2015 WIAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship Preview University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will strive for a third straight first-place finish at the 2015 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship at UW-Platteville’s Williams Fieldhouse Feb. 27-28. The 39th version of the women’s championship will be held in conjunction with the 47th men’s meet. The Eagles secured the 22nd championship plaque in program history a season ago with 207 points to surpass UW-Oshkosh's second-place total of 134 points. UW-Whitewater placed third with 92 points, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 79, UW-Stout fifth with 60, UW-Eau Claire sixth with 56.50, UW-Platteville seventh with 45.50, UW-River Falls eighth with 27 and UW-Superior ninth with 1. This year’s championship features 16 student-athletes that have combined to win 14 individual and 11 relay titles. It will also showcase five 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-La Crosse is ranked second, while UW-Oshkosh is fourth, UW-Whitewater seventh, UW-Eau Claire 12th and UW-Platteville 13th. UW-La Crosse senior Jaime Ludwigson is the reigning Track Performer of the Meet. She has posted back-to-back first-place finishes in the 60-meter dash and added the 60-meter hurdles crown a season ago. In 2013, Ludwigson also won the triple jump. She was a member of the 4x200-meter relay squad in 2012. Junior Meg Heafy has contributed to the victorious 4x200-meter relay team the past two years, and was joined by senior Crystal Oravis in 2013 and sophomore Maggie Slatter in 2014. Junior Bria Halama claimed the triple jump last year and was a member of the winning 4x400-meter relay unit, along with senior Shannon Klein. Klein also captured the event in 2013. UW-Oshkosh senior Jecel Klotz claimed the shot put last season and earned Field Performer of the Meet laurels, while senior Kylee Verhasselt was victorious in the 800-meter run. Seniors Sonny Jenkins and Alesha Malueg were members of last year’s triumphant distance medley relay squad, while classmate Stephanie Jahn aided the winning unit in the event in 2013. UW-Whitewater senior Lexie Sondgeroth is the two-time defending champion in the 200-meter dash and the long jump. She could become the first individual in conference archives to win three career long jump titles. Senior Shelby Mahr won the 20-pound weight throw in 2014. UW-Stevens Point junior Shannon Burke was victorious in the pole vault a year ago, while UW-Stout senior Meagan Ward claimed the pentathlon. # # # # #