The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men’s track and field team looks to capture its fifth NCAA Division III outdoor championship in the last six years May 24-26 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium.
The Eagles have won a record 10 outdoor national titles, including last year’s championship in Lisle, Ill. when they finished with 74.5 points. Lincoln University (Pa.) finished second with 54 points. The Lions are aiming for a sweep of the 2007 national track and field titles after winning the indoor crown in March. Lincoln University, winners of seven outdoor titles, won the national indoor championship with 59.0 points while the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse was second with 48.0. Lincoln University has recorded 23 consecutive top-five finishes at the outdoor championships while the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has 18 top-five results in the last 22 outdoor meets.
Along with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Lincoln University, McMurry University (Texas) is expected to battle for a top finish in the team standings. Host institution University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, which placed third at the 2007 indoor national meet, along with St. John’s University (Minn.), Monmouth College (Ill.), Mount Union College (Ohio) and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater are considered to place near the top.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crossewill bring 23 student-athletes to this year’s national championships, including eight events with at least two competitors. Senior Matt Novak returns to defend his national title in the pole vault after claiming the title last season (16-11). He placed second at the 2007 NCAA III Indoor Championship. Five of the top-seven finishers in the vault return from last season, including junior Kevin Clark of Elizabethtown College (Pa.), who placed second. Zach Johnson of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is seeded first after setting a J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium record of 17-2 1/4 earlier this year.
Senior Kevin Becker of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse enters this year’s championship with the top-qualifying mark of 215-3 in the hammer throw. He took home the title in 2005. Junior Jason Fisher of Central College (Iowa) is seeded second (199-5) and senior Jacob Gabrilska of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh third (191-3).
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Bobby Riley is the top seed in the shot put (57-5 3/4) while Mount Union College senior Justin Rodhe is second (57-0). University of Wisconsin-Whitewater junior Dan Hytinen was third in the discus throw last season after finishing seventh in 2005. He enters this year’s meet with a top qualifying mark of 177-11. Rodhe is seeded second (176-0) after finishing fifth in 2006. State University of New York-Brockport senior Ken Ciolek of is seeded first in the javelin throw (210-6) while sophomore Joel Krebs of George Fox University (Ore.) is second (210-0). Krebs placed third a year ago.
Junior Al Winsley of Mississippi College is the top qualifier in the high jump (7-1) while sophomore Ted McMillan of Augustana College (Ill.) is the top returner after tying for fourth last season. Tufts University (Mass.) senior Fred Jones won the triple jump last season and placed second in 2005. Four of the top-seven finishers in the triple jump return from last year. Sophomore Eric Buss of St. John’s University (Minn.) enters as the top-seed (48-11) while University of Redlands (Calif.) senior Nathan Adkins is second (48-7 1/2).
Heidelberg College (Ohio) junior Greg Tyson will look to gain a national title in the long jump after placing second the last two seasons while junior Jed Droge of Nebraska Wesleyan University was third in 2005 and fifth in 2006. Senior Reggie Hopkins of Lincoln University went 24-8 1/2 this season to lead all qualifiers.
On the track, McMurry University sophomore Hanneus Ollison looks to capture the 200-meter dash championship after a second-place finish a year ago. He enters the meet with a top-qualifying time of 21.03. Five of the top-seven finishers from last season are entered in the 2007 championships. Ollison also has the top time in the 100-meter dash (10.41) and is coming off a fifth-place finish last season. Sophomore Orlando Walton of University of Dubuque (Iowa) and Winsley are both seeded second (10.45).
Senior Bobby Young leads Lincoln University into the 2007 outdoor championships after winning the 400-meter dash in 2005 and 2006. He is looking to become the second runner in NCAA III history to win three 400-meter dash titles. Mike Spangler of Susquehanna University (Pa.) claimed the 400 in 1986, 1987 and 1988. Young enters this year’s meet with the second-best qualifying time of 47.07. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Tony Marcinek, who placed sixth a year ago, is ranked first at 47.03.
In the hurdles, University of Masachusetts-Dartmouth senior Jonathan Garcia finished fourth in 2006 and sixth in 2005 in the 110-meter hurdles. He enters this year’s meet with the top qualifying time (14.31) while sophomore Jermaine Morris of Lincoln University is second (14.37). Senior Geoff Kaiser of Loras College (Iowa) (52.24) and sophomore Cory Beebe of Heidelberg College (Ohio) (52.26) are seeded first and second in the 400-meter hurdles. Kaiser was fourth in 2005 in the event while Beebe placed sixth last year. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse junior Brad Peterson finished fifth in 2006 and eighth in 2005.
McMurry University (40.53) leads the 400-meter relay qualifiers followed by University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (40.63) and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (40.92). McMurry University and University of Wisconsin-La Crosse have yet to win a 400-meter relay title while five different schools have captured the title since 2002. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is seeded first in the 1,600-meter relay (3:09.18) with Wartburg College (Iowa) second (3:12.10) and Monmouth College third (3:12.29). Lincoln University snapped the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s three-year reign as champions of the 1,600-meter relay with a win last season. The Lions return Young, senior Lance Wigfall and sophomore Randy Dawkins were all members of last year’s national champion relay. Lincoln University leads the nation in 400 (9) and 1,600-meter (11) relay titles.
In the 800-meter run, three of the top-nine finishers return, including sophomore Jimmy O’Brien of Ohio Northern University who finished ninth last season and is the top seeded runner this year (1:49.94). Junior Matt Kramer of the University of Wisconsin-Superior was sixth a year ago while junior Geoff Lambert of Wabash College (Ind.) was seventh. Senior Will Leer of Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Calif.) was second in the 1,500-meter run a year ago and enters this year’s meet with a top-time of 3:41.98. Hope College (Mich.) senior Ryan TerLouw is seeded second (3:47.16). TerLouw was fifth in 2006 and seventh in 2005.
In the 5,000-meter run, junior Hany Abdallah of New York University is the top seed (14:12.46) while sophomore William Kaul of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is second (14:22.45) and Pomona-Pitzer Colleges' Leer third (14:23.28). Junior Julian Boggs of Colorado College was second and junior Tyler Sigl of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville third in the 5,000-meter run last season. Senior Fred Joslyn of State University of New York-Cortland is seeded first in the 10,000-meter run (29:55.14) while Sigl is second (30:03.02). Kaul placed fourth in the event a year ago.
Senior Zach Barr of Monmouth College captured the 3,000-meter steeplechase title in 2005. Junior Chris Erichsen of St. John’s University is seeded second this season (9:09.82) while Occidental College (Calif.) junior Alex Ramon is first (9:01.23). University of Wisconsin-La Crosse senior Mike Herlihy has two top-five finishes, placing third in 2005 and fifth in 2006.
Junior Francis Nugent of the University of Redlands placed second last season in the decathlon while sophomore Ryan Forbes of George Fox University was eighth. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point senior Kyle Steiner is seeded first with 6,825 points.
Action begins at noon Thursday, May 24. The top-eight finishers in each event earn NCAA III All-America honors.
