UW-La Crosse will strive for a 19th consecutive title at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men’s outdoor track and field championship that will be held at UW-Oshkosh’s J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium on May 1-2. The 91st running of the men’s festival will run in conjunction with the 38th gathering of the women’s event.

The Eagles, who have won 44 first-place trophies in program history, won last year’s crown with 191.50 points. UW-Stevens Point finished second with 137.50 points, while UW-Oshkosh placed third with 134.50, UW-Whitewater fourth with 129, UW-Platteville fifth with 87, UW-Eau Claire sixth with 67.50, UW-River Falls seventh with 53, UW-Stout eighth with 42 and UW-Superior ninth with 16.

This year’s meet features 17 competitors that have combined to win 24 individual and relay titles at previous championships.

UW-La Crosse’s effort will be led by junior Alex Rooker who claimed Track Performer of the Meet honors last season after winning the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. In 2007, he was a member of the winning 4x100-meter relay squad.

Senior Jessie Dengsavang has won back-to-back first-place medals in the triple jump and could become the first individual in WIAC history to earn three straight titles in the event. A year ago, sophomore Clark Lundquist was victorious in the high jump and sophomores Cole Lambert and Ryan Mendez were members of the winning 4x400-meter relay team.

At the 2007 championship, senior Bobby Riley was victorious in the shot put, while senior Brad Peterson secured the 400-meter intermediate hurdles and junior Paul Moran captured the 10,000-meter run. Peterson was also a member of the first-place 4x400-meter relay squad.

UW-Stevens Point senior Greg Haak earned the 800-meter run in 2008, while sophomore Keith Ingram was victorious in the long jump and teamed with senior Brad Koback to win the 4x100-meter relay.

UW-Oshkosh returns a pair of individual title winners from a year ago in junior Ben Zill and senior Andrew McGuire. Zill was victorious in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, while McGuire claimed the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Senior Willy Kaul and junior Ben Wizner have teamed to win the 4x800-meter relay the last two seasons.

UW-Stout sophomore Daniel Drewek claimed the top spot in the pole vault a year ago, while UW-Eau Claire junior Wes Fischer was a member of the triumphant 4x800-meter relay squad in 2006.

The NCAA Division III Championship is scheduled for May 21-23 in Marietta, Ohio. Marietta College will host the event.