SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Yellowjacket men's track and field team continued their dominant championship run in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), securing their eighth-consecutive indoor championship last Saturday. The conference released its All-UMAC squad in an announcement Thursday, and the Yellowjackets had a lot of familiar faces on the list.
 
All-UMAC honors are given to the top-two finishers in individual events, along with all members of winning relay squads at the championship.
 
Securing the 2023-24 UMAC indoor track athlete of the meet was junior Michael Butterfield (Bovey, Minn./Greenway), claiming the honor for the second-straight year. His time in the 3,000 meter-run was a new personal-best, winning the event with a time of 8:54.10 and placing a 20-second cushion ahead of the next runner. He would also claim medalist honors in both the mile and 5,000-meter runs, finishing with times of 4:31.17 and 15:47.43, respectively.
 
Claiming the 2023-24 UMAC indoor field athlete of the meet honor was senior Nate Ohman (Lake Nebagamon, Wis./Northwestern), who captured the top spot in the shot put. His heave of 14.95 meters was more than a meter further than the next competitor.
 
The remaining Yellowjackets securing postseason awards begins with Ethan Westimayer (Laona, Wis./Laona), who finished second with a time of 23.16 in the 200-meter dash. He claimed medalist honors in the 400-meter dash, clocking a 52.03.
 
David Collins (Ironwood, Mich./Luther L. Wright) would claim a postseason award in the 3,000-meter run, finishing second with a mark of 9:14.83. Sitting in second place in the 60-meter hurdles was Garrett Lynch (Portage, Wis./Portage), who capped the race with a time of 8.79 seconds. Additionally, Zach Reese (Zimmerman, Minn./Spectrum) claimed second in the mile, clocking a 4:31.60.
 
In the 4x200 meter relay, the Yellowjackets claimed the gold with a time of 1:33.89, featuring the squad of Edward Hakanson (Foxboro, Wis./Superior Senior), Jordan Goldfine (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior), Bryce Boldt (Waupaca, Wis./Waupaca) and Ethan Westimayer (Laona, Wis./Laona). Another relay team claimed medalist honors in the Distance Medley, consisting of Zach Reese (Zimmerman, Minn./Spectrum), Ben Plackner (Bovey, Minn./Greenway), Dylan Uitto (Ashland, Wis./Ashland) and Aidan Doherty (Wild Rose, Wis./Wild Rose).
 
Shifting to the field events, the 'Jackets fared well, as Jason Thomas (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) finished with a mark of 4.11 meters receiving first place in the pole vault. Earning second place in the weight throw was Cameron Wegner (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior), heaving a mark of 14.55 meters to claim second behind Ohman.
 
Rounding out the Yellowjackets was Ben Babcock (Blue Earth, Minn./Blue Earth Area), who earned the gold in the long jump with a 6.61 meter mark. He also served on the UMAC All-Sportsmanship Team for the 'Jackets.
 
Select Yellowjackets will compete at the Ripon Last Chance Qualifier, held on the campus of Ripon College. The events will commence Friday at 2 p.m.