Liz (Woodworth) Kujawa is set to begin her first season as the women's cross country coach at UW-Oshkosh.

Kujawa was a volunteer coach with the women’s cross country and track and field teams from 2008-10. A 15-time NCAA Division III All-American, Kujawa had an outstanding career in cross country and track and field for the Titans from 2000-2004. She won a total of nine national titles, 19 WIAC championships and still holds the school record in six track events.

Taking over for Deb Vercauteren, Kujawa inherits a program with outstanding tradition. Vercauteren led the Titans to four national titles and nine other top-four finishes at the NCAA Division III Championship since 1981. UW-Oshkosh placed 11th nationally during the 2010 cross country season.

Kujawa recently completed her first year as an assistant coach with UW-Oshkosh's women's track and field program. The Titans captured both the indoor and outdoor national championships during 2010. UW-Oshkosh also earned the WIAC Track and Field title in both venues.

Kujawa was a member of two national championships as an athlete in 2004. The Titans captured both the indoor and outdoor team titles, while Kujawa earned first place in four events. She took home the top prize in both arenas for the 800-meter run and was the national champion of the indoor 1,500-meter run. Kujawa was also a member of UW-Oshkosh’s winning indoor distance medley relay.

During the 2002 track and field season, Kujawa earned two individual national championships and was a part of the Titans’ victorious indoor distance medley relay. She swept the 800-meter national titles, recording a time of 2:12.41 indoors and 2:09.06 outdoors. Kujawa dominated that event again in 2003, gaining both crowns, including a school-record mark of 2:07.39 in the outdoor 800-meter competition.

In women’s cross country, Kujawa was the WIAC champion and the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional champion in 2003 and 2004. She picked up All-American honors on three occasions, placing second nationally in 2003 and 2004 and eighth in 2001. UW-Oshkosh took fourth place in the team competition at the 2004 NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country Championship.

Kujawa’s senior season was recognized with the 2004 Honda NCAA Division III Track and Field Athlete of the Year award. She still holds all-time NCAA Division III records with her outdoor times of 2:05.05 in the 800-meter run and 4:15.20 in the 1,500-meter run.

After her collegiate career, Kujawa participated in the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field 1,500-meter competition in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Kujawa also competed in the 1,500-meter run at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials in Sacramento, Calif.

Kujawa serves as the assessment coordinator for the university’s athletics department. The two-time Academic All-American earned her bachelor’s degree in medical technology from UW-Oshkosh in 2005. She and her husband, Joshua, have one daughter, Alyssa.

- Written August 1, 2011 -