2016 WIAC Men's Cross Country Championship Preview University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will aim for a third consecutive first-place finish at the 2016 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Cross Country Championship (Presented by Culver’s). The 56th gathering of league foes will be hosted by UW-Stevens Point at Wisconsin River Golf Club on Oct. 29. The Blugolds captured the third championship in program history a season ago with 33 points to surpass UW-La Crosse’s second-place total of 80 points. UW-Oshkosh was third with 82 points, UW-Platteville fourth with 104, UW-Stevens Point fifth with 111, UW-Stout sixth with 153, UW-Whitewater seventh with 191 and UW-River Falls eighth with 204. Two teams are ranked among the finest in the NCAA Division III based on Oct. 19 rankings distributed by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. UW-Eau Claire is ranked fourth, while UW-La Crosse is seventh. Individually, UW-Platteville senior Ian LaMere will aim for a second straight title after securing last year’s crown with a time of 24:07.26. Earlier this fall, he finished sixth out of 314 runners in the NCAA Division I Gold race at the Louisville Classic, crossing the finish line in 23:59.54. LaMere placed fifth at the 2014 WIAC Championship after finishing 11th in 2012. Returning runners that have secured All-WIAC honors at previous conference championships include: UW-Eau Claire junior Darin Lau (9th-2014, 4th-2015), along with seniors Matt Cooper (19th-2015) and Nick Petersson (13th-2013); UW-La Crosse juniors Ian Ewers (11th-2015), Jonah Weisse (8th-2014, 15th-2015) and Austin Zajkowski (10th-2015); UW-Oshkosh seniors Charlend Howard (7th-2015) and Joe Zack (20th-2014); UW-River Falls senior Julian Manley (13th-2015); UW-Stevens Point junior Michael Evans (16th-2014), along with seniors Neil Pedersen (9th-2015) and Dane Tyler (12th-2015); UW-Stout junior Devin Sauvola (17th-2014); and UW-Whitewater junior Brett Harms (8th-2015). The top seven runners in the 8,000-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. 12, and participate in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne. The regional event will be hosted by UW-Oshkosh. Spalding University (Ky.) will host the NCAA Division III Championship on Nov. 19. # # # # #