Between the UW-Stout men’s and women’s track and field teams over the course of the 2014 indoor and outdoor seasons, 14 school records were set, nine different athletes earned 18 All-America awards and both teams claimed a WIAC Scholar-Athlete as the teams are again eligible for national academic awards, head coach Kyle Steiner announced at the team’s annual awards banquet recently.
Zach Anderson (Sr, Frederic), who won the indoor national heptathlon title and finished third in the decathlon, was named the men’s team most valuable field performer and Patrick Jenkins (Jr, Cambridge), who earned four All-America distance awards, was named as the men’s most valuable track performer.
Jessika Smith (Sr, Onalaska), who finished second nationally in the pentathlon and the heptathlon, as well as winning the WIAC heptathlon title, earned the women’s most valuable field performer award. Laurisa Titterud (So, Lino Lake, Minn), a member of the 4×400-meter relay team that qualified to nationals both during the indoor and outdoor season, was selected as the women’s team most valuable track performer. Titterud also set a school record in ihe indoor 400-meter dash.
Titterud was joined on the 4×400-relay teams by Smith, Meagan Ward (Jr, Eau Claire) and Jada Hamilton (Jr, Rice Lake). The relay team set school records during both the indoor and outdoor seasons and became the first UW-Stout women’s relay team to earn All-America honors when they placed fifth at the NCAA outdoor championship.
Ward, who won the indoor WIAC pentathlon and earned All-America honors in both the pentathlon and the heptathlon, was selected as the Blue Devils’ women’s team most improved field performer. Hamilton earned most improved track performer honors.
On the men’s side, distance runner Kyle Mills (Jr, Rosemount, Minn) was named the most improved track performer and Peyton Shedd (So, Sheldon), who qualified to the NCAA outdoor championship in the pole vault, was selected as the men’s most improved field performer.
Rookie of the year honors went to throwers Michelle Brandt (Fr, Wausau) and Sam Elsner (Fr, Pardeeville). Brandt earned points for the Blue Devils at the conference meet in the shot put and Elsner earned All-America honors in the discus.
Coach’s Awards went to seniors Alexa Bitzer (Eden Prairie, Minn) and David Nett (Malone). Smith and Anderson, who both earned WIAC scholar-athlete awards, earned the Anchor Awards.
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