2018 WIAC Women's Cross Country Championship Preview

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will strive for a second straight first-place finish at the 2018 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Cross Country Championship (presented by Culver’s). The 41st gathering of conference squads will be hosted by UW-Eau Claire at Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax, Wis., on Oct. 27. The women’s race will commence at noon and be followed by the men’s competition at 1 p.m.
 
The Blugolds collected the ninth first-place finish in program archives a year ago with 33 points to surpass UW-La Crosse’s second-place total of 59 points. UW-River Falls finished third with 91 points, UW-Platteville fourth with 130, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Stout tied for fifth with 139, UW-Oshkosh seventh with 140 and UW-Whitewater eighth with 174. UW-Oshkosh owns a conference-best 16 titles, while UW-La Crosse is tied for second with UW-Eau Claire at nine and UW-Stevens Point has two.
 
Two teams are ranked among the finest in the NCAA Division III based on Oct. 17 rankings distributed by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. UW-Eau Claire is ranked 10th, while UW-La Crosse is 24th.
 
Returning runners that have secured All-WIAC honors at previous conference championships consist of:  UW-Eau Claire’s Liz Cisewski (10th-2017), Karen Gomez-Ruiz (17th-2016), Maggie Louiselle (18th-2016), Morgan Marek (eighth-2017, fifth-2016) and Samantha Slattery (second-2017, 15th-2016); UW-La Crosse’s Hannah Beilke (19th-2017, 16th-2015), Andrea Brekken (10th-2016, 18th-2015), McKenzie Kirtz (13th-2016), Sadie Kroll (third-2017, second-2016) and Sarah Ziolkowski (seventh-2016); UW-Platteville’s Janelle Ferguson (20th-2015), Johanna Meister (12th-2017) and Katie Wardinski (13th-2017); UW-River Falls’ Nicole Jurik (20th-2017) and Linsey Tolkkinen (11th-2017, 19th-2016); and UW-Stout’s Jessica Petruzates (ninth-2017).
 
Additional conference runners producing strong performances for their teams this fall include: UW-Oshkosh’s Evlyn Noone; UW-Stevens Point’s Georgia Harrison; and UW-Whitewater’s Jessie Braun.
 
The top seven runners in the 6,000-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. 10, and participate in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional, which will also be held at Whitetail Golf Course. UW-Oshkosh will host the NCAA Division III Championship at Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne, Wis., on Nov. 17.
 

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