2004 WIAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Headlines

UW-Oshkosh's Woodworth Unable To Advance At U.S. Olympic Track Trials

RELEASED: Monday, July 19, 2004

Sacramento, Calif.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student-athlete Liz Woodworth posted an excellent time by collegiate standards, but fell short of qualifying for the final of the 1,500-meter run at the United States Olympic Track and Field Trials in Sacramento, Calif.

Woodworth recorded a time of 4:20.45 in the semifinals of the 1,500-meter run held Friday (July 16) to finish 10th in her heat and 22nd overall. The semifinals of the 1,500-meter run featured 25 competitors, with Marla Runyan compiling the fastest overall time with a mark of 4:09.63 and three-time Olympian Suzy Favor Hamilton finishing second in 4:09.74.

Jennifer Toomey outran 12 runners in Woodworth's heat with a time of 4:14.53, while Jenelle Deatherage finished second in 4:15.28, Sarah Schwald third in 4:15.55, Amy Rudolph fourth in 4:15.76 and Mary Jayne Harrelson fifth in 4:16.10.

The top-five finishers in Woodworth's heat, along with the top-10 finishers in Runyan's heat, advanced to Sunday's (July 18) 7 p.m. (Central Time) final. The top-three finishers in the final will represent the United States at the Summer Olympics (August 11-29) in Athens, Greece.

Also qualifying for Sunday's 1,500-meter run final were Carrie Tollefson in 4:09.87, Lindsey Gallo in 4:09.94, Heather Sagan in 4:10.47, Janet Trujillo in 4:10.66, Sally Hauser in 4:10.99, Bethany Brewster in 4:11.18, Shalene Flanagan in 4:11.77 and Amy Mortimer in 4:11.82. Woodworth's performance of 4:20.45 would have placed her eighth in the event at the 2004 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championship and first at the 2004 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championship.

Woodworth concluded a stellar track and field career at UW-Oshkosh this past spring by winning three individual titles and helping the Titans to the top ranking at the NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor championships. Woodworth was named the "Outstanding Track Performer" at both national meets as she captured the 800-meter run indoors and the 800 and 1,500-meter runs outdoors. She also was a member of the Titans' distance medley relay team that placed first at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championship.

Competing at the WIAC indoor and outdoor championships this past spring, Woodworth totaled six league titles. Woodworth was named the "Outstanding Track Performer" at both conference meets after winning indoor and outdoor titles in the 800 and 1,500-meter runs. She also ran on the Titans' indoor distance medley relay and outdoor 3,200-meter relay teams that won league titles.

Woodworth's four-year UW-Oshkosh career (2001-04) featured seven individual titles, two relay crowns and 12 All-America mentions at the NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor championships. The Marinette native also was a part of 12 individual titles and five top relay listings at the WIAC indoor and outdoor championships. Woodworth established a pair of NCAA Division III records during the 2004 season by posting times of 2:06.49 in the 800-meter run and 4:15.20 in the 1,500-meter run.

Woodworth, a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, will conclude her cross country career for the Titans this fall. The medical technology major is a two-time All-American in the sport, with a second-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championship in 2003 and an eighth-place finish in 2001. Woodworth is the defending WIAC cross country champion.

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UW-Oshkosh's Woodworth Named Honda Track and Field Athlete of the Year

RELEASED: Friday, July 2, 2004

Oshkosh, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh distance runner Liz Woodworth (Sr. o Marinette) has been named by the Board of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards as the 2004 NCAA Division III Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

The Collegiate Women Sports Awards is in its 28th year of recognizing the top woman athlete in 12 NCAA Division I, II and III sports. And to celebrate the selections, the American Honda Motor Co., Inc., has donated $1,000 to the women's athletics fund of each honoree's university. Woodworth is the first UW-Oshkosh athlete to be recognized by the organization since cross country standout Tiffany Ebensperger in 1997.

In addition to Woodworth, other NCAA Division III honorees were Missy Buttry of Wartburg College (Iowa) in cross country, Brittany Cary of McMurry University (Texas) in golf, Allison Coleman of Eastern Connecticut State University in basketball, Beth Galloway of Kenyon College (Ohio) in swimming and diving, Mary Ellen Gordon of Emory University (Ga.) in tennis, Kristin Moyer of Eastern Mennonite University (Va.) in field hockey, Janet Nagle of the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) in softball, Renee Neuner of the University of Chicago (Ill.) in soccer, Carrie Santore of State University of New York-Brockport in gymnastics, Amy Smith of the University of La Verne (Calif.) in volleyball and Katie Wagenblast of The College of New Jersey in lacrosse.

This past spring, Woodworth won three individual titles as the Titans finished first at the NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor championships. Woodworth was named the "Outstanding Track Performer" at both national meets as she captured the 800-meter run indoors and the 800 and 1,500-meter runs outdoors. She also was a member of the Titans' distance medley relay team that placed first at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championship.

Competing at the WIAC indoor and outdoor championships this past spring, Woodworth totaled six league titles. Woodworth was named the "Outstanding Track Performer" at both conference meets after winning indoor and outdoor titles in the 800 and 1,500-meter runs. She also ran on the Titans' indoor distance medley relay and outdoor 3,200-meter relay teams that won league titles.

Woodworth established a pair of NCAA Division III records during the 2004 season by posting times of 2:06.49 in the 800-meter run and 4:18.55 in the 1,500-meter run. Woodworth's record performance in the 1,500-meter run qualified her for the United States Olympic Trials that will be held July 9-18 in Sacramento, Calif.

The 2004 track and field season was Woodworth's last at UW-Oshkosh. Her four-year career (2001-04) with the Titans featured seven individual titles, two relay crowns and 12 All-America mentions at the NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor championships and 12 individual titles and five top relay listings at the WIAC indoor and outdoor championships.

"Liz is a very humble and kind person who possesses a dynamic work ethic," said UW-Oshkosh women's track and field coach Deb Vercauteren. "She is highly respected by her peers and opponents and is one of the finest middle-distance runners in NCAA Division III history."

Woodworth, a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, will conclude her cross country career for the Titans this fall. The medical technology major is a two-time All-American in the sport, with a second-place finish at the NCAA Division III Championship in 2003 and an eighth-place finish in 2001. Woodworth is the defending WIAC cross country champion.

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Three Receive Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Academic All-America Accolades

RELEASED: Thursday, July 1, 2004

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2004 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. UW-Oshkosh's Elizabeth Woodworth and UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan were first team picks, while UW-Oshkosh's Kay Mikolajczak was a second team selection.

Woodworth, a senior from Marinette, Wis., was named to the Academic All-America squad for the second consecutive season after receiving second team honors a year ago. She holds a 3.627 grade point average while majoring in medical technology with a minor in chemistry and was named the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women's Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this season. Woodworth was named the Outstanding Track Performer at the 2004 NCAA Division III outdoor championships after winning the 800-meter run and 1,500-meter run titles. She is a three-time national champion in the 800-meter run at the indoor meet and a two-time All-American in cross country.

Verdegan, a junior from Tony, Wis. (Flambeau H.S.) maintains a 3.991 grade point average while majoring in dietetics. Earlier this year, she was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Five College Division Women's Basketball First Team and claimed the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Award. Verdegan was the 2004 NCAA Division III indoor triple jump champion and finished fourth in the event at the outdoor championship. She won the WIAC indoor and outdoor triple jump titles and the outdoor 400-hurdle crown in a conference record time.

Mikolajczak, a senior from Franklin, Wis., is majoring in biology with a minor in pre-physical therapy and carries a 3.925 grade point average. She was named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division Women's Basketball Second Team and was presented the Jostens Trophy, an award recognizing the most outstanding female student-athlete in NCAA Division III basketball. Mikolajczak also received the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Award in 2004. She placed fourth in the heptathlon at the 2004 NCAA Division III outdoor championships after placing fifth in 2002. Mikolajczak also finished second in both the heptathlon and high jump at the WIAC championships this year.

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Four Named To Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Academic All-District Team

RELEASED: Monday, June 7, 2004

Madison, Wis.--Four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-District Five College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. UW-Oshkosh's Kay Mikolajczak and Elizabeth Woodworth and UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan were named to the first team, while UW-Eau Claire's Laura Tamm was a second team selection.

Mikolajczak, a senior from Franklin, Wis., is majoring biology with a minor in pre-physical therapy and carries a 3.925 grade point average. She placed fourth in the heptathlon at the 2004 NCAA Division III outdoor championships after placing fifth in 2002. Mikolajczak also finished second in both the heptathlon and high jump at the WIAC championship this year. She was named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division Women's Basketball Second Team and was presented the Jostens Trophy, an award recognizing the most outstanding female student-athlete in NCAA Division III basketball. Mikolajczak also received the WIAC Women's Basketball Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award in 2004.

Woodworth, a senior from Marinette, Wis., holds a 3.627 grade point average, while majoring in medical technology with a minor in chemistry. She was named the Outstanding Track Performer at the 2004 NCAA Division III outdoor championships after winning the 800-meter run and 1,500-meter run titles. Woodworth is three-time national champion in the 800-meter run at the indoor meet and a two-time All-American in cross country. She received the WIAC Judy Kruckman Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this year and was named to the 2003 CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Second Team.

Verdegan, a junior from Tony, Wis. (Flambeau H.S.), maintains a 3.991 grade point average while majoring in dietetics. She was the 2004 NCAA Division III indoor triple jump champion and finished fourth in the event at the outdoor championship. Verdegan won the WIAC indoor and outdoor triple jump championships and the 400-hurdle title in a conference record time. She was also named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-District Five College Division Women's Basketball First Team and claimed the WIAC Women's Basketball Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.

Tamm, a senior from Brillion, Wis., is majoring in biology and carries a 3.81 grade point average. She finished fourth in the discus and seventh in the javelin at the conference outdoor championship this year and also participated in the discus at the national meet.

The academic all-district team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA student-athletes from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Mikolajczak, Woodworth and Verdegan are now eligible for the Academic All-America squad, which will be announced at the end of June.

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Decatur, Ill.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh won the NCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship on Saturday, May 29 at Frank M. Lindsay Field on the campus of Millikin University.

UW-Oshkosh scored 57 team points en route to the sixth outdoor title in school history. Calvin (Mich.) finished second with 54.3 points, while defending champion Wheaton (Mass.) finished third with 37.8 points, Wartburg (Iowa) finished fourth with 35 points and The College of New Jersey finished fifth with 33 points.

UW-Oshkosh's margin of victory was the second closest in the 23-year history of the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championship. In fact, the team title wasn't determined until the meet's last event, the 1,600-meter relay. UW-Oshkosh took a 57-48.3 lead into the 1,600-meter relay and had to watch as Calvin College performed as one of the event's competitors. Seeded first in the 1,600-meter relay, Calvin College had a chance to top UW-Oshkosh for the team title if it took first place in the race. Fortunately for the Titans, the Knights finished third in the relay, thus, awarding the team title to UW-Oshkosh.

The Titans also won outdoor titles in 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996 and 1997.

UW-La Crosse finished 10th at the 2004 national meet with 27 points, while UW-Stevens Point and UW-Stout tied for 21st with 11 points, UW-Eau Claire tied for 33rd with six points, UW-River Falls finished 39th with 5.8 points and UW-Platteville tied for 60th with two points.

Elizabeth Woodworth and Robyn Jarocki claimed individual national titles for UW-Oshkosh. Woodworth was named the Track Athlete of the Meet by the United States Track Coaches Association (USTCA) after claiming national crowns in the 800-meter run and 1,500-meter run. She won the 1,500-meter event with a United States Olympic Trials qualifying time and championship meet record time of 4:15.20. Woodworth won the 800-meter event for the third straight season with a time of 2:08.58, becoming the first individual in NCAA Division III history to win thee titles in the event.

Jarocki won the hammer throw with a championship meet record toss of 192-4. She also claimed All-America honors with a third-place finish in the discus and a fourth-place effort in the shot put. Jarocki was named the USTCA Field Athlete of the Meet for her efforts.

UW-La Crosse's Julia Rudd won the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a NCAA championship meet record time of 10:26.56. She is the first individual from UW-La Crosse to win an individual outdoor national title since Patti Franckowiak won the discus in 1998.

UW-Oshkosh completed the sweep of the meet's team and individual awards by having Deb Vercauteren being named NCAA Division III Track and Field Outdoor Coach of the Year by the USTCA. Vercauteren has coached at UW-Oshkosh since 1981, leading the Titans to 10 first-place, seven second-place and four third-place finishes at the NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor championships.

Claiming All-America honors (top eight finish in each event) from the WIAC were:
100-Meter Dash: Angela Klatt (UW-La Crosse--6th)
200-Meter Dash: Angela Klatt (UW-La Crosse--2nd)
800-Meter Run: Elizabeth Woodworth (UW-Oshkosh--Champion), Jenna Mitchler (UW-Stevens Point--7th)
1,500-Meter Run: Elizabeth Woodworth (UW-Oshkosh--Champion), Megan Craig (UW-Stevens Point--3rd)
5,000-Meter Run: Julia Rudd (UW-La Crosse--5th)
10,000-Meter Run: Jackie Mulrooney (UW-Platteville--7th)
3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Julia Rudd (UW-La Crosse--Champion)
100-Meter Hurdles: Jennifer Stafslien (UW-Eau Claire--3rd)
Discus: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh--3rd), Marci Schachtner (UW-Stout--8th)
Shot Put: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh--4th), Ann Schachtner (UW-Stout--8th)
Triple Jump: Laura Verdegan (UW-Stout--4th)
High Jump: Jill Crandall (UW-River Falls--2nd)
Hammer Throw: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh--Champion), Penny Godleske (UW-Oshkosh--4th), Marci Schachtner (UW-Stout--5th), Danielle Rankin (UW-Oshkosh--7th)
Heptathlon: Kay Mikolajczak (UW-Oshkosh--4th), Julie Hoch (UW-Oshkosh--5th)

4x400-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Melissa Marvin, Kelly Runkle, Shelli Gotto, Angela Klatt--7th)

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UW-La Crosse's Klatt Named Women's Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete

RELEASED: Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Angela Klatt has been named the 2004 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Klatt, a senior from Eagan, Minn., is double majoring in history and English with a minor in professional writing, while maintaining a 3.44 grade point average. She is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has appeared on UW-La Crosse's Dean's List on numerous occasions.

Klatt, a team captain, claimed the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash titles at the WIAC championship on May 8, marking the fourth straight season she has won the 200-meter event and third consecutive year she has won the 100-meter crown. She was also a member of the winning 4 x 100-meter and 4 x 400-meter relay teams and received track co-performer of the meet honors for her efforts. Klatt also received the conference honor last season. She finished second at the NCAA Division III Championships in the 200-meter dash a year ago after placing fifth in 2001 and has also added All-America honors as a member of the 4 x 100-meter relay team the past three seasons.

Klatt is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, the Campus Crusade Leadership Team and President of Athletes in Action.

Klatt becomes the sixth women's track and field student-athlete from UW-La Crosse to win the league's scholar-athlete award joining: Jenny Fiedler (2000), Patti Franckowiak (1999), Lace Van Zeeland (1998), Jennifer Leisen (1995) and Karen Fedors (1987).

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-Oshkosh's Katie Isermann, Kay Mikolajczak and Elizabeth Woodworth, UW-Platteville's Carla Kegel and Tracey Kuehne and UW-Stout's Terra Dahlheimer.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is sponsored by Culver's. In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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Eau Claire, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh won the 2004 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's outdoor track and field championship at Simpson Field on Saturday, May 8.

The Titans won their first league crown since 1997 with 217.17 team points and ended a six-year string of championships by UW-La Crosse. The Eagles finished second with 195 points, followed by UW-Stevens Point (148.50), UW-Eau Claire (105.50), UW-Stout (61), UW-River Falls (59), UW-Whitewater (42), UW-Platteville (24.33) and UW-Superior (5.50).

The Titans claimed six individual titles during the two-day league gala. Robyn Jarocki led the Titans by winning the discus, shot put with and hammer throw championships. Her toss of 183-10 in the hammer throw established a conference meet record. Jarocki won the discus with distance of 161-9 and the shot put with a heave of 46-0 1/2. She was voted the Field Performer of the Meet for her efforts.

UW-Oshkosh's Elizabeth Woodworth won the 800-meter run for the third straight year with a conference record time of 2:09.43. She also claimed the 1,500-meter run for the third consecutive season with a performance of 4:31.43. Woodworth was voted the Co-Track Performer of the Meet for the second time in her career, after also winning the award in 2002. She is the first individual in conference history to win three straight 1,500-meter run titles and the second person to win the 800-meter event in three consecutive seasons, joining UW-La Crosse's Carol Howard (1980-82).

UW-Oshkosh's Julie Hoch won the heptathlon for the second straight season with 4,462 points, while the Titan quartet of Jackie Munoz, Amanda Beard, Emily Steinhafel and Woodworth won the 4 x 800-meter relay title with a time of 9:29.05.

UW-La Crosse secured five individual championships, led by double-winners, Angela Klatt and Julia Rudd. Klatt won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash with times of 12.14 and 25.24, respectively to earn Co-Track Performer of the Meet honors for the second consecutive season. She is the first individual in conference history to win four straight 200-meter crowns and joins UW-Whitewater's Karla Eggerson (1993-95) as the only three-time winners in the 100-meter dash.

Rudd won 3,000-meter steeplechase with a conference record time of 10:40.57 and the 5,000-meter run with a time of 17:31.72.

UW-La Crosse's Angela Hilgers established a league meet record of 12-4 1/2 in winning the pole vault to becomes the first back-to-back winner in the event in conference history.

The Eagles also won the 4 x 100-meter relay with a time of 47.86 and the 4 x 400-meter relay with a performance of 3:53.09. Talia Williams, Kelly Runkle, Shelli Gotto and Klatt made up the 4 x 100 team, while Melissa Marvin, Gotto, Runkle and Klatt comprised the 4 x 400 squad.

UW-Stevens Point's Becky Clarke secured the javelin title for the third time in her career with a throw of 125-8. She also won the event in 2002 and 2001 and becomes the first individual in conference annals to win the event three times.

The Pointers' Marie Burrows won the 400-meter dash with a time of 57.09, while Nicki Van Gheem claimed the 10,000-meter run with a time of 39:28.32.

UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan won the 400-meter hurdles and triple jump titles. Her time of 1:01.71 in the 400-meter hurdles set a conference meet record, while her triple jump performance of 38-3 1/2 helped her win the event for the third time in her career. She also won titles in 2002 and 2001 and is the first individual in league history to win three titles in the event.

UW-Eau Claire's Jennifer Stafslien claimed the 100-meter hurdles title for the second straight year with a time of 14.88, while Ashley Nelson secured the long jump with a distance of 19-1 1/4.

UW-River Falls' Jill Crandall won the high jump with a height of 5-5 3/4.

UW-Oshkosh head coach Deb Vercauteren was voted the Coach of the Year.

2004 WIAC Championship Team Scores:
1. UW-Oshkosh 217.17
2. UW-La Crosse 195
3. UW-Stevens Point 148.50
4. UW-Eau Claire 105.50
5. UW-Stout 61
6. UW-River Falls 59
7. UW-Whitewater 42
8. UW-Platteville 24.33
9. UW-Superior 5.50

Individual Event Champions:
100-Meter Dash: Angela Klatt (UW-La Crosse), 12.14
200-Meter Dash: Angela Klatt (UW-La Crosse), 25.24
400-Meter Dash: Marie Burrows (UW-Stevens Point), 57.09
800-Meter Run: Elizabeth Woodworth (UW-Oshkosh), 2:09.43*
1,500-Meter Run: Elizabeth Woodworth (UW-Oshkosh), 4:31.43
5,000-Meter Run: Julia Rudd (UW-La Crosse), 17:31.72
10,000-Meter Run: Nicki Van Gheem (UW-Stevens Point), 39:28.32
3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Julia Rudd (UW-La Crosse), 10:40.57*
100-Meter Hurdles: Jennifer Stafslien (UW-Eau Claire), 14.88
400-Meter Hurdles: Laura Verdegan (UW-Stout), 1:01.71*
Discus: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh), 161-9 (49.31m)
Shot Put: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh), 46-0 1/2 (14.03m)
Long Jump: Ashley Nelson (UW-Eau Claire), 19-1 1/4 (5.82m)
Triple Jump: Laura Verdegan (UW-Stout), 38-3 1/2 (11.67m)
High Jump: Jill Crandall (UW-River Falls), 5-5 3/4 (1.67m)
Pole Vault: Angela Hilgers (UW-La Crosse), 12-4 1/2 (3.77m)*
Hammer Throw: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh), 183-10 (56.04m)*
Javelin: Becky Clarke (UW-Stevens Point), 125-8 (38.31m)
Heptathlon: Julie Hoch (UW-Oshkosh), 4,462 points

4x100-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Talia Williams, Kelly Runkle, Angela Klatt, Shelli Gotto), 47.86
4x400-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Melissa Marvin, Shelli Gotto, Kelly Runkle, Angela Klatt), 3:53.09
4x800-Meter Relay: UW-Oshkosh (Jackie Munoz, Amanda Beard, Emily Steinhafel, Elizabeth Woodworth), 9:29.05

*Conference Record

Track Co-Performers of the Meet: Angela Klatt of UW-La Crosse and Elizabeth Woodworth of UW-Oshkosh
Field Performer of the Meet: Robyn Jarocki of UW-Oshkosh
Coach of the Year: Deb Vercauteren of UW-Oshkosh
Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete: Angela Klatt of UW-La Crosse

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