RELEASED:  Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Track and Field Athletes Capture Region Awards

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point’s Kyle Steiner and UW-La Crosse’s Caitlin Schetter have been named the 2008 NCAA Division III Midwest Region Outdoor Field Athletes of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.  In addition, UW-River Falls’ Brenda Thiel was named the region’s Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year.

Steiner, a senior from Grafton, Wis., secured the men’s award after winning the decathlon title at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship for the second straight year.

A junior from Kiel, Wis., Schetter claimed the women’s honor after winning the long jump and placing second in the triple jump at the WIAC championship.  She recently broke the school record in the long jump with a leap of 19-6 1/4 - a distance that ranks as the best in NCAA Division III this season.

Thiel’s throwers were outstanding this spring.  Vicki Cooper qualified for the NCAA championship in three events (shot put, discus and javelin), and three other Falcons will be joining Thiel at nationals.  Thiel is in her fourth season as a UW-River Falls assistant.