UW-La Crosse Collects Fifth Straight Women’s Cross Country Championship; UW-Eau Claire’s Heidorn Claims Individual Title

OSHKOSH, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse won the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Cross Country Championship (presented by Culver’s) at XC Ranch at Moore’s Field of Dreams on Nov. 1.

It is the fifth consecutive title for the Eagles and 14th in program archives. UW-La Crosse totaled 21 points – the best total for any team at the championship since UW-Oshkosh’s 19 points in 1996. UW-Eau Claire finished second this year with 63 points, UW-Whitewater third with 98, UW-River Falls fourth with 124, UW-Stevens Point fifth with 140, UW-Oshkosh sixth with 144, UW-Stout seventh with 178 and UW-Platteville eighth with 189.

UW-Eau Claire’s Molly Heidorn secured the individual title after posting a time of 21:18.3 on the 6,000-meter course. A total of 87 runners completed the race. She is the sixth runner in program history to claim the conference title.

UW-La Crosse’s Brooklyn Luebke took second in 21:28.1, UW-La Crosse’s Lily Higgins third in 21:28.8, UW-La Crosse’s Lucy Duchac fourth in 21:30.6, UW-La Crosse’s Annika Elliott fifth in 21:39.1, UW-Stout’s Claudia Lasiowski sixth in 21:43.7 and UW-La Crosse’s Milana Pisto seventh in 21:46.1. Pisto claimed the Newcomer of the Year award for being the highest finishing newcomer at the championship. A newcomer is defined as a student-athlete who used her first season of participation in women's cross country this season. Transfers are not eligible unless they didn’t participate in women’s cross country at their previous institution.

UW-La Crosse’s Julia Zalewski placed eighth in 21:46.7, UW-Oshkosh’s Lehna Mitchell ninth in 21:49.5, UW-La Crosse’s Elizabeth Schwartz 10th in 21:51.0, UW-La Crosse’s Molly Novotny 11th in 21:51.3, UW-La Crosse’s Ryana Mathis 12th in 21:53.1, UW-River Falls’ Laina Viere 13th in 21:53.6 and UW-Eau Claire’s Ryann Wagner 14th in 22:00.1.

UW-La Crosse’s Becca Immer finished 15th in 22:01.3, UW-La Crosse’s Madison Twarling 16th in 22:04.4, UW-Eau Claire’s Keeley Behr 17th in 22:05.2, UW-Whitewater’s Katie Erb 18th in 22:08.4, UW-La Crosse’s Mallory Reiser 19th in 22:10.3 and UW-Whitewater’s Payton Scoggin 20th in 22:11.4.

The top seven runners received All-WIAC first team recognition, while runners placing eighth through 14th earned All-WIAC second team accolades. Individuals finishing 15th through 20th claimed All-WIAC honorable mention laurels.

UW-La Crosse’s Keeley Behr was named recipient of the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.

An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each team as selected by that team. Named to the squad were: UW-Eau Claire’s Ryann Wagner; UW-La Crosse’s Lucy Duchac; UW-Oshkosh’s Gwen Feitl; UW-Platteville’s Kendra Downing; UW-River Falls’ Adison Wilde; UW-Stevens Point’s Kassia Marquardt; UW-Stout’s Arlie Kapaun; and UW-Whitewater’s Kaitlyn Burke.

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