University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will aim for a seventh straight title when the nine conference teams assemble at the 2013 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Cross Country Championship.  The 36th annual competition will be hosted by UW-River Falls at Kilkarney Hills Golf Course in River Falls, Wis., on Nov. 2.

The Blugolds secured the eighth conference crown in program history a season ago with 32 points to surpass UW-La Crosse’s second-place total of 69 points.  UW-Oshkosh finished third with 71 points, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 90, UW-River Falls fifth with 135, UW-Whitewater sixth with 159, UW-Stout seventh with 168, UW-Platteville eighth with 256 and UW-Superior ninth with 270.

A pair of 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 17th, while UW-Stevens Point is 25th.

Returning runners that have earned All-WIAC accolades at previous conference championships include:  UW-Eau Claire seniors Alana Jenkins (17th-2012) and Nikki Rendler (20th-2011), and sophomore Lucy Ramquist (11th-2011); UW-La Crosse senior Rachel Schroeder (10th-2012, 19th-2011, 15th-2010), junior Corissa Conard (13th-2012, 18th-2011), and sophomores Natalie Powell (6th-2012) and Ellen Smith (19th-2012); UW-Platteville junior Danielle Kunkel (4th-2011); UW-Stevens Point senior Kelsey Laska (18th-2010), along with juniors Ana Breit (14th-2012), Julia Colling (7th-2012, 9th-2011) and Melissa Kohlhagen (20th-2012); and UW-Stout senior Baillye Durkin (16th-2012).

The top seven runners in the 6,000-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.).