University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh will strive for a third consecutive title at the 2013 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship at UW-Stevens Point’s Multi Activity Center Feb. 22-23.  The 37th edition of the women’s event will held in unison with the 45th gathering of the men’s squads.

The Titans earned the 13th first-place trophy in program history a season ago with 152 points.  UW-Eau Claire placed second with 121 points, UW-La Crosse third with 108, UW-Whitewater fourth with 84, UW-Stevens Point fifth with 67, UW-River Falls sixth with 60, UW-Stout seventh with 52, UW-Platteville eighth with 43 and UW-Superior ninth with 15.

This year’s championship features 18 student-athletes that have combined to win 12 individual and 12 relay WIAC first-place medals. It will also showcase three 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-Oshkosh is the top-ranked team, while UW-La Crosse is fourth and UW-Whitewater 12th.

UW-Oshkosh senior Christy Cazzola is the most decorated returnee with four individual and two relay crowns to her credit.  She is the two-time defending champion in the 800-meter run and one-mile run.  Cazzola was a member of the victorious distance medley relay quartet a year ago, after earning the 4x400-meter relay title in 2011.

Sophomores Katelyn Brooks and Rachel Westover joined Cazzola on last year’s distance medley relay team, while senior Breanna Strupp captured the shot put crown.

UW-Stout senior Jessika Smith earned Field Performer of the Meet accolades a season ago after winning the long jump and pentathlon.

UW-Stevens Point senior Erin Kline is the defending champion in the 60-meter hurdles and sophomore Julia Colling will aim for back-to-back titles in the 5,000-meter run.

UW-Superior senior Traelynn Lewis is the defending champion in the triple jump.

A year ago, UW-La Crosse sophomore Jaime Ludwigson, junior Jenna Halvorson and senior Hannah Mueller were members of the first-place 4x200-meter relay team.  UW-Platteville senior Deidre Dillman and junior Stephanie Wyss were members of the victorious 4x400-meter relay foursome.

UW-Eau Claire junior Ashlyn Mauer posted a first-place finish in the 5,000-meter run in 2011, while classmate Halley Ahler contributed to the winning distance medley relay squad.  Also in 2011, UW-Whitewater senior JoLyn Owen claimed Field Performer of the Meet honors after winning the pentathlon.

At the 2010 championship, UW-River Falls senior Alyssa Rasmussen contributed to the winning 4x400-meter relay squad, while junior Brittany Nordland was a member of the victorious distance medley relay team.