The UW-River Falls men's and women's track & field teams are gearing up for their final regular-season meet this Friday, Feb. 20, traveling to Minneapolis, Minn. for the Snowshoe Open at the Minnesota Fieldhouse. Field events are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., followed by a full slate of running events throughout the afternoon and evening.

The Snowshoe Open offers the Falcons another opportunity to compete on a championship-caliber track as they sharpen their performances ahead of the WIAC Indoor Championships next weekend in Platteville, Wis. The Falcons enter the meet following a strong showing at the Maday Classic in Superior, where the Falcons combined for six event titles and numerous personal records.

SNOWSHOE OPEN
Date: Friday, Feb. 20
Time: 2:00 p.m. (Throws) // 2:30 p.m. (Track, Jumps)
Site: Minneapolis, Minn. // Minnesota Fieldhouse
 
FALCONS TO WATCH

Senior Logan Munson captured the 800-meter title at the Maday Classic in 1:57.45, leading a strong middle-distance group. Freshman Isaiah Juneski posted a season-best 7.17 in the 60-meter dash, just missing UWRF's all-time top-10 list while helping power the 4x200-meter relay alongside Ben Johnson, TJ Hanson, and Theodore Hovde, securing the event title and adding a season-best time of1:33.84 that ranks ninth all-time in program history.

In the distance events, Jack Richter recorded a personal-best 4:31.47 in the mile, while Wyatt Johnson finished runner-up in the 1,000 meters with a PR of 2:37.16. 

In the field events, Bryant Molamphy and Jacob Balcome each cleared 4.51 meters in the pole vault at Superior, marks that rank among the program's top-10 performances. Balcome has already proven he thrives in the Minnesota Fieldhouse this season. In the M City Classic earlier this winter, he captured the heptathlon title with a meet-record 5,240 total points, setting the tone for his indoor campaign.

The Falcon women claimed four event titles at the Maday Classic last weekend and will look to carry that drive into Friday's competition.

Finley Noll highlighted the hurdle group with a first-place, personal-record 9.50 in the 60-meter hurdles. Brianna Strehlau also continues to climb the program leaderboard, posting PRs in both the 200 meters (27.21) and 60-meter hurdles (9.43), with the latter cracking the UWRF all-time top-10 list. Taylor Matter captured the 400-meter dash title in 1:02.42. 

In the field events, Annika Gunderson cleared a season-best 3.76 meters in the pole vault to win the event, a mark that ranks among the WIAC's top performances and nationally in NCAA Division III. Ali Clifford won the shot put and finished runner-up in the weight throw, continuing her strong indoor campaign.

Sophomore Lauryn Schutz continues to headline the throws group. During the Falcons' first trip to the University of Minnesota this season, she set a new indoor program record in the weight throw, a mark she has since improved upon multiple times. 

Freshman Ava Bringgold added a season-best mark in the high jump to place second at Superior, while Laina Viere posted a runner-up finish in the 5,000 meters, another top-10 mark in program history.

With the postseason rapidly approaching, the Snowshoe Open presents one final chance for the Falcons to fine-tune their craft and carry that momentum into the WIAC Indoor Championships.