SUPERIOR, Wis. – Since joining the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) in 2015, the Yellowjacket men's track and field team has been a dynasty when it comes to the indoor championships. The 'Jackets didn't win the title in 2016, but since then, all of the indoor championship trophies have come to live in Superior.

That's seven conference championships in a row for those scoring at home. And after Friday, the Yellowjackets put themselves in a strong position to make it title number eight.
 
The Yellowjacket men won seven of the eight championships and earned points in all eight events on the way to opening up a commanding lead after the opening day of the 2024 UMAC Indoor Track and Field Championships at Lydia Thering Fieldhouse.
 
On the day, the Yellowjackets accumulated 138.5 points, more than double the total picked up by second-place Martin Luther. The Knights have 63 points. Minnesota Morris (33 points), Crown (24.5) and Northwestern (21) round out the top five.
 
In an impressive showing, the Yellowjacket distance runners swept the top five spots in the mile. Michael Butterfield (Bovey, Minn./Greenway), won the mile with a season best time of 4:31.17, putting him less than a half second clear of second place Zach Reese (Zimmerman, Minn./Spectrum), who finished in 4:31.60. David Collins (Ironwood, Mich./Luther L. Wright) finished third in the race with a time of 4:32.36. Ben Plackner (Bovey, Minn./Greenway) and Dylan Uitto (Ashland, Wis./Ashland) finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Plackner finished with a time of 4:34.39, while Uitto finished in 4:34.54. The five Yellowjackets finished within 3.5 seconds of each other, with Reese, Collins, Plackner and Uitto all earning personal records.
 
Butterfield wasn't done. He also brought home the conference championship in the 5,000 meters, finishing with at time of 15:47.43, putting him 56 seconds clear of the rest of the field. Kieran Johnson (South Range, Wis./Northwestern) posted a season best in the event, placing third with a time of 16:45.38.
 
In the one sprint of the day, Ethan Westimayer (Laona, Wis./Laona) put on a show, winning the 400-meter dash with a time of 52.03 seconds. The time was a new season best for Westimayer.
 
In the field events, Nate Ohman (Lake Nebagamon, Wis./Northwestern) continued his strong season with a conference championship in the weight throw. Ohman won the event with a heave of 15.02 meters. Ben Babcock (Blue Earth, Minn./Blue Earth Area) was victorious in the long jump, coming in with a mark of 6.61 meters.
 
Meet Notes

• The Yellowjackets posted 10 personal records and four season bests Friday.
• Tyler Smith (Ironwood, Mich./Ironwood) and Dominick Meisner (Bloomer, Wis./Bloomer) each posted personal records in the 5,000 meters while finishing seventh and eighth, respectively.
• The Yellowjackets won the 4-x-200-meter relay, edging Minnesota Morris with a time of 1:33.89. The team was made up of Edward Hakanson (Foxboro, Wis./Superior Senior), Jordan Goldfine (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior), Bryce Boldt (Waupaca, Wis./Waupaca) and Westimayer.
• Carson Wilhorn (Necedah, Wis./Necedah) earned a top-five finish in the weight throw, placing fifth with a mark of 12.81 meters, setting a new personal record.
• Goldfine (third) and Will Schorr (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) (fifth) also placed in the top five in the long jump.
• In the distance medley relay, the team of Reese, Plackner, Uitto and Aidan Doherty (Wild Rose, Wis./Wild Rose) won the conference championship in convincing fashion, finishing with a time of 11:08.37.

The Yellowjackets will look to finish off the weekend and claim their eighth straight UMAC indoor championship when the meet continues Saturday at Lydia Thering Fieldhouse. The events will begin at 10:30 a.m.