The UW-River Falls track and field teams opened the St. Olaf Invitational & Multi Events Friday evening with a solid showing across distance, field, and combined events. Competing against a deep field, the Falcons delivered victories, personal records, and program-level performances during the first day of action.

MENS RESULTS

Jack Richter led the Falcons in the men's 5,000 meters, picking up the event title with a time of 15:13.19. Ryan Pierson followed with a personal record time of 15:32.15. Cooper Smith ran a 35-second personal best (16:01.97), while John Fritts (16:10.35) and Derek Kreier (16:24.32) also turned in PR performances.

Jacob Stella opened the heptathlon with a strong run in the 60 meters, clocking 7.41, and later led the Falcons in the long jump with a mark of 6.34 meters. Vincent Nash followed in the 60 meters at 7.70 and paced the Falcons in the high jump (1.83 meters).

Cole Darling highlighted the field events by taking first place in the pole vault, clearing 4.40 meters, while Jacob Balcome added a clearance of 4.10 meters. In the weight throw, Charles Baker paced the Falcons with a mark of 15.89 meters.

WOMENS RESULTS

Laina Viere delivered one of the top performances of the meet for the Falcons, finishing third overall in the women's 5,000 meters, posting a personal record of 17:44.24, a mark that now ranks second all-time in UW-River Falls history. Emma Karnitz turned in a strong performance, winning her heat with a time of 18:49.17.

Elena Fuglestad put together a standout day in the pentathlon, recording a personal best in total points across all events along with a PR of 2:29.00 in the 800 meters. She also led the Falcons in both the long jump (4.98 meters) and shot put (9.95 meters). 

The Falcons turned in a dominant performance in the women's weight throw, sweeping top three. Lauryn Schutz captured first place with a throw of 17.47 meters, followed by Ali Clifford in second at 16.27 meters. Alexis Koch rounded out the podium, placing third with a personal-record mark of 15.59 meters.

The Falcons return to action Saturday morning to close out the St. Olaf Invitational with a full slate of field and track events. Combined events kick off at 9 a.m., field events at 10 a.m., followed by track events at 11 a.m.