Titans Tally Second-Place Finish At Cardinal Opener

UW-Oshkosh posted six strong finishes in the throwing events to place second at the Cardinal Women's Track & Field Opener on Friday (Jan. 18) in Naperville, Ill.

UW-La Crosse topped the nine-team field with a score of 185. The Titans came in second with 135 points, while the University of Ill.-Chicago took third at 87, North Central College (Ill.) fourth at 83 and Carthage College fifth at 37.

Both Samantha Loew (Sr. • Burnett) and Breanna Strupp (Sr. • Slinger) marked the nation's best throws this year. Loew had a winning 58-3.25 in the weight throw, as Strupp captured the shot put title with her 49-9.75.

In the weight throw, the Titans had Melanie Brickner (So. • Marathon) earn second place with a 54-9.25 and Strupp take fourth with a 52-3.75. The shot put standings featured Abby Martin (Jr. • Chilton) in second at 43-8 and Brickner in fourth at 42-0.

UW-Oshkosh used victories from Christy Cazzola (Sr. • Kaukauna) and Stephanie Jahn (Jr. • Deerfield) on the track. Cazzola clocked a 2:11.62 at 800 meters and Jahn used 59.82 to complete the 400-meter run.

Tessa Thurs (Fr. • Edgar) attained a second-place 1:00.37 in the 400-meter race, while McKenzie Kelly (Sr. • New Richmond) followed with a third-place time of 2:19.42 in the 800-meter run.

The 1,600-meter relay quartet of Cazzola, Jahn, Caiti McCormick (Fr. • Waukesha) and Kylee Verhasselt (So. • Freedom) booked a 4:04.67 for second place.

UW-Oshkosh hosts its own invitational on Friday (Jan. 25) in Kolf Sports Center.