UW has three champions in MWC track meet

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Two Cowboys and one Cowgirl came away with individual titles Friday at the Mountain West Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. As a team, the University of Wyoming men are in second place, while the Cowgirls are in seventh place.

Senior Jake Shanklin became a three-time conference champion in the 35-pound weight throw, with a winning toss of 71-feet, 9 inches. Shanklin is the first three-time conference champion at UW since Wyoming assistant coach Quincy Howe. In the weight throw, Shanklin was followed by fellow senior Sam Lambert with his third-place finish at 66-9 3/4 and freshman Joe Plante, with his freshman record of 58-8 3/4, which was good for sixth place.

“All three of the guys threw very well today. It was also nice to see Joe throw to his potential. He is going to be very good for us in the future,” said assistant coach Paul Barrett. “Jake is really starting to turn well and perfect his timing as the NCAA Championships are just around the corner.”

Jeremiah James won the long jump for Wyoming at 23-6 1/4.

The Cowgirls walked away with one conference championship of their own, as sophomore Amanda Aimone won her first MWC Championship in the 20-pound weight throw. at 58-3 1/4.

“Amanda is quite the competitor, and she wasn’t to be denied today,” said Barrett. “Last year, she placed 10th and this year she was able to win it all. That just shows how much potential she has.”

Several Cowboys and Cowgirls entered their names into the Wyoming record books on Friday. Leading the way was junior Jay Petsch, who tied the fastest 60-meter hurdle time in Wyoming history at 6.10 seconds. Petsch also improved on his third-best heptathlon score with a fourth-place finish and total of 4,995 points. Junior Keith Brauneis wrote his name in the 60-meter dash records with a tie for the ninth best time in school history of 7.05. Junior Kekoa Chavez improved on his fifth place 400-meter dash time of 48.76.

The following Cowboys and Cowgirls qualified for the finals on Saturday: Petsch (60-meter hurdles) and Chavez (400-meter dash), as well as Cowgirls Emily Higgins (1-Mile run) and Erica Anderson (400-meter dash).

The final day of the meet begins on Saturday at 11 a.m.