PLATTEVILLE, Wis. (Blugolds.com)- The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships will take place May 3-4 at UW-Platteville's T&F Complex. It will be the 101st edition of the men's championships and the 48th gathering of the women's teams.
Competition will kick off May 3rd at 2:30 PM and 11 PM a day later. The top eight finishers in individual events and the runners of the top six relay teams will be awarded medals for their performances.
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire has a number of former individual champions returning to the event on the men's side, highlighted by David Kornack (Edgar, WI) (shot put). They are also ranked first overall as a team in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III Rating Index distributed on April 23. Four other WIAC teams were also rated in the Top 22 of the Index.
Kornack (Sr.-Edgar, WI) will once again be one of the favorites for the shot put, just over a week removed from a historical showing at the Drake Relays. Kornack became the first ever DIII athlete to win the shot put, competing against athletes of all divisions. He recorded a toss of 19.38m, the seventh best in NCAA DIII history. In addition, he also is currently ranked 3rd in the WIAC in discus.
The Blugolds' also have some favorites that will be running on the men's side. Kyler Lueck (Germantown, WI/ WI Lutheran) is coming off a great showing at the Drake Relays as well. The junior won the event in a time of 1:51.23. Lueck's time leads the nation in NCAA division III and is first in the WIAC. The junior also is first in the WIAC in the 1500 meter run, with teammate Patrick Treacy (Sr. – Fall Creek, WI/Eau Claire, Memorial) just behind him currently 2nd in the WIAC. Treacy is also ranked 2nd in the 5000meter run.
Another familiar name for the Blugolds is distance runner Darin Lau (Eau Claire, Wis./Immanuel Lutheran). The eight-time track All-American is currently number one in the WIAC in the 5000 meter run. Dylan Cooper (Holmen, Wis) is another athlete to keep an eye on at the Championships this weekend. The junior is number one in the WIAC in the Decathlon finishing with 6914 total points on March 29. This score also ranks him 2nd in NCAA Division III.
On the women's side, Eau Claire is hoping to get over the top after finishing second as a team in the Championships in 2018. The team is currently ranked tenth in the DIII Rating Index, while UW-Oshkosh is 17th & UW-La Crosse 21st. Erica Oawster (Sr.-Lino Lakes, MN/Centennial) was an individual medal winner last year and will compete in the shot put and discus. Oawster finished second in the shot put at the Ashton May Invitational in early April with a toss of 14.47m. Megan Wallace (So.-Burlington, WI) was the champion in the heptathlon event at the Championships last season and finished fourth at the Phil Esten Challenge at UW-La Crosse with a score of 4,745 points.
After the WIAC Championships, both the men and women will travel to Naperville, Illinois to compete in the North Central Last Chance event next Thursday. Follow the action all season long or on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app' on your mobile device.
