KENOSHA, Wis. - The Carroll men's and women's track and field programs turned in a strong collective performance at the Tadd Metzger Invitational, combining for 115 points to secure 2nd place in a competitive nine-team field. The meet was highlighted by 10 event winners for Carroll, with 18 on the Men's side claiming PRs and 34 on the Women's side doing the same. Only host Carthage (259) finished ahead of the Pioneers, with Wheaton (92), Concordia Chicago (67), UW–Parkside (53), Rockford (25), Carthage Alumni (16), South Chicago Track Club (14), and Bryant & Stratton (13) rounding out the standings.
SPRINTS & HURDLES
Carroll's sprinters delivered several standout performances across both programs.
On the men's side, Denim Riley opened the day by qualifying for finals in the 55m with a 6.80 prelim before storming to third place in the finals with a PR-tying 6.65. Teammates Jerome Sassoe (6.90) and Peyton Thomas (7.05) also produced personal-best performances, while Ben Breitbach clocked 7.22 in the heptathlon version of the event.
In the women's 55m, Carroll placed three athletes in the top six. Aimee Koranteng ran a PR 7.59 to take third, finishing just .001 ahead of teammate Margaret Carter, who placed fourth in 7.59 as well. Addison Weber (7.64) added a PR and a sixth-place finish, while several more Pioneers notched personal or season bests.
Hurdles produced another set of big results. Carlos Cadet (8.22) and Jared Kniola (8.48) placed second and fourth in the men's 55m hurdles. The women's squad was led by Tirzah Losos, who ran a lifetime-best 8.87 to win the event, followed by Gwen Breckheimer in second (9.71) and Addisyn Tauferner in fourth with a PR 10.84. In combined events, Ashley Wojciechowski (9.79) and Isabel Asumendi (11.27) put down strong 55H marks in the women's pentathlon.
MID-DISTANCE & DISTANCE
Carroll's middle-distance group kept momentum rolling.
Brian Smith continued his breakout freshman campaign by winning the 400m in a PR 49.44, one of the day's top overall performances. Cadence Carlson matched that excellence on the women's side, winning the 400m in a PR 1:00.57.
In the 600m, Cameron Lotspeich claimed the men's title in 1:27.05, while Rianna Schultz earned second (1:46.01) for the women.
The Pioneers also picked up big points in the 800m and mile. Hana Smith (2:25.97 PR) took second in the women's 800m, while Sawyer Caves placed seventh on the men's side. In the mile, Carroll stacked the results: Ethan Weber (4:36.73) placed fourth, followed by PRs from Bailey Olson and Julian Bica Harrison. On the women's side, Kyla Laabs ran a PR 5:39.03 for fourth.
In the 3000m, Sam Daley delivered a standout freshman performance with a second-place PR of 9:20.24, while the women's team placed four in the top ten, led by Keagan Knue (3rd, 11:23.71) and Sarah Tinder with a PR 11:41.81.
JUMPS
The Pioneers shined in the jumps, highlighted by a new Division III No. 13 mark from freshman Carlos Cadet, who won the men's triple jump with a massive 14.59m (47-10.50) PR. Cadet also placed third in the long jump (6.83m).
On the women's side, Katelyn Duber placed second in the triple jump with a PR 11.05m (DIII No. 45 nationally). Clare Whitney added points in both the high jump (4th, 1.48m) and triple jump (8th, 9.78m). Margaret Carter placed fourth in the long jump with 5.05m.
Combined-events standout Ashley Wojciechowski won the pentathlon long jump at 5.16m and added top-eight finishes in the hurdles, high jump, and shot put.
POLE VAULT
Carroll earned one of its biggest victories of the day in the women's pole vault, where freshman Jenna Weis cleared 3.60m (11-9.75) — a jump that now ranks No. 37 in Division III. Teammate Ella Ott placed third (3.12m), while Alanna Schuett and Gwen Breckheimer tied for eighth.
In the men's heptathlon vault, Ben Breitbach cleared a PR 3.30m.
THROWS
Senior Brady Reusser had a dominant day in the men's throws, winning the shot put at 15.99m (52-5.5) and adding a fourth-place finish in the weight throw (14.97m). Dylan Mendro and Sutton Zimmerman provided depth scoring in both events.
The women's throws featured top-ten finishes from Grace Pequignot in both the shot put (7th, 11.25m) and weight throw (10th, 12.81m PR), while Caroline Plasil highlighted the group with a fourth-place finish in the weight throw at 14.59m.
RELAYS
Carroll closed the meet with major relay success.
The men's A 4x400m relay — Sawyer Caves, Ethan Weber, Eber Lopez, and Brian Smith — won the event in 3:29.41, a season's best. The women's A team of Addison Korte, Cadence Carlson, Rianna Schultz, and Hana Smith matched the result, taking first in 4:08.67.
Both "B" squads also competed well and added valuable experience for the growing roster.
TEAM FINISH
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
- Carthage — 259
- Carroll — 115
- Wheaton — 92
- Concordia Chicago — 67
- Wisconsin–Parkside — 53
- Rockford — 25
- Carthage Alumni — 16
- South Chicago Track Club — 14
- Bryant & Stratton (WI) — 13
Looking ahead, the Pioneers next meet will come next Saturday at Ripon College.
