WHITEWATER, WI (03/13/2017)-- Levi Perry, a native of East Moline, Ill., graduate of United Township High School South and member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater track and field program, is one of seven Warhawks who garnered All-America accolades in six events over the weekend at the 2017 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships at North Central College in Naperville, Ill.
Perry's career-best mark of 64-06.50 (19.67 meters) earned him his first individual championship and his second All-American honor. He joins Jeremy Wendt '04 as the second-ever UW-Whitewater national champion in the weight throw.
Perry claimed the national title in the weight throw on Friday, March 10, at the 2017 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships at North Central College in Naperville, Ill. His performance helped the Warhawks place third in the nation with 30 team points, only four shy of UW-La Crosse and North Central, which shared the title wtih 34. It was UW-Whitewater's second straight podium finish at the indoor meet after placing second in 2016.
Perry is majoring in physical education at UW-Whitewater.
On the women's side, on Saturday afternoon, senior Meredith Porter (Hales Corners, Wis./Whitnall) placed sixth in the 400-meter dash in 56.45 to earn her first All-American honor. Porter then went on to earn her second All-American honor anchoring the seventh place women's 4x400-meter relay team. The squad of Porter, freshman Abbie Felton (Burlington, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran), junior Tiffany Bianco (Brookfield, Wis./East), and senior Leah Richter (Fond du Lac, Wis./Fond du Lac) ran 3:53.46 and became the second-ever UW-Whitewater women's indoor relay squad to earn All-American honors. It is the first All-American honor for Felton, Bianco and Richter.
For the men, senior Levi Perry (East Moline, Ill./United Township) claimed a national title in the weight throw at the Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday afternoon. His career-best mark of 64-06.50 (19.67 meters) earned him his first individual championship and his second All-American honor. Perry joins Jeremy Wendt '04 as the second-ever UW-Whitewater national champion in the weight throw. Perry's win in the weight throw puts the UW-Whitewater men in fourth place in the team standings with 10 points as they head in to the final day of the championship meet primed for a podium finish.
Leading the way on Saturday for the Warhawk men was junior Parker Witt (Appleton, Wis./Appleton North) and junior Theron Baumann (Monona Grove, Wis./Monona Grove). Witt finished third in the 60 meter dash in 6.852 seconds, improving upon his fifth place finish in the event from a year ago. Just 50 minutes later, Witt took third in the 200 meter dash, tying his school record time of 21.76. Witt's solid day scored 12 points for the Warhawk men's team, and now makes him a five-time indoor track All-American.
Baumann finished as the runner-up in the shot put with his throw of 57-08.50 (17.59 meters) to become a three-time indoor track and field All-American. Baumann joins Ross Kapp '06 as the only one other Warhawk thrower to earn All-American honors three times. His second place finish scored eight points towards the team standings for the Warhawk men.
For more than 140 years, UW-Whitewater has provided students with the education and training to begin their careers with a solid foundation behind them. The UW-Whitewater is committed to the development of the individual, the growth of personal and professional integrity and respect for diversity and global perspectives. These are met by providing academic and co-curricular programs that emphasize the pursuit of knowledge and understanding and a commitment to service within a safe and secure environment.
