2024 WIAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship Preview

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University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will strive for a 12th straight first-place finish at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship (presented by Culver’s) at UW-Platteville’s Track & Field Complex May 3-4. This will mark the 52nd edition of the women’s championship.
 
The Eagles collected the 37th conference crown in program archives a year ago with a championship meet record of 363.50 points. The point total broke the previous mark of 313 points by UW-Oshkosh at the 1996 championship.
 
UW-Eau Claire placed second a season ago with 156 points, while UW-Whitewater was third with 85.50, UW-Oshkosh fourth with 62, UW-Stout fifth with 57, UW-Stevens Point sixth with 42, UW-River Falls seventh with 30 and UW-Platteville eighth with 23.

UW-Oshkosh ranks second behind UW-La Crosse with 11 league titles, while UW-Stevens Point has one. Former member UW-Madison collected two first-place finishes. 
 
Competition at this year’s championship will begin at 2:30 p.m. on May 3, and 11:00 a.m. on May 4. Medals will be awarded to the top-eight finishers in each of the individual events and runners comprising the top-six relay teams, while All-Conference designation will be given to the top-three finishers in each event.
 
This year’s meet features three teams ranked in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III Rating Index distributed on April 23. UW-La Crosse is ranked fourth, UW-Eau Claire 11th and UW-Whitewater 13th.
 
Returning champions in individual events include: UW-Eau Claire’s Emilee Booker (2023/heptathlon); UW-La Crosse’s Samantha Barrett (2022/triple jump), Maddie Hannan (2023/1,500-meter run), Ainsley Hansen (2023/high jump), Miah Keller (2023/triple jump), and Ella Puls (2023/javelin); UW-Oshkosh’s Cyna Madigan (2023/800-meter run); UW-River Falls’ Lexi LeFever (2021/long jump; 2022/long jump; 2023/long jump); UW-Stevens Point’s Abigail Nelson (2021/pole vault) and Rachel Krouse (2023/10,000-meter run); UW-Stout’s Hannah Zastrow (2022/high jump); and UW-Whitewater’s Gracie Holland (2022/pole vault; 2023/pole vault) and Tina Shelton (2023/100-meter dash and 200-meter dash).
 
Hansen was tabbed the WIAC Newcomer of the Year last season.
 
Individuals that have claimed first-place relay medals at previous championships include: UW-La Crosse’s Lauren Jarrett (2023/4x100-meter), Morgan Jennings (2023/4x400-meter), Ellie Jillson (2022/4x400-meter), Amber Johnson (2021/4x400-meter; 2022/4x400-meter; 2023/4x400-meter), and Bella Seitz (2023/4x100-meter).
 
UW-Platteville’s Jessica Buss (400-meter hurdles), Hailey Campbell (high jump), Elianna Dalamangas (triple jump) and Brenna Noon (shot put) rank in the top-five of the respective events on this year’s WIAC Honor Roll.
 
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