2021 WIAC Men's Cross Country Championship Preview

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will pursue a fourth straight consecutive title at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Cross Country Championship (presented by Culver’s). The 60th edition of the conference meet will be hosted by UW-Stout at Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax, Wis., on Oct. 30. The men’s race will begin at noon and be followed by the women’s competition at 1 p.m.
 
The Eagles claimed the 35th conference championship in program history in 2019 with 28 points. UW-Stout finished second with 89 points, UW-Eau Claire third with 92, UW-Oshkosh fourth with 107, UW-Whitewater fifth with 110, UW-Stevens Point sixth with 124, UW-Platteville seventh with 185 and UW-River Falls eighth with 260. UW-Oshkosh ranks second in WIAC history with 10 first-place finishes, while UW-Stevens Point has five, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Platteville four and UW-Whitewater two.
 
Four teams are ranked among the finest in the NCAA Division III based on Oct. 20 rankings distributed by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. UW-Whitewater is eighth, while UW-La Crosse is 11th, UW-Oshkosh is 22nd and UW-Eau Claire is 29th.
 
Returning runners that secured All-WIAC honors from the 2019 championship include: UW-Eau Claire’s Connor Dolan (14th) and Brett Haffner (17th); UW-La Crosse’s Ethan Gregg (10th); UW-Oshkosh’s Cody Chadwick (eighth) and Steven Potter (13th); UW-Stout’s Spencer Schultz (fifth); and UW-Whitewater’s David Fassbender (fourth), Justin Krause (18th) and Kyle Neuroth (19th).
 
Additional runners leading their teams this fall include: UW-Platteville’s Caleb Christiansen; UW-River Falls’ Eric Ottosen; and UW-Stevens Point’s Michael Kluz.
 
The top seven runners in the 8,000-meter race will receive All-WIAC first team recognition, while runners placing eighth through 14th earn All-WIAC second team accolades. Individuals finishing 15th through 20th claim honorable mention status.
 
All eight WIAC teams will return to action on Nov. 13, and participate in the NCAA Division III North Regional, which will be held at Whitetail Golf Course, and hosted by UW-Eau Claire. Spalding University (Ky.) will host the NCAA Division III Championship at E.P. Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky., on Nov. 20.
 

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