2024 WIAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Championship Preview

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University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will strive for a second consecutive first-place finish at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s Indoor Track & Field Championship (presented by Culver’s) at UW-Whitewater’s Leonard "Squig" Converse Track at Kachel Fieldhouse Feb. 23-24. This will mark the 55th edition of the league event.
 
The Eagles claimed a conference-leading 46th title in program history a season ago with 228 points to exceed the 141.33 points by defending champion UW-Oshkosh. UW-Whitewater finished third with 80.33 points, UW-Eau Claire fourth with 68.33, UW-Stout fifth with 66, UW-Platteville sixth with 47, UW-Stevens Point seventh with 20 and UW-River Falls eighth with 11.
 
UW-Oshkosh ranks second with six conference championships, while UW-Stevens Point owns two.
 
Competition at this year’s meet will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 23, and 10:00 a.m. on Feb. 24. Medals will be awarded to the top-eight finishers in each of the individual events and the individuals comprising the top-six relay teams.
 
This year’s championship features four teams ranked in the Top Four of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III Track & Field Rating Index distributed on Feb. 20. UW-La Crosse is the top-ranked team, while UW-Oshkosh is second, UW-Eau Claire third and UW-Whitewater fourth.
 
Returning champions in individual events include: UW-Eau Claire’s Yakob Ekoue (2023/shot put); UW-La Crosse’s Sam Blaskowski (2022/200-meter dash and long jump; 2023/60-meter dash and 200-meter dash), Ethan Gregg (2023/5,000-meter run), Addison Hill (2023/400-meter dash), Logan Larson (2023/pole vault), Michael Madoch (2022/one-mile run), and Luke Schroeder (2023/60-meter hurdles); UW-Oshkosh’s Caleb Cornelius (2022/high jump; 2023/high jump) and Davian Willems (2022/60-meter dash); and UW-Whitewater’s Christian Patzka (2022/5,000-meter run; 2023/3,000-meter run).
 
Ekoue claimed Field Performer of the Meet honors a year ago, while Blaskowski is the reigning two-time Track Performer of the Meet. Blaskowski added Newcomer of the Year accolades in 2022, with Patzka claiming the honor in 2021 and UW-River Falls’ Yaih Marial in 2023.
 
Individuals that have claimed first-place relay medals at previous championships include: UW-Eau Claire’s Colin McClowry (2022/4x400-meter), Sam Schroeder (2022/4x400-meter), and Josiah Ziebell (2022/4x400-meter); UW-La Crosse’s Tyler Backes (4x400-meter), Chase Doornink (4x400-meter), and Addison Hill (4x400-meter); and UW-Whitewater’s Christian Patzka (2023/distance medley), Rhett Reuter (2023/distance medley), and Gunner Schlender (2022/distance medley; 2023/distance medley).
 
Individuals from remaining conference programs ranking high on this year’s WIAC Honor Roll include: UW-Platteville’s Justin Eichler (35-pound weight throw) and Cade VanHout (60-meter dash); UW-River Falls’ Yaih Marial (high jump) and Jacob Balcome (pentathlon); Braedon Gilles (800-meter run) and Austin Rennhack (shot put); and UW-Stout’s Connor Walechka (35-pound weight throw), Thomas Casey (60-meter hurdles) and Kaden Martin (60-meter hurdles).
 
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