WHITEWATER, WI — Dwayne Ford, a native of Racine, WI, and member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s track and field team, is one of 11 Warhawks who garnered All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference accolades over the weekend following their performances at the WIAC Outdoor Championships presented by Culver’s.
All 11 student-athletes helped UW-Whitewater place second at the meet for the fifth time in the last six years.
Day 1 – Friday
David Fassbender (Slinger, Wis./Slinger) earned the WIAC championship in the 10,000-meter run with a career-best time of 30:02.44, good for the No. 2 personal record time in program history. Also, a UW-River Falls facility record and a top 10 mark in NCAA Division III.
Christian Patzka (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) garnered All-WIAC accolades with his runner-up finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Also, his career-best time of 9:17.92 ranks among the top 10 in the nation and is the No. 8 personal record in program history.
Adam Schommer (Freedom, Wis./Freedom) posted a season-best height of 15-09.00 (4.80 meters) to finish second on the pole vault. His mark ranks among the top 15 in NCAA Division III.
Griffin Gawenda (Grayslake, Ill./North) placed third in the long jump with a personal-record distance of 22-10.50 (6.97 meters).
Day 2 – Saturday
Fassbender picked up his second conference title of the weekend, winning the 5,000-meter run in 14:48.41 just one day after finishing first in the 10,000-meter run. Fassbender was joined by two others on the podium in the 5K, including Patzka, who ran a career-best 14:55.22 for an All-WIAC finish of second place.
Josh Krystosek (Palmyra, Wis./Palmyra-Eagle) placed first in the high jump for his first career conference championship with a height of 6-08.00 (2.03 meters).
Lucas Skaaland (Westby, Wis./Westby) led a group of three Warhawks on the podium in the triple jump, finishing second with a personal record distance of 48-06.75 (14.80 meters). Also, good for fourth in NCAA Division III.
Justin Krause (Ixonia, Wis./Pewaukee) also garnered all-conference accolades with his runner-up finish in the 1,500-meter run. He crossed the finish line at 3:55.15.
The 4×100-meter relay team of Thomas Kelly (Brown Deer, Wis./Brown Deer), Dwayne Ford (Racine, Wis./Case), Victor Rinaldi (Medford, Wis./Medford), and Shelvin Garrett II (Beloit, Wis./Memorial) placed second in 41.27 seconds. Ford also collected an all-conference honor in the 100-meter dash with his time of 10.75, good for third place. He later placed sixth in the 200-meter dash in 22.10 seconds. Garrett added a sixth-place finish in the triple jump with a mark of 46-04.75 (14.14 meters).
For more than 150 years, UW-Whitewater has provided students with the education and training to begin their careers with a solid foundation behind them. The UW-Whitewater is committed to the development of the individual, the growth of personal and professional integrity, and respect for diversity and global perspectives. These are met by providing academic and co-curricular programs that emphasize the pursuit of knowledge and understanding and a commitment to service within a safe and secure environment.