Cazzola Earns NCAA Performer Of The Meet Award

After contributing three event titles, Christy Cazzola was named Outstanding Track Performer of the Meet for the NCAA Division III Indoor Championship on March 14-15.

Cazzola ran the anchor leg on UW-Oshkosh's victorious distance medley relay that clocked a time of 11:39.94. The relay also included Stephanie Jahn, Sonny Jenkins and Kylee Verhasselt.

On March 15, Cazzola captured the mile and 3,000-meter runs within a span of three hours. She posted a 4:51.47 mile time to become the first woman to win the event three straight years.

During the 3,000-meter race, Cazzola was in fourth place with one lap remaining. She then sprinted to the front and won with a school-record time of 9:38.72.

Cazzola now owns six individual indoor national titles, along with two relay crowns.

The Titans claimed their ninth indoor national championship with 67 points. UW-La Crosse placed second with 65, while Wartburg College (Iowa) took third with 46.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named UW-La Crosse's Bailey Alston its Women's Field Performer of the Meet. Winners were determined using a formula that accounts for team points scored, meet records, facility records and Division III season-bests.

UW-Eau Claire's Thurgood Dennis received the men's track award, while Wartburg's Jonas Elusme and Southern Maine's Jamie Ruginski shared the field honor.

By Jon Feyen