearing 4.11 meters to set both a school and facility record.
Raegan Sorensen added a fourth-place finish with a mark of 3.81 meters.
Freshman
Marissa Flannery led UW-Stout in the high jump, clearing 1.43 meters, while sophomore
Isabelle Jaenicke placed 10th in the long jump (5.11m) and added a top-10 finish in the triple jump (10.83m).
In the throws, senior
Lincoln Wellsmith opened the season with a fifth-place finish in the shot put (12.23m) and placed sixth in the weight throw (14.30m). Sophomore
Grace Schmidt added points in both events.
UW-Stout will continue the indoor season next week when they host the Warren Bowlus Open Jan 30-31. The meet starts Friday at 3 p.m. and continues Saturday morning at 9 a.m. in the Multipurpose Room inside the Sports and Fitness Center on campus.
