UW-Oshkosh To Host WIAC Women's Cross Country Championship

UW-Oshkosh will be one of three nationally ranked teams competing at the WIAC Women's Cross Country Championship (presented by Culver's) on Saturday (Oct. 31) at the Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne.

UW-Oshkosh is hosting the 38th version of the championship for the first time since 2007. The 6,000-meter race is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. and will be followed by a men's 8,000-meter championship race at 1 p.m.

The Titans enter the eight-team meet ranked 29th in the NCAA Division III by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association while UW-La Crosse is ranked 13th and UW-Eau Claire 23rd.

UW-Oshkosh scored 72 points at last year's championship to finish second to UW-La Crosse, which scored 32 points en route to its second straight and eighth overall title in program history.

Rounding out last year's standings were UW-Eau Claire in third place with 73 points, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 101, UW-Stout fifth with 127, UW-Whitewater sixth with 158, UW-Platteville seventh with 161, UW-River Falls eighth with 270 and former conference member UW-Superior ninth with 274.

With the graduation of 2014 champion Laura Mead from UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh senior Kylee Verhasselt is the highest returning runner after placing second at last year's championship. She also placed eighth at the championship in 2013.

Seven other Titans who competed at last year's meet will join Verhasselt in Saturday's race. Hannah Kuenzi placed ninth for UW-Oshkosh a year ago, while Cheyenne Moore finished 15th, Danica Harrison 30th, Leah Rendflesh 33rd, Isabella Tremonti 35th, Courtney Holland 39th and Rhea Fiorita 47th.

UW-Oshkosh's 12-person lineup also includes Kristen Linzmeier, Erica Munyan, Jessica Stamn and Hannah Thorn.

This year's meet also includes nine other runners who claimed All-WIAC honors at previous conference championships. They are UW-Eau Claire's Kelsey Jaeger (12th in 2012, 11th in 2014), Lucy Ramquist (11th in 2011, 16th in 2013, fifth in 2014) and Melody Becker (20th in 2014); UW-La Crosse's Natalie Powell (sixth in 2012, sixth in 2013), Elizabeth Frick (sixth in 2014) and Karina Nielsen (18th in 2014); UW-Platteville's Kiera Depies (13th in 2013, 17th in 2014); UW-Stout's Kathleen Thorn (13th in 2014); and UW-Whitewater's Amy Kahl (seventh in 2014).

UW-Oshkosh possesses 15 of the 37 WIAC titles, while UW-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse follow with eight apiece.

The top seven runners in the meet earn All-WIAC first team recognition, while runners placing eight through 14 capture All-WIAC second team accolades. Individuals finishing 15 through 20 receive honorable mention status.

All eight WIAC teams will participate at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional on Nov. 14 at the Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Ill. UW-Oshkosh will host the NCAA Division III Championship on Nov. 21 at the Lake Breeze Golf Club.

WIAC Cross Country Championships Program

WIAC Cross Country Championships Website • UW-Oshkosh's WIAC Cross Country Championships Website