Women's Track and Field | 4/30/2026 10:20:00 AM

WIAC Championship Website

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's track and field team will strive for its 14th straight title at the 2026 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Outdoor Championship (presented by Culver's) at the two-day meet at the UW-La Crosse's Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex. The 54th edition of the league meet is scheduled to start Friday, May 1 and run through Saturday, May 2 in unison with the 107th gathering of the men's teams. 
 
This year's women's championships start Friday at 1:15 p.m. and continues Saturday starting at 11 a.m.
 
The Eagles collected the 39th league crown in program history in 2025 with 269.50 points. UWL scored points in all 21 events, including 16 events with at least 10 points.

UW-Eau Claire placed second last year (148.16 points) and UW-Stout third (116.0). UW-Oshkosh was fourth (106.0) followed by UW-Whitewater (97.0), UW-Platteville (32.33), UW-River Falls (28.0) and UW-Stevens Point (22.0). 

UW-La Crosse is ranked first in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Track & Field Rating Index release on April 28. UW-Eau Claire is ranked fifth with three other schools in the top-43, including UW-Platteville (33rd), UW-Whitewater (39th) and UW-Stout (43rd).

UW-La Crosse (1972-73, 1977-87, 1992-93, 1998-2003, 2005, 2007-10, 2012-19, 2021-2025) has won a league record 39 titles. UW-Oshkosh (1988-91, 1994-97, 2004, 2006, 2011) has won 11 conference crowns while UW-Madison (1974-75) has won two and UW-Stevens Point (1976) one. The 2020 championships were canceled due to the COVID-19 public health threat. 

The top finisher in each event receives all-conference first team recognition, while the runner-up secures second team accolades and the third-place performer claims honorable mention recognition. Medals will be awarded to the top-eight finishers in each of the individual events and the runners comprising the top-six relay teams.
 
Head coach Nickolas Davis has led the Eagles to seven (2018-19, 2021-25) WIAC Outdoor crowns. He was selected the 2018 WIAC Outdoor Coach of the Year. UW-La Crosse has earned the WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year in the last six seasons (2019, 2021-25).
 
Returning champions for UW-La Crosse in individual events include: Samantha Barrett in the triple jump (2022, 2024); Maya Evans in the long jump (2024) and triple jump (2025); Amber Grosse in the heptathlon (2024); Madison Habberstad in the pole vault (2025), Ainsley Hansen in the high jump (2023); Brooklyn Luebke in the 5,000-meter run (2025), Lucile Duchac in the 10,000-meter run (2025), Anna Plautz in the 400-meter dash (2025) and Ella Puls in the javelin throw (2023, 2025).

Evans was named the 2024 Field Performer of the Meet while Hansen earned the 2023 Newcomer of the Year.

Individuals claiming first-place relay medals at previous championships for UW-La Crosse include: Sarah Grubbs (2025/4x400-meter relay), Maddie Hecker (2025/4x400-meter relay), Taylor Molling (2024/4x100-meter relay), Plautz (2024/4x400-meter relay), Anika Reiland (2024 and 2025/4x100-meter relay), Alli Thomas (2025/4x400-meter relay), Julie Yang (2025/4x100-meter relay) and Makenna Zak (2024 and 2025/4x100-meter relay).
 

Other top-eight finishers on the track from last year returning include Zak (fifth), Yang (sixth) and Reiland (eighth) in the 100-meter dash and Plautz in the 200-meter dash (fifth). Grubbs (seventh) and Macy Reybrock (eighth) recorded top eight finishes in the 400-meter dash while Alli Thomas (fifth) in the 800-meter run. Lily Higgins (sixth) and Becca Immer (eighth) in the 1,500-meter run and Julia Zalewski (seventh) in the 5,000-meter run also return.

The Eagles' Regan Scott (third), Brie Eckerman (sixth), Megan Zemke (seventh) and Andie Otto (eighth) recorded top finishes in the 100-meter hurdles while Otto (third) and Gretchen McNeal (sixth) did in the 400-meter hurdles. Higgins (third), Immer (fifth), Zalewski (seventh) and Elizabeth Schwartz (eighth) were in the top eight in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

In last season's field events, Araceli De Leo Lopez (second) and Emily Shafron (eighth) return in the pole vault. Jenna Miller (third), Ashley Davies (fourth), Evans (fifth) and Josie Blum (eighth) placed in the top eight in the long jump with Mackenzey Kronberg (second), Emily Blaskowski (fourth), Davies (fifth) and Blum (eighth) in the triple jump.

Madilyn Vander Sanden (fourth), Grosse (seventh) and Addy Moseler (eighth) were in the top eight last season in the shot put while Jaydn Roden (third) was a top finisher in the discus throw. Puls (sixth) in the hammer throw, Hackenmueller (eighth) in the javelin throw and Madeline Thoreson (fourth) in the heptathlon return after top eight finishes. 

UWL returns to action Friday, May 8 hosting the Uncaged Eagle Open.

UWL will host the 2026 NCAA Division III Championships Thursday-Saturday, May 21-23. It will mark the fifth time (1986, 1997, 2013, 2018, 20226) UWL has hosted the national championships.