2021 WIAC Women's Cross Country Championship Preview

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire will try for a fourth consecutive first-place finish at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Cross Country Championship (presented by Culver’s). The 43rd edition of the meet will be hosted by UW-Stout at Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax, Wis., on Oct. 30. The women’s race will begin at 1:00 p.m., while the men’s competition starts at noon.
 
The Blugolds secured the 11th league title in program archives in 2019 with 27 points. UW-La Crosse place second with 33, UW-Oshkosh third with 97, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 121, UW-Stout fifth with 122, UW-Whitewater sixth with 150, UW-Platteville seventh with 230 and UW-River Falls eighth with 230.
 
Three teams are ranked among the best in the NCAA Division III based on Oct. 20 rankings distributed by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. UW-La Crosse is 11th, while UW-Eau Claire is 20th and UW-Stevens Point is 25th.
 
Returning runners that secured All-WIAC first team honors in 2019 consist of: UW-Eau Claire’s Emma Drangstveit (second) and Naomi Long (seventh), along with UW-La Crosse’s Maddie Hannan (third), Rachel Jeffers (fourth), Madeline Sweeney (fifth), Maddy Vantassel (11th), Kaylan Marshall (14th), Emma Malooly (15th), Lauren Beauchaine (16th) and Jamie Huber (19th).
 
Additional runners leading their teams this season include: UW-Oshkosh’s Hannah Lohrenz; UW-Platteville’s Samantha Meyer; UW-River Falls’ Maria Laudenbach; UW-Stevens Point’s Rachel Krouse; UW-Stout’s Emily Cunningham; and UW-Whitewater’s Ari De La Cerda.
 
The top seven runners in the 6,000-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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