2017 WIAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship Preview

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will strive for a fifth straight first-place finish at the 2017 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship (presented by Culver’s) at UW-Stout’s Sport and Fitness Center Feb. 24-25. The 41st edition of the women’s championship will be held concurrently with the 49th gathering of the men’s teams.
 
The Eagles captured the 24th championship in program history a season ago with 162 points to surpass UW-Eau Claire’s second-place total of 104.50 points. UW-Stout took third with 103 points, while UW-Oshkosh was fourth with 93.50, UW-Stevens Point fifth with 80, UW-Platteville sixth with 58, UW-Whitewater seventh with 50.50 and UW-River Falls eighth with 11.50.
 
This year’s championship features nine student-athletes that have combined to win nine individual and five relay titles at previous WIAC championships. It will also showcase six 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. 14. UW-Whitewater is ranked 10th, while UW-Oshkosh is 11th, UW-Eau Claire 13th, UW-Stevens Point 14th, UW-Platteville 18th and UW-La Crosse 20th.
 
UW-La Crosse brings back a pair of individual champions from last season as senior Autumn Miller and junior Kaitlyn McDaniel won the shot put and 5,000-meter run, respectively. Junior Valerie Jones contributed to the first-place distance medley relay team in 2015 and 2016.
 
UW-Platteville senior Amber Williams is the most decorated returnee. She has been voted the Track Performer of the Meet at the last two WIAC championships and is the two-time defending champion in the long jump and triple jump. She could become the first individual in conference history to win three straight long jump titles.
 
UW-Eau Claire senior Jessie Reineck is the defending champion in the 400-meter dash. She also was a member of the winning 4x400-meter relay team, along with classmate Jess Rupnow and junior Ashleigh Buergi.
 
UW-Stout junior Courtney Shaffer posted a first-place finish in the one-mile run a season ago, while senior Lydia Meier won the 20-pound weight throw.
 
Additional individuals producing strong marks and times this season include: UW-Oshkosh juniors Emily Reichenberger (60-meter dash, 200-meter dash) and Cheyenne Moore (5,000-meter run); UW-River Falls freshman Sherahlynn Linkert (60-meter hurdles); UW-Stevens Point sophomore Isabella Weekly (high jump, long jump); and UW-Whitewater sophomore Celeste Madda (60-meter dash, 200-meter dash) and senior Meredith Porter (400-meter dash)
 

# # # # #