LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Falcons wrapped up the Phil Esten Challenge Friday afternoon with competition in the multi-events. Jacob Balcome highlighted the multi-group with another standout performance in the men's decathlon bringing home the event title.

Heading into day two of the meet, Balcome was sitting in a close second, down five points. Jacob made quick work reclaiming the top spot and never looked back. He claimed the decathlon title with a total of 7,195 points, winning the 110m hurdles (15.01), high jump (1.93m), pole vault (4.25m), shot put (12.76m) and 1500m (4:29.51) while adding a runner-up finish in the 400m and top-three finishes in the discus and javelin to secure the victory. With a total of 7,195 total points, Balcome has improved his own personal program record, up from 6,915 last season. 

The Falcons also saw Nicholas Guthrie place eighth overall with 5,793 total points. Guthrie added a third-place finish in the discus throw and a second-place finish in the javelin throw. 

On the women's side, UW-River Falls was led by Lauren Machacek, finishing 16th overall in the heptathlon with 3,873 points. Savannah Leopold added a 18th-place finish (3,725 points), followed by Finley Noll in 19th (3,712 points) and Jacklyn Tepley in 24th (2,968 points), rounding out the Falcon competitors in the event.