Titans Look To Contend For WIAC Indoor & Field Titles
UW-Oshkosh will attempt to end the string of titles by the UW-La Crosse men and women when it competes at the WIAC Indoor Track & Field Championships this weekend in Platteville.
Competition begins at 11:30 a.m. on Friday (Feb. 27) and 9 a.m. on Saturday (Feb. 28) at UW-Platteville's Williams Fieldhouse. This year's championship is the 47th edition for the men and 39th version for the women.
The UW-La Crosse men have won 13 straight WIAC indoor titles and 39 overall. The Eagles won last year's nine-team meet with 189 points, while UW-Eau Claire finished second with 131, UW-Oshkosh third with 109 and UW-Whitewater fourth with 99.
This year's men's championship features 22 student-athletes who have combined to win 17 individual and 20 relay titles. It also showcases top-ranked UW-La Crosse, fourth-ranked UW-Eau Claire, fifth-ranked UW-Whitewater and seventh-ranked UW-Oshkosh from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division III computer rankings.
UW-Eau Claire's Thurgood Dennis is the most decorated returnee with six individual and four relay titles to his credit. He has also claimed the Track Performer of the Meet honor three straight years. Dennis is the three-time defending champion in the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash.
In relay competition, Dennis has been a member of the winning 800-meter relay team the past two seasons and added the 1,600-meter relay crown a year ago, as well as in 2012.
UW-Eau Claire's Brandon Zarnoth secured Field Performer of the Meet laurels last year when he won the heptathlon.
UW-Oshkosh is without a returning champion, but owns several candidates for event titles this year.
Titans expected contend for a first-place finish are Naji Allan in the 60- and 200-meter dashes, Zachary Baehman in the shot put, Nick Grosskopf in the 35-pound weight throw, Derek Johnsrud in the 5,000-meter run and Roberto Lara in the 800-meter and mile runs.
UW-Oshkosh is also favored to finish high in the distance medley relay.
In the women's division, UW-La Crosse has won two straight WIAC indoor championships and 22 overall. The Eagles captured last year's title with 207 points, while UW-Oshkosh finished second in the nine-team meet with 134, UW-Whitewater third with 92 and UW-Stevens Point fourth with 79.
This year's meet features 16 student-athletes who have combined to win 14 individual and 11 relay titles. It also displays third-ranked UW-Oshkosh, fourth-ranked UW-La Crosse, eighth-ranked UW-Whitewater, 12th-ranked UW-Eau Claire and 16th-ranked UW-Platteville from the USTFCCCA's NCAA Division III computer rankings.
UW-La Crosse's Jaime Ludwigson is the reigning Track Performer of the Meet. She has posted back-to-back first-place finishes in the 60-meter dash and added the 60-meter hurdles crown a season ago. In 2013, Ludwigson also won the triple jump. She was a member of the winning 800-meter relay squad in 2012.
UW-Oshkosh's Jecel (Gerner) Klotz claimed the shot put last season and earned Field Performer of the Meet laurels, while Kylee Verhasselt was victorious in the 800-meter run.
Sonny Jenkins and Alesha Malueg of the Titans were members of last year's triumphant distance medley relay squad, while teammate Stephanie Jahn aided the winning 2013 unit.
Other UW-Oshkosh participants expected to contend for event titles are Klotz in the 20-pound weight throw, Verhasselt in the mile run, Samantha Blue in the long jump, Melanie Brickner in the shot put and 20-pound weight throw, Kasey Ederer in the high jump, Becklyn Hunter in the 400-meter dash, Caitlyn McCormick in the 400-meter dash and Taylor Sherry in the pentathlon and 60-meter hurdles.
UW-Oshkosh is also projected to finish high in the 1,600-meter and distance medley relays.