Results
West Salem, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's cross country team won its second straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championship Saturday afternoon at Maple Grove Venues, LLC with 26 team points. It is UWL's 11th league title in school history.
UW-Eau Claire placed second with 50 points and UW-Oshkosh third with 99. UW-Stout finished fourth (108) followed by UW-Whitewater (120), UW-Stevens Point (131), UW-Platteville (208) and UW-River Falls (249). UWL is ranked eighth, UW-Eau Claire 14th and UW-Oshkosh 33rd in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III based on the October 19 rankings distributed by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). UW-Stevens Point is receiving votes.
The Eagles' 11 league titles are tied for second in conference history. UW-Oshkosh owns a conference-best 16 championships while UW-Eau Claire also won 11 WIAC titles.
UWL's
Maddie Hannan captured the individual crown on Saturday, completing the 6,000-meter race in 21:41.5. She is the eighth runner in school history to win the league title and first since
Hannah Beilke in 2018. Other individual winners for UWL include
Gail Rusch (1979),
Tori Neubauer (1982, 1983),
Sheri Winter (1986),
Jenny Fielder (1999),
Julia Rudd (2002, 2005) and
Laura Mead (2013, 2014). Hannan placed seventh a year ago.
The Eagles had five runners place in the top-10 on Saturday.
Katelyn Chadwick finished fourth (22:20.5),
Julia Anderson fifth (22:21.2),
Maddy Vantassel sixth (22:24.8) and
Jenna Lovejoy 10th (22:46.9). All 12 of UWL's runners placed in the top-34.
Kimberly Carviou was 15th (23:06.7),
Charlotte Mueller 16th (23:14.5),
Mackenzie Hill 17th (23:16.2),
Madelynn McIntyre 22nd (23:38.6),
Sierra Rabe 23rd (23:40.6),
Lauren Beauchaine 25th (23:46.9) and
Kylie Trousil 34th (24:00.3). A total of 89 runners completed the race.
Hill was named the WIAC Kwik Trip Newcomer of the Year at the conclusion of the championships while
Jamie Huber was selected to the All-WIAC Sportsmanship Team.
The top-seven runners receive All-WIAC first team recognition, while runners placing eight through 14 earn All-WIAC second team accolades. Individuals finishing 15 through 20 claim honorable mention laurels.
Eleventh-year head coach
Derek Stanley has now led UWL to five WIAC Championships (2013-14, 2016, 2021-22) while finishing second on five occasions (2012, 2015, 2017-19). A total of 66 All-WIAC cross country honors have been earned under Stanley, including 28 first team selections and 19 second team choices.
"I have never been a part of a more complete performance," said Stanley. "Our runners stepped up in every way we asked them. To walk away from this meet with two team victories, two individual champions and two newcomer of the year awards is day in my coaching that will last a lifetime.
"The women performed in championship fashion today," added Stanley. "We weren't totally healthy this week but the will to run for each other was strong and it shined through."
"
Maddie Hannan came into this race with confidence and she laid it down in the kick at the end."
UWL returns to action Saturday, November 12 at the NCAA Division III North Regional at the St. Olaf College (Minn.) Cross Country Trails in Northfield, Minnesota at noon.
