Titans To Participate At WIAC Outdoor Championship
UW-La Crosse will strive for a fourth straight first-place finish at the WIAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship at UW-La Crosse's Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex this weekend (May 1-2). The 44th edition of the women's meet will be held in unison with the 97th version of the men's championship.
The Eagles collected the 29th league crown in program history a season ago with 232 points to surpass UW-Oshkosh's second-place total of 172 points. UW-Eau Claire placed third with 104.5 points, UW-Whitewater fourth with 100, UW-Stout fifth with 79, UW-Stevens Point sixth with 73, UW-Platteville seventh with 58, UW-River Falls eighth with 33.5 and UW-Superior ninth with six.
This year's championship features 20 student-athletes that have combined to win 20 individual and 11 relay first-place medals at the conference meet. It will also showcase five teams ranked in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association computer rankings distributed on April 21. UW-La Crosse is the top-ranked team, while UW-Eau Claire is fifth, UW-Oshkosh seventh, UW-Whitewater 12th and UW-Stevens Point 24th.
UW-La Crosse junior Meg Heafy is the defending champion in the 100-meter dash, while senior Jaime Ludwigson was victorious in the 100-meter high hurdles. In 2013, Heafy and Ludwigson contributed to the triumphant 4x100-meter relay team with Ludwigson adding a triple jump title. Ludwigson was a member of the first-place 4x100-meter relay unit in 2012.
Senior Marissa Mahr has posted three consecutive first-place finishes in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles. Former Eagle Luanne Bruss (1990-93) is the only four-time winner in the event in league history. Junior Claire Gordee and sophomore Rachel Atchison were members of the victorious 4x400-meter relay team a season ago, while senior Corissa Conard captured the 10,000-meter run in 2013.
UW-Oshkosh junior Kasey Ederer has won the high jump in back-to-back years and could become just the second individual in WIAC archives to win the event three straight times, joining UW-Whitewater's Shelby Demos (2010-12). Senior Jecel Klotz is the defending champion in the shot put, while senior Melanie Brickner claimed the hammer throw. Sophomore Kristen Linzmeier and senior Kylee Verhasselt helped the 4x800-meter relay unit to victory a season ago.
UW-Platteville sophomore Amber Williams was victorious in the triple jump a year ago and secured Field Performer of the Meet honors. Senior Emily Kjos is aiming to become the first individual in league history to win the javelin three consecutive seasons.
UW-Eau Claire junior Katryna Williams was victorious in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at last season's championship, while seniors Carly Fehler, Kayla Kelsey, Lindsey Laufenberg and Megan Mulligan teamed to win the 4x100-meter relay.
UW-Whitewater senior Lexie Sondgeroth has posted back-to-back first-place finishes in the 200-meter dash and won the 100-meter dash, as well as the long jump, in 2013.
In 2013, UW-Stevens Point junior Kadie Flynn claimed the discus.