2015 WIAC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championship Preview University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will attempt to earn a 25th consecutive title at the 2015 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship at UW-La Crosse’s Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex May 1-2. The 97th version of the men’s meet will be held in unison with the 44th edition of the women’s championship. The Eagles collected the 50th first-place trophy in program archives a season ago with 215 points. UW-Oshkosh placed second with 163 points, UW-Whitewater third with 109, UW-Eau Claire fourth with 102, UW-Platteville fifth with 79, UW-Stout sixth with 75, UW-Stevens Point seventh with 69, UW-River Falls eighth with 31 and UW-Superior ninth with 15. This year’s championship features 23 student-athletes that have joined to win 24 individual and 15 relay first-place medals. It will also showcase five teams ranked in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association computer rankings distributed on April 21. UW-La Crosse is the top-ranked team, while UW-Whitewater is second, UW-Eau Claire third, UW-Stout 16th and UW-Oshkosh 19th. UW-La Crosse senior Dominique Neloms received Field Performer of the Meet accolades last year after winning the high jump and long jump. The Eagles also received first-place performances from sophomore Ross Denman in the 400-meter dash, junior Daniel Otto in the 110-meter high hurdles, senior Grant Havard in the discus and senior Jeffery Hill in the pole vault. In 2013, senior Sean Royer was victorious in the 800-meter run. He helped the 4x800-meter relay squad emerge with a win in 2011 and 2012, and was joined on the 2012 foursome by classmate Garrett Kerska. Junior Tom Linner was a member of the winning 4x800-meter relay team in 2013. Senior Nick Tehan contributed to the first-place 4x400-meter relay team in 2012. UW-Eau Claire senior Thurgood Dennis was named the Track Performer of the Meet at the 2012 and 2013 championships and has won three consecutive 100-meter dash titles. UW-La Crosse’s Dan Tutskey (1999-2002) is the only four-time winner of the event in conference history. Dennis helped the 4x100-meter relay squad to a first-place finish a season ago and won the 200-meter dash in 2012 and 2013. He was joined on the relay team by seniors Matt Hartje, Cory White and Brandon Zarnoth. Senior Roger Steen was victorious in the shot put at last year’s championship. UW-Stevens Point senior Dan Sullivan owns four individual first-place finishes, claiming the 800-meter run in 2011 and 2012, as well as the 1,500-meter run in 2012 and 2013. Sophomore Jerry Williams will aim for a second straight first-place finish in the triple jump. UW-Oshkosh senior Reid Zanoya was a member of the winning 4x400-meter relay team in 2013 and 2014, and added the 400-meter dash title in 2013. He was joined on the relay by classmate Brian Beaudo. Sophomore Charlie Scott contributed to the victorious 4x800-meter relay squad a year ago. UW-Whitewater senior Dawson Miller has won back-to-back 3,000-meter steeplechase titles and could become the first individual in WIAC history to capture the event three straight seasons. At the 2012 championship, senior Mike Judd captured the 110-meter high hurdles. UW-Stout senior Patrick Jenkins is the defending champion in the 5,000-meter run and 10,000-meter run. UW-Platteville junior Caleb Mertens contributed to the winning 4x100-meter relay squad in 2013. # # # # #