ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The Concordia University Wisconsin men's track & field team opened competition at the 38th Meet of Champions on Friday, hosted by Augustana (Ill.). The meet features 30 programs across NCAA Division III, NAIA, and JUCO levels.
 
Day one was highlighted by the decathlon and select throwing events.
 
Junior Zach Wendland (Green Bay, Wis.) and freshman William Hemling (Beaver Dam, Wis.) began decathlon competition for the first time this season. Wendland leads the field after five events with 3,491 points, highlighted by personal bests in the 100 meters, shot put, and 400 meters. After placing sixth in the opening 100 meters, the junior surged into first with a winning mark of 6.66 meters in the long jump and has held the lead since. He also claimed first in the high jump after clearing 1.87 meters.
 
Hemling sits 13th through five events after collecting 2,601. The freshman turned in his top performance in the 400 meters, placing sixth with a time of 53.33, and added a personal-best mark of 8.69 meters in the shot put.
 
Throwing events were impacted by weather, with the javelin and discus set to conclude Saturday after storms delayed final flights.
 
In the javelin, sophomore Clayton Nichols (Okauchee, Wis.) leads the Falcons in ninth with a season-best throw of 41.10 meters. Junior Luke Witte (Monroe, Wis.) and senior John Kutner (Muskego, Wis.) sit 12th and 13th with marks of 38.29 and 37.63 meters, respectively, while Kosh Kribs is 21st at 34.74 meters.
 
In the discus, sophomore Dayne Baker (Watertown, Wis.) sits 12th with a personal-best mark of 45.30 meters.
 
The hammer throw was completed before the weather delay, with Kutner leading CUW in 24th after a throw of 45.06 meters. Baker followed in 37th at 42.19 meters.
 
Competition resumes Saturday at 9 a.m. with the conclusion of the decathlon. Running events are scheduled for 9:30 a.m., followed by field events at 11 a.m.