2015 WIAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Championship Preview University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will try for a 14th consecutive title at the 2015 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Indoor Track & Field Championship at UW-Platteville’s Williams Fieldhouse Feb. 27-28. The 47th edition of the league meet will be held in unison with the 39th gathering of the women’s teams. The Eagles posted the 39th first-place finish in program archives a season ago with 189 points to top the 131 points compiled by UW-Eau Claire. UW-Oshkosh finished third with 109 points, UW-Whitewater fourth with 99, UW-Platteville fifth with 74.50, UW-Stout sixth with 44.50, UW-Stevens Point seventh with 29, UW-River Falls eighth with 16 and UW-Superior ninth with 10. This year’s championship features 22 student-athletes that have combined to win 17 individual and 20 relay titles. It will also showcase four teams ranked in the Top 25 of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III computer rankings distributed on Feb. 17. UW-Eau Claire is ranked second, while UW-La Crosse is third, UW-Whitewater fifth and UW-Oshkosh 14th. UW-Eau Claire senior Thurgood Dennis is the most decorated returnee with six individual and four relay titles to his credit. He has also claimed the Track Performer of the Meet honor three straight years. Dennis is the three-time defending champion in the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash. He could join UW-La Crosse’s Andrew Rock (2001-04) as the only four-time winners of the 200-meter dash. In relay competition, Dennis has been a member of the winning 4x200-meter relay team the past two seasons and added the 4x400-meter relay crown a year ago, as well as in 2012. He was joined by senior Cody Prince on both 4x200-meter relay squads and the 4x400-meter relay unit in 2012. Sophomores Brent Mantzke and Jimmy Paske were members of the last year’s 4x200-meter relay team, while Paske, and juniors Kevin Brooks and William LaJeuesse contributed to the 4x400-meter relay squad a season ago. Senior Brandon Zarnoth secured Field Performer of the Meet laurels last year, when he won the heptathlon, while classmate Roger Steen is the defending champion in the shot put. UW-La Crosse senior Sean Royer won the 800-meter run in 2012 and 2013, and could become the conference’s first three-time winner in the event. He was also a member of the first-place distance medley relay team in 2011. Sophomore Ross Denman is the defending champion in the 400-meter dash, while senior Jeffery Hill won the pole vault. Junior Cyrus Mason has been a member of the winning distance medley relay team the past two seasons and was joined on last year’s squad by junior Tom Linner and sophomore Cole Hauenstein. In 2013, senior Bryan Klister secured the pole vault. UW-Whitewater senior Justin Bowers claimed the long jump a season ago, while senior Mike Judd was victorious in the 60-meter hurdles in 2012. In 2013, seniors Jared Denu and Devin Grainger, along with junior Bryce Rudebeck contributed to the triumphant 4x400-meter relay squad. UW-Stout senior Patrick Jenkins claimed the 3,000-meter run a season ago, while classmate Nick Lubinski secured the triple jump. # # # # #