2005 WIAC Cross Country Championships Preview
University of Wisconsin-Superior will host the 2005 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men's & Women's Cross Country Championships at Nemadji Golf Course in Superior on October 29. This will be the first time since 1996 that UW-Superior has hosted the conference meet and marks the 45th running of the men's event and 28th edition of the women's competition.
UW-La Crosse will look to defend its men's conference title from last season. The Eagles, who are ranked No. 2 nationally by the NCAA Division III Cross Country Coaches Association, have claimed a league-best 26 championships, including four of the last seven crowns.
Expect UW-Oshkosh, UW-Platteville and UW-Stevens Point to challenge for the top spots in the league standings. The Titans are ranked No. 7 in the country, while UW-Platteville is 25th and the Pointers are in the 'receiving votes' category.
UW-Platteville recorded its best finish since 1972 with a second-place standing a year ago, while UW-Stevens Point was third and UW-Oshkosh fourth after winning back-to-back league titles in 2002 and 2003.
UW-Whitewater's Gary Garcia will attempt to repeat as the individual champion and would become the 12th individual in conference history to accomplish the feat. Garcia will receive competition for the top spot from UW-La Crosse's Mark Creger, UW-Oshkosh's Nick Boehlke and Willy Kaul and UW-Platteville's Tyler Sigl.
Sigl finished third a year ago, while Creger placed eighth and Kaul was 13th.
UW-Stevens Point has captured the last two women's conference titles – the first two in school history and will look for its third straight this weekend. The Pointers are ranked No. 15 nationally and will receive stiff competition from UW-La Crosse, who is ranked No. 3 in the country. The Eagles claimed back-to-back league crowns in 2001 and 2002 and 1979 and 1980.
Also expect UW-Oshkosh and UW-Eau Claire to make a run at the top spots in the league race. The Titans have claimed a league-best 15 conference championships and are ranked No. 17 nationally, while the Blugolds are ranked No. 13.
The individual title in the women's race should be a two-person competition between UW-Stevens Point's Jenna Mitchler and UW-La Crosse's Julia Rudd. Mitchler finished fourth at last season's championship, while Rudd did not participate.
Also competing for top spots individually will be UW-Platteville's Marcia Taddy, UW-Stevens Point's Teresa Stanley and UW-Whitewater's Megan Kielar. Taddy placed seventh a year ago, while Kielar was ninth.
The top seven performers in both the men's and women's races receive all-conference first team honors, while the second seven are second team selections.
League teams will participate in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional on November 12 in Peoria, Ill., with the top teams and individuals advancing to the NCAA Division III Championships on November 19 in Delaware, Ohio.