2005 WIAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Headlines

2005 WIAC Women's Indoor 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.

# # # # #

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.

# # # # #

UW-Oshkosh Secures Second Consecutive NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field Title

Bloomington, Ill.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh secured its second consecutive NCAA Women's Indoor Track and Field title following completion of the two-day national meet held March 11-12 at the Shirk Center on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University.

The Titans, who claimed the fifth NCAA Division III women's indoor track and field title in school history (2005, 2004, 1996, 1995, 1994), scored 36 team points to win the crown. Wartburg (Iowa) finished second with 32 points, followed by Amherst (Mass.) with 26 points, Williams (Mass.) with 24 points and St. Thomas (Minn.) with 22 points.

UW-Stevens Point finished eighth with 18 points, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout tied for 11th with 15 points, UW-La Crosse tied for 18th with 12 points, UW-Platteville tied for 21st with 10 points and UW-Whitewater tied for 46th with three points. A total of 60 teams scored points at this year's meet.

UW-Oshkosh's victory came down to the last event of the meet, the 1,600-meter relay. UW-Oshkosh held a 36-30 lead over Wartburg going into the relay and had to watch its fate as the Knights were entered in the event. If the Knights finished first or second in the relay, they won the team title, and if they placed third, they tied the Titans for the team championship. When the race ended, Wartburg finished seventh, thus awarding the team title to UW-Oshkosh.

UW-Oshkosh was led by Robyn Jarocki who claimed titles in the shot put and 20-pound weight throw to earn Outstanding Field Athlete of the Meet honors for the second straight year. She secured the 20-pound weight throw for the second consecutive season with a toss of 67-2 (20.47m). Her distance established a meet record was the best in Division III this season, along with a Shirk Center record.

Jarocki captured the shot put title with a heave of 50-4 (15.34m), which was also a Shirk Center record.

UW-Stevens Point's Jenna Mitchler won the 800-meter run with a NCAA Division III best time of 2:12.97.
She is the sixth women's indoor national champion in UW-Stevens Point history and third in the 800-meter run.

The top eight finishers in each event at the national championship earned All-America honors.

WIAC finishes at the 2005 NCAA Division III Championships:
400-Meter Dash: Melissa Marvin (UW-La Crosse-3rd)
800-Meter Run: Jenna Mitchler (UW-Stevens Point-Champion), Marcia Taddy (UW-Platteville-3rd), Megan Kielar (UW-Whitewater-7th)
One-Mile Run: Marcia Taddy (UW-Platteville-8th), Megan Craig (UW-Stevens Point-10th)
5,000-Meter Run: Jackie Mulrooney (UW-Platteville-6th)
55-Meter Hurdles: Jennifer Stafslien (UW-Eau Claire-4th)
High Jump: Laura Verdegan (UW-Stout-3rd), Samantha Miller (UW-Superior-11th)
Long Jump: Jennifer Stafslien (UW-Eau Claire-7th)
Triple Jump: Laura Verdegan (UW-Stout-4th), Jennifer Stafslien (UW-Eau Claire-7th)
Pole Vault--Stephanie Barnes (UW-Eau Claire-3rd), Kelly Rehn (UW-Oshkosh-7th), Bethany Renner (UW-La Crosse-10th), Chelsea Becker (UW-Stout-12th)

Shot Put: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh-Champion), Danielle Rankin (UW-Oshkosh-5th), Julia Slabosheski (UW-Stevens Point-6th), Amanda Nechuta (UW-Stevens Point-8th)

20-Pound Weight Throw: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh-Champion), Danielle Rankin (UW-Oshkosh-3rd), Terri Schwamb (UW-Oshkosh-4th), Marci Schachtner (UW-Stout-5th), Beth Proeber (UW-Whitewater-8th)

4 x 400-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Melissa Marvin, Shelli Gotto, Katie Wagner, Brooke Whitcher-3rd)

Distance Medley Relay: UW-Stevens Point (Jenna Mitchler, Marie Burrows, Ashleigh Potuznik, Megan Craig-5th)

# # # # #

UW-Stevens Point's Craig and UW-Stout's Verdegan Claim Women's Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award

RELEASED: Monday, March 7, 2005

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's Megan Craig and UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan have been named 2005 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Indoor Track and Field Co-Scholar-Athletes, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Craig, a senior from Mindoro, Wis. (Bangor H.S.), is majoring in physical education with a minor in health education and maintains a 3.63 grade point average. She is a member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has been named to UW-Stevens Point's Dean's List numerous semesters.

Craig won the one-mile run at the WIAC championships for her second career league title. She won the 3,000-meter run in 2003. Craig is a three-time All-American, finishing third in the 1,500-meter run and distance medley relay a year ago after placing fourth in the 1,500-meter run in 2003. She has also been recognized as her team's MVP.

Craig is a member of WAHPERD and SHAPER Club and has volunteered for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She has worked in the UW-Stevens Point Athletic Department and as a Distance Running Camp Counselor.

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 was named one of three WIAC Women's Basketball Scholar-Athletes in 2004.

Verdegan, a team co-captain this year, was named the 2005 Field Performer of the Meet at the WIAC championships after claiming the triple jump and high jump titles. It marked the third straight season she has secured the triple jump crown and second time in her career she has claimed the performer of the meet honor. Verdegan is a five-time All-American, including a national champion in the triple jump last season.

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 and Sarah Kasabian-Larson, UW-La Crosse's Amy Belleba, Shelli Gotto, Angela Hilgers, Melissa Marvin and Courtney Poziombke, UW-Oshkosh's Katie Isermann, UW-Stevens Point's Lisa Anderson and Veronique Van Gheem and UW-Stout's Ann Schachtner and Marci 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.

# # # # #

UW-La Crosse Captures Sixth Consecutive Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship

WIAC Championship Trophy Platteville, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse captured its sixth consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women's indoor track and field championship following completion of the two-day conference meet, which was held at UW-Platteville's Williams Fieldhouse on March 4-5.

UW-La Crosse, which claimed the 16th conference championship in school history, won two individual titles and a pair of relay events en route to this year's league crown.

The Eagles totaled 145.33 team points to outdistance UW-Oshkosh which finished second with 140.50 points. The margin of victory was the closest in the 29-year history of the league spectacle. UW-Stevens Point finished third (104.83), followed by UW-Stout (76.50), UW-Eau Claire (70), UW-Platteville (62.50), UW-Whitewater (40.33), UW-River Falls (31) and UW-Superior (31).

The Eagles' Melissa Marvin won the 400-meter dash with a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 57.82, while Shelli Gotto claimed the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.86.

UW-Stevens Point's Jenna Mitchler was voted the Track Performer of the Meet after securing the 800-meter run and 3,000-meter run titles. Her time of 2:14.44 in the 800-meter run was a NCAA automatic
qualifying performance. Mitchler won the 3,000-meter run with a time of 10:07.31.

The Pointers' Megan Craig captured the one-mile run with a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 4:59.12, while Teresa Stanley claimed the 5,000-meter run with a time of 18:22.58.

UW-Eau Claire claimed three individual titles during the two-day league meet, led by Jennifer Stafslien's two crowns. Stafslien won the 55-meter hurdles for the second straight year with NCAA provisional qualifying time of 8.48 and the long jump for the second consecutive season with a NCAA provisional qualifying distance of 18-1 1/2.

The Blugolds' Stephanie Barnes won the pole vault with a NCAA provisional qualifying height of 12-0.

UW-Oshkosh's Robyn Jarocki won the shot put with a conference meet record and NCAA automatic qualifying heave of 48-5 1/2. She also claimed the 20-pound weight throw for the second straight year with a conference meet record and NCAA provisional qualifying toss of 63-1 1/4.

The Titans' Julie Hoch secured the pentathlon for the third consecutive season with 3,278 points.

UW-Stout's Laura Verdegan was voted the Field Performer of the Meet after winning the triple jump and high jump titles. She won the triple jump for the third consecutive season with a NCAA provisional qualifying leap of 38-7 1/2. Verdegan captured the high jump with a height of 5-5 3/4.

UW-Platteville's Tracey Wilber won the 55-meter dash with a time of 7.34.

UW-La Crosse's Marvin, Gotto, Abby Lien and Brooke Whitcher won the 4 x 400-meter relay with a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 3:59.25, while Whitney Frankin, Mandy Rue, Courtney Poziombke and Talia Williams teamed to secure the 4 x 200-meter event with a time of 1:45.68.

UW-Oshkosh's Katie Isermann, Nadine Pieske, Andrea Sonnenschien and Emily Steinhafel captured the distance medley relay with a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 12:14.96.

UW-La Crosse head coach Pat Healy was voted the Coach of the Year by the league coaches for the sixth consecutive season.

Team Scores:
1. UW-La Crosse 145.33
2. UW-Oshkosh 140.50
3. UW-Stevens Point 104.83
4. UW-Stout 76.50
5. UW-Eau Claire 70
6. UW-Platteville 62.50
7. UW-Whitewater 40.33
8 (tied). UW-River Falls 31
8 (tied). UW-Superior 31

Individual Event Champions:
55-Meter Dash: Tracey Wilber (UW-Platteville), 7.34
200-Meter Dash: Shelli Gotto (UW-La Crosse), 25.86
400-Meter Dash: Melissa Marvin (UW-La Crosse), 57.82
800-Meter Run: Jenna Mitchler (UW-Stevens Point), 2:14.44
One-Mile Run: Megan Craig (UW-Stevens Point), 4:59.12
3,000-Meter Run: Jenna Mitchler (UW-Stevens Point), 10:07.31
5,000-Meter Run: Teresa Stanley (UW-Stevens Point), 18:22.58
55-Meter Hurdles: Jennifer Stafslien (UW-Eau Claire), 8.48
High Jump: Laura Verdegan (UW-Stout), 5-5 3/4 (1.67m)
Long Jump: Jennifer Stafslien (UW-Eau Claire), 18-1 1/2 (5.52m)
Triple Jump: Laura Verdegan (UW-Stout), 38-7 1/2 (11.77m)
Pole Vault: Stephanie Barnes (UW-Eau Claire), 12-0 (3.66m)
Shot Put: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh), 48-5 1/2 (14.77m)*
20-Pound Weight Throw: Robyn Jarocki (UW-Oshkosh), 63-1 1/4 (19.23m)*
Pentathlon: Julie Hoch (UW-Oshkosh), 3,278 points

Relay Champions:
4 x 200-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Whitney Franklin, Mandy Rue, Courtney Poziombke, Talia Williams), 1:45.68
4 x 400-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Melissa Marvin, Shelli Gotto, Abby Lien, Brooke Whitcher), 3:59.25
Distance Medley Relay: UW-Oshkosh (Katie Isermann, Nadine Pieske, Andrea Sonnenschien, Emily Steinhafel), 12:14.96

*Conference Record

Track Performer of the Meet: Jenna Mitchler of UW-Stevens Point
Field Performer of the Meet: Laura Verdegan of UW-Stout
Judy Kruckman Co-Scholar-Athletes: Megan Craig of UW-Stevens Point and Laura Verdegan of UW-Stout
Coach of the Year: Pat Healy of UW-La Crosse

# # # # #

Three To Participate In USA Indoor Track and Field Championships

Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) track and field student-athletes will participate in the 2005 USA Indoor Track & Field Championships on February 25-27 in Boston. UW-La Crosse's Kevin Becker, UW-Platteville's Ryan Kleimenhagen and UW-Oshkosh's Robyn Jarocki will compete in the event.

Becker will participate in the weight throw, while Kleimenhagen will compete in the 1,500-meter run and Jarocki will partake in the weight throw and shot put.

Becker is ranked ninth among all competitors in his event, while Kleimenhagen is eighth and Jarocki is fifth in the weight throw and sixth in the shot put.

The USA Indoor Track & Field Championship meet is the world's oldest indoor track championship, with the first meet held in 1888.

Complete Meet Information: http://www.usatf.com/events/2005/USAIndoorTFChampionships/

# # # # #

UW-River Falls Names Brennan Track and Field Head Coach

RELEASED: Thursday, September 9, 2004

River Falls, Wis.--Martha Brennan has been named men’s and women’s track and field head coach at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Brennan has been an assistant track and field coach at Texas A&M University since 1997. There she coached the heptathlon, decathlon, and pole vault competitors. She also served as the camp director and the high school coaches clinic director. She worked as a meet director for the Games of Texas 2000 and as an assistant meet director for other large track events like the 2001 Big XII outdoor championships and the 2004 NCAA regional qualifying championships.

She was an assistant track and field coach at the University of Iowa in 1997 where she mentored hurdlers, jumpers, throwers, and multi-event athletes. She was also the team’s strength and conditioning coordinator. In 1995 and 1996 she was a graduate assistant at Louisiana State University where she supervised ninth semester students, worked in compliance and assisted the senior women’s administrator. She also had responsibilities in the ticket office and event management.

In 1997, Brennan was a member of the U.S.A. National track and field team and competed in the U.S. Olympic Trials as a heptathlete in 1996. She was a five time track and field All-American while competing at the University of South Dakota (1991-1993). She was also a member of the 1994 and 1995 LSU NCAA national championship winning teams.

She earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics from LSU in 1995, her master’s degree in educational administration in 1996 from LSU and is currently completing her Ph.D in educational administration from Texas A&M. She also holds USA Track and Field certification Level I and Level II in the jumps.

# # # # #

Back to the WIAC home page