University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will aim for a second consecutive title at the 2014 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship at UW-Whitewater’s Kachel Fieldhouse Feb. 28-March 1.  The 38th version of the women’s championship will be held in unison with the 46th edition of the men’s meet.

The Eagles secured the 21st first-place trophy in program history a season ago with 178.50 points.  UW-Oshkosh finished second with 153 points, UW-Whitewater third with 93.50, UW-Eau Claire fourth with 90.50, UW-Stout fifth with 51, UW-River Falls sixth with 46, UW-Stevens Point seventh with 42.50, UW-Platteville eighth with 30 and UW-Superior ninth with 17.

This year’s championship features 16 student-athletes that have combined to win 15 individual and 16 relay first-place medals.  It will also showcase five teams that appear in the top 25 of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III computer rankings distributed on Feb. 19.  UW-La Crosse is first, UW-Oshkosh third, UW-Whitewater fifth, UW-Platteville 23rd and UW-Stout 24th.

UW-Oshkosh senior Christy Cazzola, the Track Performer of the Meet honoree from a year ago, is the most decorated returnee with six individual and three relay first-place finishes to her credit.  She is the three-time defending champion in the one-mile run and could become the first person in conference archives to win the event four times.  Cazzola was victorious in the 5,000-meter run last season and secured the 800-meter run in 2011 and 2012.

In relay competition, she has won consecutive titles in the distance medley relay and was joined on last year’s team by senior Stephanie Jahn and junior Alexandria Mahoney.  Cazzola added a 4x400-meter relay crown in 2011.

UW-Stout senior Jessika Smith is the reigning two-time Field Performer of the Meet and has captured consecutive titles in the pentathlon.  In 2012, she was victorious in the long jump.

UW-La Crosse junior Jaime Ludwigson is the defending champion in the 60-meter dash and triple jump.  She also contributed to the winning 4x200-meter relay team in 2012.  Senior Kayla Ashland posted a first-place finish in the high jump last year.

Senior Jenna Halvorson has been a member of the victorious 4x200-meter relay squad the past two seasons and was joined on the 2013 foursome by junior Crystal Oravis, and sophomores Jennifer Angster and Meg Heafy.  Halvorson also won the 4x400-meter relay competition at last year’s championship and received help from juniors Claire Elliott and Shannon Klein.

UW-Whitewater junior Lexie Sondgeroth won the 200-meter dash and long jump a season ago, while senior Melanie Pilon claimed the pole vault.

UW-Platteville senior Stephanie Wyss contributed to the triumphant 4x400-meter relay team in 2012, while UW-Eau Claire senior Halley Ahler earned a first-place finish in the distance medley relay in 2011.