2021 WIAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship Preview

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will look for a ninth consecutive title at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship (presented by Culver’s) at UW-River Falls’ David A. Smith Stadium at Ramer Field May 7-8. The 49th edition of the women’s championship will be held in unison with the 102nd assembling of the men’s meet.
 
The Eagles claimed the 34th championship in program archives in 2019 with 225.50 points. UW-Eau Claire took second with 192 points, UW-Stevens Point third with 125, UW-Stout fourth with 83, UW-Oshkosh fifth with 69, UW-Platteville sixth with 64, UW-Whitewater seventh with 44.50 and UW-River Falls eighth with 12.
 
UW-Oshkosh ranks second behind UW-La Crosse with 11 league titles, while UW-Stevens Point has captured one.
 
Competition will begin at this year’s championship at 1 p.m. on May 7, and 9:30 a.m. on May 8. Medals will be awarded to the top-eight finishers in each of the individual events and the runners comprising the top-six relay teams.
 
This year’s meet features 10 student-athletes that have combined to win nine individual and five relay first-place medals at previous WIAC championships. It will also showcase four teams ranked in the Top 17 of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III Rating Index distributed on May 4. UW-La Crosse is the top-ranked team, while UW-Eau Claire is sixth, UW-Oshkosh 13th and UW-Stevens Point 17th.
 
Returning champions in individual events from the 2019 championship include: UW-Eau Claire’s Megan Wallace (heptathlon); UW-La Crosse’s Savannah Rygiewicz (100-meter dash, 200-meter dash); UW-Platteville’s Katie Schilling (400-meter hurdles); and UW-Stevens Point’s Larkin Hoepner (hammer throw) and Sylviann Momont (high jump). Rygiewicz also contributed to the first-place 4x100-meter relay team and was selected the Track Performer of the Meet for her efforts, while Wallace claimed Field Performer of the Meet recognition.
 
Wallace also won the heptathlon in 2018 and could become just the second three-time winner in the event, joining UW-Oshkosh’s Sue Burke, who finished first four straight years (1988-91).
 
In 2018, UW-La Crosse’s Clair Shepardson won the 100-meter hurdles, while UW-Oshkosh’s Cara Volz claimed the triple jump.
 
In relay events, UW-La Crosse’s Kelly Aldrich and Payton Siehr joined Rygiewicz on the 4x100-meter relay team. UW-Stevens Point’s Brooke Wellhausen helped the 4x400-meter relay team to victory at the 2018 and 2019 championships.
 
Additional individuals producing strong times and marks for their teams this season include:  UW-River Falls’ Lexi LeFever (100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, long jump); UW-Stout’s Molly Perkins (5,000-meter run, 10,000-meter run) and Hannah Zastrow (high jump); and UW-Whitewater’s Gracie Holland (pole vault).
 

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