WHITEWATER/PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The Loras College track and field teams competed in two meets over the weekend, with the varsity squad traveling to Whitewater, Wisconsin, for the Midwest Elite Invitational at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, while others competed at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Invitational.
At the Midwest Elite, the Loras women placed fourth out of 10 teams with 74.5 points, while the men finished sixth with 61 points.
The men's team secured one event win as the 4x400-meter relay team of Ted Kruse, Joe Franke, Carson Vaske, and Ian Fagan took first place with a time of 3:21.65.
On the women's side, three Duhawks claimed individual victories, all in field events. Emma Seipel reset her own school record in the long jump with a mark of 6.11 meters, ranking her No. 1 in the nation by 20 centimeters and No. 5 all-time in NCAA Division III history. Sara Hoskins cleared a season-best 1.71 meters in the high jump, tying her for No. 3 nationally. Caitlyn Cox rounded out the wins with a first-place finish in the weight throw, recording a toss of 18.19 meters.
At the UW-Platteville Invitational, Ella Toom was the only top finisher for the Duhawks, taking first place in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:46.58.
Several Duhawks posted standout performances. Isaac Bourne ran 14:42.48 in the 5,000 meters, placing him No. 4 in Loras program history. Freshman Maddie Mucci set a personal record in the triple jump at 11.42 meters, ranking her sixth in school history and 26th in Division III.
In the 800 meters, Elly Burds ran an indoor personal best of 2:15.28, ranking her fourth in program history and 17th nationally. Frankie Chaidez followed with a season-best time of 2:16.70, securing a top-25 national ranking. Meghan McDonald and Layla Hughes posted personal bests in the 200 meters, with McDonald finishing in 26.85 and Hughes in 26.52.
Up Next: The Duhawks will split competition again on Friday, Feb. 21, with varsity members traveling to UW-La Crosse for the La Crosse Invite and select athletes competing at the University of Dubuque's Spartan Invite.
Event Winners
Men
- 4x400 Relay: T. Kruse, J. Franke, C. Vaske, I. Fagan – 3:21.65
Women
- High Jump: Hoskins – 1.71m
- Long Jump: Seipel – 6.11m
- Weight Throw: Cox – 18.19m
- 800 Meters (UWP): Toom – 2:46.58
Team Results – Midwest Elite
Men
- UW-Oshkosh – 129 points
- UW-Stevens Point – 97.5
- UW-Whitewater – 84
- Washington University (Mo.) – 76
- UW-La Crosse – 69
- Loras – 61
- Carthage – 55.5
- Cornell – 6
- North Central (Ill.) – 2
- Augustana (Ill.) – 1
Women
- Washington University (Mo.) – 175.5 points
- UW-La Crosse – 152
- UW-Whitewater – 80.5
- Loras – 74.5
- Carthage – 44
- UW-Oshkosh – 42
- St. Olaf – 7
- UW-Stevens Point – 5.5
- Simpson – 2
- UW-Eau Claire – 1
