UW-Oshkosh won nine of 15 events, including a pair by freshman Jaylin Boatman in the sprints, to defeat 19-time defending WIAC champion UW-La Crosse, 82-70, in the season-opening men's track & field meet for both teams on Saturday (Feb. 6) in Kolf Sports Center. 

UW-Oshkosh, which hadn't competed since last March due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, scored 45 points with its first-place finishes and tallied 27 top-four performances overall.

Boatman led the Titans by winning the 60- and 200-meter dashes with times of 6.91 and 22.31 seconds, respectively.

UW-Oshkosh had three other scorers in the 200-meter dash as Aaron McCarroll-Richardson finished second with a time of 22.41 seconds, Robert Ogbuli third in 22.45 and Benjamin Jung fourth in 22.49.

Other event winners on the track for the Titans were Steven Potter in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:53.72, Jason Ford in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 8:49.99 and Mitchell Bradford in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 15:44.55.

In the field events, UW-Oshkosh's Joshua Rivers won the high jump and Eli Tranel the pole vault with heights of 6-2 3/4 and 15-1, respectively.

UW-Oshkosh earned its remaining victory in the 1,600-meter relay as Adrian Girone, Ryan Potter, Steven Potter and Amitai Wheat registered a nation-leading time of 3:19.63.

The Titans had five other second-place listings, including Ryan Potter's time of 1:54.33 in the 800-meter run, Jamyle Brantley's leap of 22-3 3/4 in the long jump and Andrew George's time of 4:13.64 in the mile run.

UW-Oshkosh also had Noah O'Neill and Eduardo Neri finish second with times of 9:01.77 in the 3,000-meter and 15:59.17 in the 5,000-meter runs, respectively.

The Titans' six other third-place finishes went to Jaylen Grant in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.94 seconds, Evan Wendland in the 400-meter run with a time of 53.70 seconds, Mason Wallschlaeger in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.74 seconds, Reid Marquardt in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:58.92, Brant Sanderfoot in the high jump with a height of 6-0 3/4 and Jason Myrick in the 35-pound weight throw with a measurement of 52-10 3/4.

UW-Oshkosh closed its scoring with fourth-place performances of 6.98 seconds in the 60-meter dash by Ogbuli, 1:02.07 in the 400-meter run by Michael Hartman, 42-5 1/2 in the shot put by Jack Malloy and 49-6 1/2 in the 35-pound weight throw by Max Schoening.

UW-Oshkosh will participate in a dual meet at UW-Whitewater next Saturday (Feb. 13).

Postmeet Interview (Billy Piotrowski) With UW-Oshkosh Head Men's Track & Field Coach Justin Kinseth

Photo by Steve Frommell, UW-Oshkosh Athletics