2015 WIAC Women’s Cross Country Championship Preview University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will attempt for a third consecutive first-place finish at the 2015 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Cross Country Championship (presented by Culver’s). The 38th version of the league event will be hosted by UW-Oshkosh at Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne, Wis., on Oct. 31. The Eagles captured the eighth championship in program archives a season ago with 32 points to exceed the 72 points accumulated by UW-Oshkosh. UW-Eau Claire finished third with 73 points, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 101, UW-Stout fifth with 127, UW-Whitewater sixth with 158, UW-Platteville seventh with 161, UW-River Falls eighth with 270 and former member UW-Superior ninth with 274. Three teams are ranked among the finest in the NCAA Division III based on Oct. 21 rankings distributed by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. UW-La Crosse is ranked 13th, while UW-Eau Claire is tied for 23rd and UW-Oshkosh 29th. Returning runners that have secured All-WIAC honors at previous conference championships include: UW-Eau Claire seniors Kelsey Jaeger (12th-2012, 11th-2014) and Lucy Ramquist (11th-2011, 16th-2013, 5th-2014) and junior Melody Becker (20th-2014); UW-La Crosse senior Natalie Powell (6th-2012, 6th-2013) and juniors Elizabeth Frick (6th-2014) and Karina Nielsen (18th-2014); UW-Oshkosh senior Kylee Verhasselt (8th-2013, 2nd-2014) and sophomores Hannah Kuenzi (9th-2014) and Cheyenne Moore (15th-2014); UW-Platteville senior Kiera Depies (13th-2013, 17th-2014); UW-Stout senior Kathleen Thorn (13th-2014); and UW-Whitewater senior Amy Kahl (7th-2014). UW-River Falls freshman Madelyn Hvidston and UW-Stevens Point senior Holly Winberg have produced strong performances for their teams this fall. The top seven runners in the 6,000-meter race will receive All-WIAC first team recognition, while runners placing eight through 14 earn All-WIAC second team accolades. Individuals finishing 15 through 20 claim honorable mention laurels. All eight WIAC teams will return to action on Nov. 14, and participate in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Ill. The regional event will be hosted by Augustana College (Ill.). UW-Oshkosh will host the NCAA Division III Championship on Nov. 21, at Lake Breeze Golf Club. # # # # #