SUPERIOR, Wis.- The University of Northwestern Men's Track and Field Team closed out their 2024 indoor season on Saturday when they competed in the second final day of the 2024 UMAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. The Eagles finished in sixth place overall as a team.
Day two of the UMAC Championships is a big day for everybody, but it is especially big for the sprinters around the conference. Day two is when two of the biggest sprinting events (60M and 200M) take place. The Eagle sprinters came ready for action on Saturday in Superior.
John Shevchuk (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) turned in his fastest 60M time of the indoor season on his way to finishing in third place overall. His time of 7.14 seconds was right on the doorstep of his personal best (7.11 seconds).
Jah'Kiing Joseph (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Heritage), who had a pair of second place finishes on Friday, finished in sixth place overall in the 60M at 7.38 seconds.
In the 200M, Joseph was the top Eagle finisher once again landing in sixth place overall. Joseph finished the sprint in 23.77 seconds.
Ashton Lofton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian) was behind him at 25.80 seconds.
A trio of Eagles competed in the 800M Run and remarkably all three of them finished with career best performances.
Joshua Ringsmuth (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) finished in the top 10 landing in seventh place overall at 2:07.99.
Nathan Eikom (Eagan, Minn./Homeschool) was right on his teammates' heels finishing in 12
th place at 2:09.49.
John Thomas III's (St. Cloud, Minn./Apollo) career best time was 2:24.58.
Owen Van De Riet (St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville) competed in the 5000M Run on Friday night, so he must have been relieved to take a couple thousand meters off on Saturday when he competed in the 3000M. He hit a career best on day one in the 5000M, and he hit a career best on day two in the 3000M. The sophomore finished in 12
th place overall at 10:26.12.
The Eagles' submitted a 4x400 Relay Team and they finished in fourth place overall at 3:47.01. The team consisted of
John Shevchuk (Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine),
Nathan Eikom (Eagan, Minn./Homeschool),
Ashton Lofton (Colorado Springs, Colo./Colorado Springs Christian), and
Joshua Ringsmuth (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove).
Mark Akert (Chesterton, Ind./Homeschool) and
Michael Pough Jr. (Jacksonville, Fla./Joshua Christian Academy) each competed in the Shot Put and each turned in PR's. Akert's distance landed at 9.62m and Pough Jr. was at 8.43m.
After a successful 2024 indoor season, the UNW Men's Track and Field team will begin preparations to head outside for the 2024 outdoor season.
