WC Wisconsin News

Led by senior Katie Banie’s school record in the 600-meter race, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women’s track & field team nabbed a second-place finish at the Minnesota State University Mankato Ted Nelson Classic.

According to a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse press release, the Eagles tallied 121 team points in the event, held in Myers Field House, while the host Minnesota State Mankato claimed the team title with 271.5 points. The university release also noted that the two schools were among eight that took part in the meet. 

“That school record feeling,” University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) Cross Country posted on Twitter after the event. “Congrats to senior Katie Banie on a new school record in the 600m - 1:34.82. Previous record holder was Lace Van Zeeland - (1:35.43)."

According to the UWL release, Greta Koehler won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:20.88, and Ashley O’Connell took top pole vault honors with a jump of 12 feet 2 inches. The release also noted that UWL’s 4x400-meter relay team, which included Banie, Amber Johnson, Mara Schroeder and Emma Lawrence, took first place with a time of 3:55.23.

The UWL team also had a strong showing in the field events, with Skye Digman placing second in the shot put with a throw of 48 feet 3 1/4 inches, and sixth in the weight throw with a toss of 57 feet 10 ¼ inches. The university’s release also noted that Samantha Barrett took second in the triple jump (37 feet 5 inches) while Jessica Stelzner came in third (36 feet 6 ¾ inches) and Madison Page finished fifth (17 feet 4 inches) in the long jump.

The university also noted that Hannah Zenkovich took second in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.92. The release noted that Lawrence finished third in the event (8.99) and Brooke McDowell finished sixth (9.13). According to the university release, Johnson claimed fifth place in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.78, with Lilly Halvarson was right behind her in sixth place (59.85). The university release also noted that Kylie Johnson took fifth place in the 800-meter run (2:25.13) with Ellie Jillson coming in sixth (2:30.87). In the 1,000-meter contest, Claire Koenecke took fifth place (3:00.48). The university also noted that the team was to participate Feb. 12 at the Midwest Elite at UW-Whitewater.