2005 WIAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Headlines

2005 WIAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Headlines

Three Named To Academic All-America Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team

RELEASED: Tuesday, July 5, 2005

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan was named to the first team, while UW-La Crosse's Angela Hilgers and UW-Oshkosh's Elizabeth Woodworth were second team selections.

Verdegan, a senior from Tony, Wis. (Flambeau H.S.), is majoring in dietetics with a minor in health and fitness/coaching and sustains a 3.99 grade point average. She claimed Academic All-America First Team honors for the second straight year and received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award in indoor and outdoor track and field this season. Verdegan was recently named the United States Track Coaches Association Female Athlete of the Year. She is a 12-time All-American (indoor and outdoor) and 10-time conference champion (indoor and outdoor). Verdegan claimed the 2004 NCAA Division III indoor triple jump title and is a three-time recipient of the conference's Field Athlete of the Meet award.

Hilgers, a senior from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., is majoring in recreation management with a minor in child and youth care and carries a 3.85 grade point average. She is a three-time All-American in the pole vault (indoor and outdoor). Hilgers has won the conference outdoor pole vault crown three consecutive years and also won the indoor event during the 2003 league meet.

Woodworth, a senior from Marinette, Wis., carries a 3.62 grade point average, while majoring in medical technology with a minor in chemistry. She claimed Academic All-America honors for the third straight season and has received the conference's Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award in cross country. Woodworth was a qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 1,500-meter run and is an eight-time national champion in track and field (indoor and outdoor). She is also a three-time All-American and two-time league champion in cross country.

The Academic All-America Team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA athletes from around the country.

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

RELEASED: Friday, June 3, 2005

Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. UW-La Crosse's Shelli Gotto and Angela Hilgers, UW-Oshkosh's Elizabeth Woodworth and UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan were selected to the first team, while UW-Eau Claire's Liz Faller and UW-Stevens Point's Jenna Mitchler were second team picks.

Gotto, a senior from Waukesha, Wis. (West H.S.), is majoring in elementary education and carries a 3.81 grade point average. She received the WIAC Judy Kruckman Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this year. Gotto is five-time All-American (indoor and outdoor), all as a part of relays. She is a 10-time conference champion in indoor and outdoor track and field (two individual, eight relays).

Woodworth, a senior from Marinette, Wis., carries a 3.62 grade point average, while majoring in medical technology with a minor in chemistry. She is a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America selection and has received the conference's Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award in cross country. Woodworth was a qualifier for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 1,500-meter run and is an eight-time national champion in track and field (indoor and outdoor). She is also a three-time All-American and two-time league champion in cross country.

Verdegan, a senior from Tony, Wis. (Flambeau H.S.), is majoring in dietetics with a minor in health and fitness/coaching and sustains a 3.99 grade point average. She was an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team selection last year and received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award in indoor and outdoor track and field this season. Verdegan was recently named the United States Track Coaches Association Female Athlete of the Year. She is a 12-time All-American (indoor and outdoor) and 10-time conference champion (indoor and outdoor). Verdegan claimed the 2004 NCAA Division III indoor triple jump title and is a three-time recipient of the conference's Field Athlete of the Meet award.

Faller, a sophomore from Marinette, Wis., maintains a 4.00 grade point average and is majoring in kinesiology. She placed fourth in the 55-meter hurdles at the WIAC indoor championship and tallied a fifth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles at the conference outdoor meet.

Mitchler, a junior from Kaukauna, Wis., posts a 3.54 grade point average, while majoring in education. She was named UW-Stevens Point's Female Athlete of the Year in an individual sport. Mitchler is a six-time All-American (indoor and outdoor) (four individual, two relays) and claimed the national title in the indoor 800-meter run this year. She also claimed All-America status in cross country this season. Mitchler was named the conference's indoor track Performer of the Meet this year after capturing titles in the 800-meter run and 3,000-meter run.

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).

Gotto, Hilgers, Woodworth and Verdegan are now eligible for the Academic All-America squad, which will be announced on June 23.

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League Registers Five Top 19 Finishes at NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Waverly, Iowa--The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) placed five teams in the top 19 at the 2005 NCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which were held May 26-28 at Wartburg College's Walston-Hoover Stadium.

UW-Oshkosh tied for second with 42 team points, while UW-Eau Claire tied for eighth with 26 points, UW-Stevens Point finished 15th with 19 points, UW-La Crosse placed 16th with 18 points and UW-Platteville tied for 19th with 13 points.

Additional conference schools placing at the national meet included: UW-River Falls and UW-Whitewater placing 32nd with eight points, UW-Stout tied for 39th with six points and UW-Superior tied for 55th with three points.

Wartburg (Iowa) won its first national title with 43 points to nip UW-Oshkosh and Calvin (Mich.), who finished with 42 points. The margin of victory for the Knights was the closest in meet history. The College of New Jersey finished fourth with 41 points, while Amherst (Mass.) and St. Thomas (Minn.) tied for fifth with 32 points.

UW-Oshkosh's Robyn Jarocki claimed national titles in the discus and shot put. She won the discus crown with a stadium record toss of 171-9, while capturing the shot put with stadium record performance of 48-0 1/2. Jarocki also finished second in the hammer throw at the national meet. She was named the Female Athlete of the Meet by the United States Track Coaches Association (USTCA) for her efforts during the three-day event.

UW-Eau Claire's Stephanie Barnes won the pole vault with a stadium record height of 12-2 1/2. She becomes the first pole vault national champion in school history.

UW-Platteville's Marcia Taddy secured the 800-meter run championship with a stadium record time of 2:11.54. She is the first Pioneer female to win a NCAA Division III title. Taddy also finished sixth in the 1,500-meter run at the national meet.

UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan was named the USTCA NCAA Division III Female Athlete of the Year and also claimed the Midwest Region award. UW-Stevens Point head coach Len Hill was named the Midwest Region Coach of the Year.

Also claiming All-America honors (top eight finish in each event) from the WIAC were:
400-Meter Dash: Melissa Marvin (UW-La Crosse-6th)
800-Meter Run: Marcia Taddy (UW-Platteville-Champion), Megan Kielar (UW-Whitewater-6th)
1,500-Meter Run: Jenna Mitchler (UW-Stevens Point-3rd), Megan Craig (UW-Stevens Point-5th), Marcia Taddy (UW-Platteville-6th)
3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Julia Rudd (UW-La Crosse-3rd)
100-Meter Hurdles: Liz Goergen (UW-Stevens Point-3rd), Jennifer Stafslien (UW-Eau Claire-5th), Breanna McMullen (UW-Eau Claire-8th)
Discus: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh-Champion), Julia Slabosheski (UW-Stevens Point-6th)
Shot Put: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh-Champion), Danielle Rankin (UW-Oshkosh-7th)
Long Jump: Jennifer Stafslien (UW-Eau Claire-2nd), Laura Verdegan (UW-Stout-8th)
High Jump: Samantha Miller (UW-Superior-5th), Jessica Owens (UW-Eau Claire-8th)
Pole Vault: Stephanie Barnes (UW-Eau Claire-Champion), Kelly Rehn (UW-Oshkosh-4th), Bethany Renner (UW-La Crosse-6th), Angela Hilgers (UW-La Crosse-7th)
Hammer Throw: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh-2nd), Beth Proeber (UW-Whitewater-4th), Terri Schwamb (UW-Oshkosh-5th), Danielle Rankin (UW-Oshkosh-6th)
Heptathlon: Jill Crandall (UW-River Falls-2nd), Laura Verdegan (UW-Stout-4th)

4x400-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Kelly Runkle, Shelli Gotto, Brooke Whitcher, Melissa Marvin-5th), UW-Eau Claire (Kristi Hansen, Jennifer Stafslien, Liz Faller, Breanna McMullen-7th)

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Three Share Women's Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Breanna McMullen, UW-La Crosse's Shelli Gotto, and UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan have been named 2005 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Outdoor Track and Field Tri-Scholar-Athletes, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

McMullen, a senior from Fall Creek, Wis., is majoring in nursing and sustains a 3.26 grade point average. She has been recognized on UW-Eau Claire's Dean's List.

McMullen captured the 400-meter intermediate hurdles title at the 2003 and 2002 conference meet and also won the 100-meter high hurdles in 2002. She is a three-time All-American, earning the honor twice in the 400-meter hurdles and once in the 100-meter hurdles. McMullen was named the team's Most Valuable Runner in 2003, 2002 and 2001.

McMullen has been a member of UW-Eau Claire's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and works in Luther Hospital's Trauma Unit.

Gotto, a senior from Waukesha, Wis. (West H.S.), is majoring in elementary education with a minor in special education and maintains a 3.81 grade point average. She has also been recognized on UW-La Crosse's Dean's List three years.

Gotto helped the Eagles to the 2005 WIAC championship by winning the 100-meter dash and being a member of the winning 4x100-meter relay and 4x400-meter relay teams. She was also a member of both winning relay teams last season. Gotto is a two-time All-American as a member of two different relay squads.

Gotto is a member of the Student Council for Exceptional Children and has volunteered with adults that have developmental disabilities. She has also served as a tutor at the Boys and Girls Club.

Verdegan, a senior from Tony, Wis. (Flambeau H.S.), carries a 3.99 grade point average and is majoring in dietetics with a minor in health and fitness/coaching. She was named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division Women's Track and Field/Cross Country First Team and is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Verdegan has also been the recipient of the Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence and received the WIAC Women's Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award earlier this year, while claiming the WIAC Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Award in 2004.

Verdegan, a team co-captain this season, was named the 2005 Field Performer of the Meet at the WIAC championships after claiming the long jump and triple jump titles. It marked the fourth time in her career she won the triple jump crown. Verdegan is a three-time All-American in the triple jump, placing fourth last year, fifth in 2002 and third in 2001.

Verdegan serves as Public Relations Officer for Phi Upsilon Omicron and is a member of the UW-Stout Student Dietetic Association. She also works as a supervisor in the Food and Nutrition Department at Myrtle Werth Hospital.

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Kristi Hansen, Heidi Hancock and Sarah Kasabian-Larson, UW-La Crosse's Amy Belleba, Angela Hilgers and Melissa Marvin and UW-Stout's Ann Schachtner.

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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UW-La Crosse Claims Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship

La Crosse, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse claimed the 2005 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's outdoor track and field championship at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday, May 7.

The Eagles totaled 177 team points enroute to their seventh title in the last eight seasons and 22nd in school history. UW-Oshkosh, the defending conference champion, finished second with 162 points, followed by UW-Stevens Point (120.50), UW-Eau Claire (97), UW-Stout (85.50), UW-Platteville (77), UW-Whitewater (71), UW-River Falls (37) and UW-Superior (31).

UW-La Crosse captured four individual titles during the two-day league meet. Shelli Gotto won the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.55, while Melissa Marvin claimed the 400-meter dash with a conference-meet record performance of 56.50.

Julia Rudd won the 3,000-meter steeplechase for the second straight season with a conference-meet record time of 10:32.42, while Angela Hilgers also established a meet record and Veterans Memorial Stadium record in the pole vault with a height of 13-1 1/2. This marks the third straight year that Hilgers has won the pole vault crown.

UW-La Crosse also claimed the 4 x 100-meter relay and 4 x 400-meter relay titles. Talia Williams, Whitney Franklin, Kelly Runkle and Gotto won the 4 x 100-meter event with a provisional qualifying time of 47.80, while Katie Steingraeber, Runkle, Gotto and Marvin were victorious in the 4 x 400-meter competition with a conference-meet record time of 3:52.41.

UW-Oshkosh was led by Robyn Jarocki who secured three individual titles. She won the shot put for the second consecutive year with a Veterans Memorial Stadium mark of 48-10.

Jarocki also claimed the discus and hammer throw titles for the second straight season with a pair of automatic qualifying performances. She won the discus with a heave of 159-6 and the hammer throw with a toss of 179-11.

The Titans' Nadine Pieske captured the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.58.

UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan was voted the Field Performer of the Meet after securing the triple jump and long jump titles. She won the triple jump for the fourth time in her career (2005, 2004, 2002, 2001) with an automatic qualifying distance of 40-1 1/4 and the long jump with a provisional mark of 18-7.

UW-Platteville had a pair of double-winners at the league championship. Marcia Taddy shared the Track Performer of the Meet award with UW-Eau Claire's Jennifer Stafslien after winning the 800-meter run and 1,500-meter run titles. Her time of 2:12.71 in the 800-meter run was a provisional effort, while her time of 4:33.69 in the 1,500-meter run automatically qualified her for the NCAA Division III Championships.

The Pioneers' Jackie Mulrooney obtained the 5,000-meter run title with a provisional qualifying time of 17:32.49. She also won the 10,000-meter run with a time of 38:19.11.

UW-Platteville also won the 4 x 800-meter relay with a time of 9:25.64. Anissa Szesterniak, Stephanie Martin, Lindsey Vick and Taddy were members of the winning team.

UW-Stevens Point's Liz Goergen secured the 400-meter hurdles with a provisional qualifying time of 1:03.07, while Bethany Richter won the javelin with a distance of 124-10.

UW-Eau Claire's Jennifer Stafslien claimed the 100-meter hurdles for the third straight year with a time of 14.48. She broke the conference meet record in the preliminaries of the event with a time of 14.38. Stafslien was voted the Track Performer of the Meet for her efforts.

UW-River Falls' Jill Crandall won the heptathlon with 4,559 points.

UW-Superior's Samantha Miller captured the high jump with a provisional qualifying height of 5-6 1/2. Her individual title marks the first field championship for UW-Superior since Rene Trojak won the javelin in 1978.

UW-La Crosse head coach Pat Healy was voted the Coach of the Year for the third time in his career (2005, 2002, 1999).

Team Scores:
1. UW-La Crosse 177
2. UW-Oshkosh 162
3. UW-Stevens Point 120.50
4. UW-Eau Claire 97
5. UW-Stout 85.50
6. UW-Platteville 77
7. UW-Whitewater 71
8. UW-River Falls 37
9. UW-Superior 31

Individual Event Champions:
100-Meter Dash: Shelli Gotto (UW-La Crosse), 12.55
200-Meter Dash: Nadine Pieske (UW-Oshkosh), 25.58
400-Meter Dash: Melissa Marvin (UW-La Crosse), 56.50*
800-Meter Run: Marcia Taddy (UW-Platteville), 2:12.71
1,500-Meter Run: Marcia Taddy (UW-Platteville), 4:33.69
5,000-Meter Run: Jackie Mulrooney (UW-Platteville), 17:32.49
10,000-Meter Run: Jackie Mulrooney (UW-Platteville), 38:19.11
3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Julia Rudd (UW-La Crosse), 10:32.42*
100-Meter Hurdles: Jennifer Stafslien (UW-Eau Claire), 14.48^
400-Meter Hurdles: Liz Goergen (UW-Stevens Point), 1:03.07
Discus: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh), 159-6 (48.62m)
Shot Put: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh), 48-10 (14.88m)
Long Jump: Laura Verdegan (UW-Stout), 18-7 (5.66m)
Triple Jump: Laura Verdegan (UW-Stout), 40-1 1/4 (12.22m)
High Jump: Samantha Miller (UW-Superior), 5-6 1/2 (1.69m)
Pole Vault: Angela Hilgers (UW-La Crosse), 13-1 1/2 (4.00m)*
Hammer Throw: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh), 179-11 (54.84m)
Javelin: Bethany Richter (UW-Stevens Point), 124-10 (38.04m)
Heptathlon: Jill Crandall (UW-River Falls), 4,559 points

Relay Champions:
4x100-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Talia Williams, Whitney Franklin, Kelly Runkle, Shelli Gotto), 47.80
4x400-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Kelly Runkle, Katie Steingraeber, Shelli Gotto, Melissa Marvin), 3:52.41*
4x800-Meter Relay: UW-Platteville (Anissa Szesterniak, Stephanie Martin, Lindsey Vick, Marcia Taddy), 9:25.64

*Conference Record
^Established conference record of 14.38 in the preliminaries

Track Co-Performers of the Meet: Marcia Taddy of UW-Platteville and Jennifer Stafslien of UW-Eau Claire
Field Performer of the Meet: Laura Verdegan of UW-Stout
Coach of the Year: Pat Healy of UW-La Crosse
Judy Kruckman Tri-Scholar-Athletes: Breanna McMullen of UW-Eau Claire, Shelli Gotto of UW-La Crosse and Laura Verdegan of UW-Stout

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