University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will strive for a second consecutive crown when the nine conference teams assemble at the 2013 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Cross Country Championship.  The 53rd edition of the league event will be hosted by UW-River Falls at Kilkarney Hills Golf Course in River Falls, Wis., on Nov. 2.

The Eagles claimed the 31st conference title in program history a season ago with 30 points to surpass UW-Eau Claire’s second-place total of 89 points.  UW-Platteville placed third with 92 points, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 98, UW-Stout fifth with 105, UW-Oshkosh sixth with 117, UW-River Falls seventh with 212, UW-Whitewater eighth with 218 and UW-Superior ninth with 295.

Four teams are ranked among the finest in the NCAA Division III based on Oct. 23 rankings distributed by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.  UW-La Crosse is fifth, while UW-Oshkosh is 10th, UW-Eau Claire 11th and UW-Stout 27th.

Returning runners that have secured All-WIAC honors at previous conference championships include:  UW-La Crosse seniors Josh Dedering (2nd-2012) and Jacob Peterson (19th-2012, 17th-2011), juniors Garrett Kerska (5th-2012) and Nate Routhier (7th-2012, 16th-2011), and sophomore Tom Linner (14th-2012); UW-Oshkosh juniors Kenny Halloran (16th-2012) and Sean Kutz (5th-2011); UW-Platteville junior Joel Walden (17th-2012); UW-Stevens Point senior Dan Sullivan (20th-2011); and UW-Stout junior Patrick Jenkins (12th-2012).

The top seven runners in the 8,000-meter race will receive All-WIAC first team recognition, while runners placing eight through 14 earn All-WIAC second team accolades.  Individuals finishing 15 through 20 claim honorable mention laurels.

All nine WIAC teams will return to action on Nov. 16, and participate in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Ill.  The regional event will be hosted by Augustana College (Ill.).  The NCAA Division III Championship is scheduled for Nov. 23, at L.S. Ayres Athletic Complex in Hanover, Ind., and will be hosted by Hanover College (Ind.).