University of Wisconsin La Crosse Athletics

1982 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field
UW-La Crosse women’s outdoor track and field team captured the 1982 Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) Championship in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. It marked the final year of the AIAW Championships prior to moving to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. It was the first outdoor national title for UW-La Crosse under head coach Gary Wilson. UW-La Crosse finished with 67.0 team points with Slippery Rock University (Pa.) second with 52.0.

Cindy Lensmire won the national title in the shot put and discus throw with Carol Howard taking the 800-meter run crown. Other individual All-America honors included Pat Heimerman (third in 400-meter dash); Deb Hildebrandt (third in discus throw); Tori Neubauer (third in 5,000-meter run, sixth in 3,000-meter run); Donna Oedsma (fifth in shot put) and Sandy Pehler (sixth in shot put). Heimerman, Kendra Peterson, Carmen Pierce and Patti Silvis were second in the 800-meter relay; Heimerman, Howard, Peterson and Kim Pfaffle placed third in the 1,600-meter relay and Deb Booth, Yvonne Hauge, Howard and Pfaffle finished sixth in the 3,200-meter relay.

1983 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field
UW-La Crosse women’s outdoor track and field team captured the 1983 NCAA Division III Championship in Naperville, Illinois, the first outdoor national title in school history. UW-La Crosse earned the championship with 156.0 team points with the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) was second with 126.0. Head coach Gary Wilson led UW-La Crosse to the title.

Mary Kastelic won the national championship in the 800-meter run. Lori Reimer (fourth in 1,500-meter run) and Jodi Smiley (second in javelin) earned individual event All-America honors with Patty Heimerman, Kastelic, Amy Klee and Carol Stieber finishing second in the 1,600-meter relay.

1984 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field
UW-La Crosse women’s outdoor track and field team captured the 1984 NCAA Division III Championship in Northfield, Minnesota, under head coach Gary Wilson. UW-La Crosse earned the championship with 185.5 team points with Central College (Iowa) second with 102.0. The team had four individual national titles, including Tori Neubauer capturing the 5,000 and 10,000-meter run, Cindy Lensmire the discus throw and Jodi Smiley the javelin throw. Lensmire also earned All-America honors with a second-place finish in the shot put.

Other individual All-America awards included Diane Dannehl (fifth in 800-meter run); Kathy Ireland (fourth in 800-meter run); Deb Iverson (fifth in 10,000-meter run); Tracy Lehman (fourth in high jump); Doreen Ludlow (second in 1,500-meter run); Donna Oedsma (fourth in shot put); Judy Pederson (second in 3,000-meter run) and Lori Reimer (sixth in 1,500-meter run).
 
2015 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field
UW-La Crosse women’s outdoor track and field team captured the 2015 NCAA Division III Championship at the Merrick-Pinkard Track & Field Complex in Canton, New York, scoring 73.0 points with UW-Eau Claire finishing second with 43.0. It was the first outdoor national title under head coach Pat Healy after two second-place finishes. Bria Halama won the national title in the triple jump with Marissa Mahr capturing the 400-meter hurdles championship. Halama was also third in the 400-meter dash.  

Individual All-America honors included Bailey Alston (sixth in long jump); Claire Gordee (seventh in 100-meter hurdles); Meg Heafy (fourth in 100 and 200-meter dash); Jaime Ludwigson (third in 100-meter hurdles); Erin McCauley (fourth in 100-meter hurdles, fifth in heptathlon) and Laura Mead (fifth in 5,000-meter run). Ludwigson, Maggie Slatter, Gordee and Heafy were second in the 4x100-meter relay while Gordee, Kaitlyn Francour, Mahr and Halama finished fourth in the 4x400-meter relay to earn All-America awards.

2023 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field
UW-La Crosse women’s outdoor track and field team captured the 2023 NCAA Division III Championship at the Polisseni Track and Field Complex in Pittsford, New York, scoring 67.5 points as Loras College (Iowa) finished second with 58.0. It was the first outdoor national title under head coach Nickolas Davis. Skye Digman won the national title in the shot put while finishing third in the discus throw and seventh in the hammer throw to earn All-America awards. 

Other individual All-America honors included Araceli De Leo Lopez (tied eighth in pole vault); Lauren Jarrett (second in 100 and 200-meter dash); Maddie Hannan (second in 800-meter run); Ainsley Hansen (eighth in high jump); Miah Keller (seventh in triple jump); Emma Lawrence (third in 400-meter hurdles, seventh in 100-meter hurdles) and Emma Malooly (sixth in 3,000-meter steeplechase). Bella Seitz, Jarrett, Lawrence and Emily Dawidowich were third in the 4x100-meter relay and Amber Johnson, Dawidowich, Morgan Jennings and Lawrence fourth in the 4x400-meter relay to earn All-America accolades.

2026 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field
UW-La Crosse women’s outdoor track and field team captured the 2026 NCAA Division III Championship at the Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex in La Crosse, Wisconsin, scoring 53.0 points with Washington University-St. Louis (Mo.) finishing second with 42.0. It was the second outdoor national title under head coach Nickolas Davis. Madison Habberstad won the national title in the pole vault. The Eagles swept the relay titles with Julie Yang, Anika Reiland, Makenna Zak and Anna Plautz taking the 4x100-meter relay and Plautz, Macy Reybrock, Zoe Lain and Andie Otto winning the 4x400-meter relay.
 

Individual All-America honors included Samantha Barrett (eighth in triple jump); Emily Blaskowski (14th in triple jump); Josie Blum (12th in long jump); Araceli De Leo Lopez (fourth in pole vault); Maya Evans (fifth in long jump; 12th in triple jump); Becca Immer (11th in 3,000-meter steeplechase); Mackenzey Kronberg (10th in triple jump); Molly Novotny (seventh in 1,500-meter run); Otto (fifth in 400-meter hurdles); Plautz (third in 400-meter dash); Jadyn Roden (12th in hammer throw); Regan Scott (ninth in long jump); Madeline Thoreson (12th in heptathlon); Nora Waddell (tied 14th in pole vault) and Julia Zalewski (eighth in 3,000-meter steeplechase).