University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will aim for a 12th straight first-place finish at the 2013 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Indoor Track & Field Championship at UW-Stevens Point’s Multi Activity Center Feb. 22-23.  The 45th edition of the men’s meet will be held in conjunction with the 37th version of the women’s event.

The Eagles secured the 37th first-place trophy in program archives a year ago with 140 points.  UW-Whitewater finished second with 108.50 points, UW-Eau Claire third with 108, UW-Oshkosh fourth with 98.50, UW-Platteville fifth with 78, UW-Stout sixth with 63, UW-Stevens Point seventh with 52, UW-River Falls eighth with 50 and UW-Superior ninth with four.

This year’s championship features 25 student-athletes that have combined to win 15 individual and 15 relay WIAC first-place medals.  It will also showcase six teams that appear in the top 25 of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III rankings distributed on Feb. 13.  UW-La Crosse is the top-ranked team, while UW-Oshkosh is second, UW-Whitewater third, UW-Eau Claire seventh, UW-Platteville 10th and UW-Stevens Point 12th.

UW-La Crosse senior Isaac Vazquez has earned the Field Performer of the Meet plaque the past two seasons.  He is the two-time defending champion in the long jump and added the triple jump title a season ago.  Vazquez could become just the second individual in league history to earn three consecutive first-place medals in the long jump, joining UW-La Crosse’s Bill Patza (1980-82).

Junior Sean Royer is the defending champion in the 800-meter run and was a member of the winning distance medley relay squad in 2011.  In 2010, seniors Aric Hoeschen and Bruce Schmitz were parts of the victorious 4x400-meter relay and distance medley relay squads, respectively.

UW-Eau Claire sophomore Thurgood Dennis secured the Track Performer of the Meet honor a season ago after winning the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash.  He also contributed to the winning 4x400-meter relay team, along with sophomore Cody Prince.

UW-Oshkosh senior Pete Delzer posted a first-place finish in the 35-pound weight throw a year ago.  In 2011, junior Quentin Badger won the 200-meter dash, while senior John Cejka and junior Ryan Sprenger contributed to the victorious 4x200-meter relay team.  Cejka also earned a spot on the winning 4x400-meter relay squad, along with junior Corey Wilch.

UW-Platteville senior Ben Farrell was victorious in the 400-meter dash a season ago, while classmate Aaron Loferski won the 55-meter hurdles in 2011.

UW-River Falls junior Scott Jensen, along with seniors Derrek Pedersen and Alex Zeien were members of the triumphant distance medley relay team a year ago.

UW-Stevens Point junior Dan Sullivan claimed the one-mile run at last year’s championship, while junior Zach Mixdorf was triumphant in the high jump.  Senior Brian Thill earned the pentathlon in 2011.

UW-Whitewater sophomore Mike Judd is the defending champion in the 60-meter hurdles, while senior Dave Kuczynski, junior Nick Bee and sophomore Luke Wenham were members of the first-place 4x200-meter relay foursome.  Senior Marcus Smith earned the triple jump in 2011.