Titans Run Away With Eastbay Invitational

Samantha Loew (Sr. • Burnett), Breanna Strupp (Sr. • Slinger) and Kylee Verhasselt (So. • Freedom) each won an event as UW-Oshkosh captured the Eastbay Women's Track & Field Invitational on Saturday (Feb. 16) in Stevens Point.

The Titans tallied 138 points to prevail in the 12-team meet. UW-Stevens Point listed second with 111, followed by UW-Eau Claire in third (98.5), St. Norbert College in fourth (62) and Carroll University in fifth (47).

Verhasselt won with an 800-meter time of 2:15.74, which ranks ninth nationally this season. UW-Oshkosh also owned the next three finishers with McKenzie Kelly (Sr. • New Richmond) in second at 2:16.40, Taylor Bauer (Fr. • Fort Atkinson) in third at 2:18.85 and Kristin Stockheimer (Sr. • West Salem) fourth at 2:19.37.

Strupp recorded one of the top-five shot puts in NCAA Division III history. Her 51-4.5 easily won by more than eight feet. Teammates Melanie Brickner (So. • Marathon) and Abby Martin (Jr. • Chilton) followed in third and fourth place with distances of 42-10.25 and 42-9, respectively.

The Titans also dominated the weight throw with the top four finishers. Samantha Loew (Sr. • Burnett) claimed first at 57-3.75, while Brickner took second at 56-1, Strupp third at 54-5.5 and Martin fourth at 52-5.25.

Rachel Westover (So. • South Milwaukee) scored the remaining second-place finish with her 400-meter run time of 59.82.

Third-place performances came from Kasey Ederer (Fr. • Kaukauna) in the high jump with her 5-1.25 and Taylor Sherry (Fr. • Viola) in the 60-meter hurdles at 9.32.

UW-Oshkosh will contend at the WIAC Championship next weekend (Feb. 22-23) in Stevens Point.