Titans Make A Run For Eighth National Title
UW-Oshkosh will be represented by eight women at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championship on Friday and Saturday (March 8-9) in Naperville, Ill.
The Titans are ranked first in the nation by the USTFCCCA, while Wartburg College (Iowa) is second, Illinois College third, Williams College (Mass.) fourth and Emory University (Ga.) fifth.
UW-Oshkosh captured national titles during 1994-96, 2004-06 and 2011. Wartburg won last year's championship with a record 99 points, while the Titans finished second with 48.
Wartburg leads all teams with 13 entries at this season's meet. The Titans own nine entries, including six in the throwing events.
Christy Cazzola (Sr. • Kaukauna) is the top seed in both the mile (4:44.73) and 5,000-meter (16:40.52) runs. She will also run on the fourth-seeded distance medley relay (11:43.46), which includes Stephanie Jahn (Jr. • Deerfield), McKenzie Kelly (Sr. • New Richmond) and Kylee Verhasselt (So. • Freedom). Cazzola won individual crowns in the 800-meter and mile runs last year.
Breanna Strupp (Sr. • Slinger), with a distance of 52-1.75, leads the nation in the shot put. Other Titans competing in the event are #6 Abby Martin (Jr. • Chilton) at 46-10.75 and #15 Melanie Brickner (So. • Marathon) at 44-9.
The weight throw will feature three UW-Oshkosh standouts. Samantha Loew (Sr. • Burnett) is the second seed at 59-11.25, while Brickner is fifth at 58-8.5 and Strupp is 10th at 56-4.5.