University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will strive for a 23rd consecutive first-place finish at the 2013 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Roger Harring Stadium at Veteran’s Memorial Field Sports Complex May 3-4.  The 95th version of the men’s championship will be held in conjunction with the 42nd meeting of the women’s teams.

The Eagles captured the 48th championship trophy in program history last year with 163 points to nip UW-Oshkosh’s second-place total of 160 points.  UW-Whitewater placed third with 135 points, UW-Eau Claire fourth with 112, UW-Stout fifth with 75, UW-Platteville sixth with 74, UW-River Falls seventh with 68, UW-Stevens Point eighth with 60, and UW-Superior ninth with 10.

This year’s championship features 30 student-athletes that have combined to win 21 individual and 21 relay WIAC first-place medals. It will also showcase six 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-La Crosse is the top-ranked team, while UW-Oshkosh is second, UW-Whitewater fourth, UW-Eau Claire fifth, UW-Platteville 16th and UW-Stout 21st.

UW-La Crosse’s championship effort last season was helped by senior Aric Hoeschen, who was victorious in the 400-meter dash and senior Isaac Vazquez, who earned the long jump.  Hoeschen, senior Tyson Young, junior Christian Wendland and sophomore Nick Tehan teamed to win the 4x400-meter relay.

Senior Eric Smits, juniors Sean Royer and Jerry Kerska and sophomore Garrett Kerska are the defending champions in the 4x800-meter relay.  Smits and Royer also won the event in 2011 and were aided by senior Bruce Schmitz, while Hoeschen, Young and senior Paul Yerhot were members of the first-place 4x400-meter relay team in 2010.

Vazquez also captured the triple jump at the 2011 championship, while Yerhot won the 400-meter dash in 2009.

UW-Eau Claire sophomore Thurgood Dennis was selected the Track Performer of the Meet a season ago after winning the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, while UW-Oshkosh senior Nick Baatz was named the Field Performer of the Meet after claiming the shot put and discus.

Titans junior Corey Wilch is the defending champion in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, while senior Pete Delzer earned the hammer throw.  Senior Lewis Prior posted a first-place finish in the discus in 2011.

Senior John Cejka was a member of the winning 4x100-meter relay in 2010 and 2011.  He was joined in 2011 by juniors Quentin Badger and Ryan Sprenger.

UW-Stevens Point junior Dan Sullivan is the two-time defending champion in the 800-meter run and could become the first three-time winner in the event in WIAC history.  He was also victorious in the 1,500-meter run a season ago.

UW-Platteville sophomore Mark Niemann is the defending champion in the javelin, while seniors Casey Goffinet, Aaron Hrubes and Jordan Olp were members of the first-place 4x100-meter relay team.  In 2011, senior Aaron Loferski won the 110-meter high hurdles.

UW-Whitewater sophomore Mike Judd won the 110-meter high hurdles a year ago and senior Marcus Smith was victorious in the triple jump.  In 2010, junior Tom Fisher claimed the high jump, while senior Pat Lockington secured the decathlon.

UW-Stout junior Zach Anderson will aim for a second straight first-place finish in the decathlon.