2019 WIAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Championship Preview

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will strive for an 18th consecutive first-place finish at the 2019 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Indoor Track & Field Championship (presented by Culver’s) at UW-Whitewater’s Kachel Fieldhouse Feb. 22-23. The 51st edition of the men’s championship will be held in unison with the 43rd gathering of the women’s teams.
 
The Eagles claimed the 43rd conference championship in program archives a season ago with 157.50 points to exceed UW-Whitewater’s second-place total of 105 points. UW-Stevens Point finished third with 90 points, UW-Eau Claire fourth with 88, UW-Platteville fifth with 76, UW-Oshkosh sixth with 73.50, UW-Stout seventh with 66.50 and UW-River Falls eighth with 6.50.
 
UW-Oshkosh ranks second behind UW-La Crosse with five league titles, while UW-Stevens Point owns two.
 
Competition will begin at this year’s event at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 22 and 10 a.m. on Feb. 23. Medals will be awarded to the top eight finishers in each of the individual events and to the individuals comprising the top six relay teams.
 
This year’s championship features 21 student-athletes that have combined to win 14 individual and seven relay first-place medals at previous league meets. It will also include six teams ranked in the Top 21 of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III Track & Field Rating Index distributed on Feb. 12. UW-Oshkosh is ranked second, while UW-La Crosse is third, UW-Platteville fifth, UW-Whitewater sixth, UW-Eau Claire seventh and UW-Stevens Point 21st.
 
UW-La Crosse has two defending champions, including Thomas Schultz in the 5,000-meter run and Austin Bates in the 60-meter hurdles. At the 2017 championship, Joshua Desorey was a member of the first-place 4x400-meter relay team, while Sam Hinz helped the distance medley relay squad to victory.
 
UW-Eau Claire’s Dylan Cooper is the defending champion in the heptathlon. In relay competition, Hunter Henk and KJ Munn contributed to the first-place 4x400-meter relay team a year ago, while Brandon Christnovich, Patrick Treacy and Bailey Wilson were members of the winning distance medley relay team. David Kornack claimed the shot put in 2017.
 
UW-Oshkosh’s Erik Schwandt won the 60-meter dash last season, while Justin Skinkis was victorious in the 800-meter run at the 2017 championship.
 
UW-Platteville’s Zach Lee and Noah Steiner are the defending champions in the 1,500-meter run and high jump, respectively. In 2017, Jacob Hirsbrunner secured the heptathlon.
 
UW-Stevens Point’s Calden Wojt posted a first-place finish in the 200-meter dash a season ago, while Evan Torgerson won the 400-meter dash.
 
UW-Whitewater’s Brian Kuehl was victorious in the 800-meter run at the 2018 championship, while Zach Jasinski claimed the pole vault. Robert Starnes secured the high jump at the 2016 league meet.
 
Additional individuals producing strong times and marks for their teams this season include: UW-River Falls’ Brady Baltz (triple jump) and Alan Hehr (60-meter hurdles); and UW-Stout’s Mike Friedman (3,000-meter run), Andrew Gilles (800-meter run), Kevin Ruechel (shot put) and Noah Zastrow (pole vault).
 
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