WHITEWATER — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s track and field team opened its 2019 season Jan. 12 by hosting the Karl Schlender Invitational at Kachel Fieldhouse.

The Warhawks finished as runner-up at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Indoor Championships last season, their first second-place showing at the indoor meet since 2012. The team went on to tie for 16th at the NCAA Indoor Championships, the program’s ninth consecutive indoor finish among the top 20 in the nation.

The Jan. 12 meet was one of four indoor events UW-Whitewater is set to host in 2019. The team hosts the annual “Squig” Converse Invitational on Jan. 25-26, the Midwest Elite Invitational on Feb. 9 and the WIAC Indoor Championships on Feb. 22-23.

Competing this season for the Warhawks are Brayden Zettle of Monroe, Connor Hackett of Darlington and Landon Zimmerman of New Glarus. Zettle is a freshman finance major, while Zimmerman is a freshman majoring in accounting. Hackett is a sophomore majoring in computer science.

Zettle finished 12th in the men’s long jump with a mark of 5.99 meters (19-feet, 8 inches), and fouled out in the triple jump.

Hackett was fourth in the 800-meter run, finishing with a time of 2 minutes, 6.99 seconds. Hackett teamed up with Davis Dassbender, Nick Key and Joe Bullis in the men’s distance medley, taking third (10:58.48).

Zimmerman won the men’s shot put with a throw of 14.63 meters (48 feet), nearly three feet from the nearest competitor. Zimmerman also won the won the men’s weight throw with a mark of 16.12 meters (52-feet, 10.75 inches).

At the Ripon College Red Hawk Opener Jan. 18, Zimmerman again won the men’s shot put with a throw of 14.25 meters. Zimmerman’s weight throw of 15.49 meters also earned top-honors.

Hackett was second in the 3,000-meter run, finishing with a time of 9:07.88. Zettle was sixth in the triple jump with a leap of 12.58 meters.