UW-La Crosse will aim for a third consecutive crown at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’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 38th edition of the women’s meet will be held in union with the 91st gathering of the men’s festival.

The Eagles have claimed 24 conference trophies, including nine in the last 11 seasons, and won last year’s event with 192 points. UW-Eau Claire finished second with 158.50 points, while UW-Oshkosh placed third with 140.50, UW-River Falls fourth with 118, UW-Stevens Point fifth with 77, UW-Stout sixth with 51, UW-Platteville seventh with 50, UW-Whitewater eighth with 46 and UW-Superior ninth with 24.

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 senior Caitlin Schetter who won the long jump crown last season after senior Katie Fondow secured the event in 2007. Schetter was also a member of the victorious 4x100-meter relay squad, along with junior Ashton May, while senior Danica Schaefer competed on the first-place 4x400-meter relay team. In 2007, Fondow and May were part of the winning 4x100-meter relay quartet.

UW-River Falls junior Becca Jordahl claimed the WIAC Track Performer of the Meet honor last season after winning the 5,000-meter run and 10,000-meter run. She was joined on the victory podium by sophomore Becky Ponick who claimed the javelin.

UW-Stevens Point senior Elizabeth Caine has won back-to-back titles in the 100-meter dash and could become the third individual in WIAC listings to claim three straight first-place finishes in the event.

UW-Stout junior Ashlea Peter could become the first individual in conference archives to secure three consecutive triple jump titles. Junior Sam Mayer won the high jump a year ago, while senior Pam Sellberg was victorious in the pole vault.

Additional returning champions from a year ago consist of: UW-Eau Claire junior Hannah Humbach in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, UW-Eau Claire senior Liz Kooistra in the 400-meter dash and UW-Whitewater sophomore Brooke Bell in the 200-meter dash.

Returning title holders from the 2007 championship include: UW-Oshkosh junior Amy Mleziva in the 4x400-meter relay, UW-River Falls senior Jessica Reed in the 100-meter high hurdles and UW-Whitewater junior Dana Thompson in the discus.

UW-Platteville senior Jessica Scott has been a member of consecutive 4x800-meter relay champion teams.

The NCAA Division III Championship is scheduled for May 21-23 in Marietta, Ohio. Marietta College will host the event. UW-Oshkosh and UW-River Falls are the defending national co-champions.