Wartburg wins five titles at UW-La Crosse

LA CROSSE, WIS. – Wartburg College placed among the top five of both team races at UW-La Crosse's Phil Esten Challenge April 15.

Competing in cold and blustery conditions, Coach Marcus Newsom's squads won a combined five event titles amongst a strong field of top NCAA Division II and III schools that included Winona State, the host Eagles and UW-Oshkosh.

On the men's side, freshman Jonas Elusme of Boynton Beach, Fla., won the high jump at six feet, nine and three quarters inches which is an NCAA Division III provisional national qualifying mark and is tied for the second-highest jump in the nation. His leap also broke Hall of Famer Gary Arends' previous school record of six feet, nine inches, set in 1992. Junior Matt Mostek of Jesup took first in the javelin with a best throw of 159 feet, six inches to defeat the field by nearly 12 feet (runner-up was 147'11''). The Knights' 68 points were good for fifth.

For the women, all three event titles occurred on the track. Senior Emily Eimers of Lone Rock claimed the 1500 (4:48.6), junior Becca Fagerlind of Denver was tops in the 400 meter hurdles (68.66), and the 4x400 meter relay “C” squad led a one-two sweep. Fagerlind, sophomore Kendra Kregel of Delhi, freshman Libbey Schubert of Fairfield and senior Christine Marchik of Tipton crossed first in 4:02.61. Wartburg's 108 points put them fourth on the team standings.

Newsom's teams send individuals to the University of Kansas Relays and Grinnell College's Dick Young Classic Friday and Saturday, April 22 and 23.