University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will strive for a second straight title at the 2013 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Roger Harring Stadium at Veteran’s Memorial Field Sports Complex May 3-4.  The 42nd edition of the women’s meet will be held in unison with the 95th gathering of the men’s squads.

The Eagles captured the 27th first-place trophy in program history a season ago with 185 points.  UW-Oshkosh finished second with 176 points, UW-Eau Claire third with 129.50, UW-River Falls fourth with 92, UW-Whitewater fifth with 86.50, UW-Stout sixth with 65, UW-Stevens Point seventh with 58, UW-Platteville eighth with 55, and UW-Superior ninth with 11.

This year’s championship features 18 student-athletes that have combined to win 16 individual and 11 relay WIAC first-place medals.  It will also showcase two teams that appear in the top 25 of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III rankings distributed on April 24.  UW-Oshkosh is ranked ninth, while UW-La Crosse is 14th.

UW-La Crosse sophomore Claire Elliott was named the Track Performer of the Meet a year ago after winning the 400-meter dash, and participating on the first-place 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay teams.  She was joined on the 4x100-meter relay team by senior Rebecca Schmidt and sophomore Jaime Ludwigson.  Senior Rebecca Scheuermann, junior Jenna Halvorson and sophomore Shannon Klein aided the 4x400-meter relay quartet.  Sophomore Marissa Mahr is the defending champion in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles.

UW-Oshkosh senior Breanna Strupp was chosen the Field Performer of the Meet last season after winning the shot put and discus.  She posted a first-place finish in the shot put for the second straight year.

Titans junior Christy Cazzola is the two-time defending champion in the 800-meter run and 1,500-meter run.  She could become just the third individual in conference history to win three straight titles in the 1,500-meter run, joining former Titan Elizabeth Woodworth (2002-04) and UW-Platteville’s Marcia Taddy (2005-08).  Cazzola was selected the Track Performer of the Meet in 2011.

A year ago, UW-River Falls senior Alyssa Rasmussen claimed the 200-meter dash.  In 2010, she contributed to triumphant 4x400-meter relay team.  Senior Katie Rydeen is the defending champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

UW-Platteville junior Danielle Kunkel was victorious in the 10,000-meter run last season, while senior Deidre Dillman was a member of the first-place 4x800-meter relay team.  Dillman and junior Stephanie Wyss contributed to the winning 4x400-meter relay in 2011.

UW-Stevens Point senior Erin Kline is the defending champion in the 100-meter high hurdles.

UW-Eau Claire won a pair of titles in 2011 after seniors Erin Schoenfelder and Ashlyn Mauer secured the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and 3,000-meter steeplechase, respectively. 

UW-Whitewater senior JoLyn Owen captured the heptathlon in 2010.