2024 WIAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship Preview

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will strive for a fourth consecutive title at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’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 47th edition of the women’s championship.
 
The Eagles secured the 29th championship in program archives a season ago with a conference-record 324 points enroute to the victory. The total smashed the previous mark of 261 points by UW-Oshkosh at the 1996 championship.
 
UW-Eau Claire placed second in 2023 with 116 points, UW-Oshkosh third with 65, UW-Whitewater fourth with 54, UW-Stout fifth with 37, UW-Stevens Point sixth with 31, UW-River Falls seventh with 23 and UW-Platteville eighth with 11.
 
UW-Oshkosh ranks second in WIAC history with 13 championships, while UW-Eau Claire has one. Former conference members UW-Milwaukee and UW-Madison collected two and one, respectively.
 
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 five teams ranked in the Top 22 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 ranked fifth, while UW-Oshkosh is 12th, UW-Whitewater 14th, UW-Eau Claire 15th and UW-Stout 22nd.
 
Returning champions in individual events include: UW-La Crosse’s Maddie Hannan (2023/800-meter run), Ainsley Hansen (2023/high jump), Hailie Kent (2023/triple jump), and Maddy Vantassel (2023/5,000-meter run); UW-Oshkosh’s Libby Geisness (2020/800-meter run); UW-Stevens Point’s Rachel Krouse (2022/5,000-meter run); UW-Stout’s Mckayla Felton (2023/3,000-meter run); and UW-Whitewater’s Gracie Holland (2022/pole vault; 2023/pole vault) and Tina Shelton (2023/60-meter dash).
 
Hansen was chosen the Newcomer of the Year a season ago, while Krouse received the distinction in 2022. LeFever was tabbed the Track Performer of the Year in 2021.
 
Individuals that have claimed first-place relay medals at previous championships include: UW-La Crosse’s Lilly Halvorson (2022/4x400-meter; 2023/4x400-meter), Maddie Hannan (2020/distance medley), Morgan Jennings (2023/4x400-meter), and Amber Johnson (2022/4x400-meter; 2023/4x400-meter); UW-Oshkosh’s Libby Geisness (2022/distance medley) and Cyna Madigan (2022/distance medley); and UW-Whitewater’s Ari De La Cerda (2023/distance medley), Katie Erb (2023/distance medley), and Paige Fassbender (2023/distance medley).
 
Individuals from remaining conference programs ranking high on this year’s WIAC Honor Roll include: UW-Eau Claire’s Kayla Behnke (shot put), Emilee Booker (60-meter hurdles), Jane Kautz (pentathlon) and Raina Stecher (20-pound weight throw); UW-Platteville’s Brenna Noon (shot put) and Hailey Campbell (high jump); and UW-River Falls’ Laina Viere (5,000-meter run) and Cailyn Kuechle (800-meter run).
 

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