UW-L Wins Eighteenth Straight WIAC Outdoor Championship; Rooker Earns Honors

For Immediate Release: Saturday, May 3, 2008

Eau Claire, Wis. – The UW-La Crosse men’s track & field team captured its 18th straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Outdoor Championship Saturday afternoon at UW-Eau Claire. The Eagles, who have now won 30 of the last 31 outdoor conference meets, finished with 191.5 points Saturday while UW-Stevens Point was second with 137.5. UW-Oshkosh placed third (134.5) followed by UW-Whitewater (129.0), UW-Platteville (87.0), UW-Eau Claire (67.5), UW-River Falls (53.0), UW-Stout (42.0) and UW-Superior (16.0).

UW-L has earned 44 outdoor conference titles in school history.

In Saturday's action, Alex Rooker swept the 100 (10.80) and 200 (21.85) meter dashes and was selected the Men's Track Athlete of the Meet. The Eagles' Matt Gordy placed second in the 100-meter dash (10.85).

Other winners on the track included David Kolbe in the 400-meter dash (48.50) and Cory Hayden taking the 10,000-meter run (31:12.78). UW-L had the top-five finishers in the 10,000-meters as John Heitzman placed second (31:24.83) followed by Connor Lonning (31:33.10), Scott Hayden (31:36.94) and Brett Schendel (31:36.34). UW-L's Kyle Coghlan was ninth (31:59.00) and Sean Harrington 10th (32:04.70).

The Eagles' 4x400-meter relay also finished first (3:16.88) Saturday while the 4x400-meter relay was second (42.30).

Andrew Boldt placed second (1:56.62) and Adam Kleinmaus eighth (1:57.43) in the 800-meter run while Kevin Oelstrom finished third (14:54.40) and Dan Thour sixth (15:15.22) in the 5,000-meter run. UW-L's Pat Bryan was seventh in the 110-meter hurdles (15.74).

In the field events Saturday, Clark Lundquist and Jesse Dengsavang earned conference titles for the Eagles. Lundquist took the high jump (6-6 1/4) while Dengsavang won the triple jump (48-3 1/4). Dengsavang was also sixth in the long jump (21-9). Dave Stauder tied for third in the high jump (6-4 1/4) while Anthony Hasse was third in the triple jump (46-2 1/2).

Three athletes placed in the top-eight in the shot put for UW-L as Bobby Riley finished second (50-10 1/4), Bill Warren fourth (48-5 1/4) and Aaron Johnson eighth (47-1 1/2). Riley was also seventh in the javelin (142-11).

The Eagles' Joel Nernberger was 10th in the decathlon (5,289 points).

For complete results, click here.

UW-L returns to action Thursday, May 8 at the North Central College (Ill.). Dr. Keeler Invitational.