For the second time in four years and fourth time overall, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh will host the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The 91st edition of the men’s championship and 38th version of the women’s championship take place May 1 and 2 at J. J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium at the Oshkosh Sports Complex, 450 Josslyn Ave. Competition begins at noon Friday and continues through the last event at 7 p.m. Activity starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and concludes with the final event at 4:35 p.m.

The UW-La Crosse men will strive for their 19th consecutive title after winning last year’s championship with 191.5 points. Following the Eagles in last year’s standings were second-place UW-Stevens Point with 173.5 points, third-place UW Oshkosh with 134.5, fourth-place UW-Whitewater with 129, fifth-place UW-Platteville with 87, sixth-place UW-Eau Claire with 67.5, seventh-place UW-River Falls with 53, eighth-place UW-Stout with 42 and ninth-place UW-Superior with 16.

The men’s meet features the return of 11 individual event champions, including two-time winners Jessie Dengsavang and Alex Rooker of UW-La Crosse. Dengsavang is the two-time defending champion in the triple jump, while Rooker won both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash titles at last year’s championship.

Other defending champions back are Daniel Drewek of UW-Stout in the pole vault, Greg Haak of UW-Stevens Point in the 800-meter run, Keith Ingram of UW-Stevens Point in the long jump, Clark Lundquist of UW-La Crosse in the high jump, Andrew McGuire of UW Oshkosh in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Ben Zill of UW Oshkosh in the 400-meter hurdles.

Champions from 2007 returning are UW-La Crosse’s Paul Moran in the 10,000-meter run, Brad Peterson in the 400-meter hurdles and Bobby Riley in the shot put.

On the women’s side, UW-La Crosse goes after its third straight title after winning last year’s meet with 192 points. Trailing the Eagles in last year’s standings were second-place UW-Eau Claire with 158.5 points, third-place UW Oshkosh with 140.5, fourth-place UW-River Falls with 118, fifth-place UW-Stevens Point with 117, sixth-place UW-Stout with 51, seventh-place UW-Platteville with 50, eighth-place UW-Whitewater with 46 and ninth-place UW-Superior with 24.

The women’s meet returns 13 individual event champions, including Elizabeth Caine of UW-Stevens Point and Ashlea Peter of UW-Stout, who are seeking their third consecutive titles in the 100-meter dash and triple jump, respectively.

Additional defending champions returning are Brooke Bell of UW-Whitewater in the 200-meter dash, Hannah Humbach of UW-Eau Claire in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Becca Jordahl of UW-River Falls in both the 5,000-meter run and 10,000-meter run, Liz Kooistra of UW-Eau Claire in the 400-meter dash, Sam Mayer of UW-Stout in the high jump, Becky Ponick of UW-River Falls in the javelin, Caitlin Schetter of UW-La Crosse in the long jump and Pam Sellberg of UW-Stout in the pole vault.

Returning champions from 2007 are Katie Fondow of UW-La Crosse in the long jump, Jessica Reed of UW-River Falls in the 100-meter hurdles and Dana Thompson of UW-Whitewater in the discus.

Complete coverage of 2009 WIAC Men’s & Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships can be found at www.titans.uwosh.edu/2009WIACTFChampionships/index.html.

File photo by Dylan Stolley.