2005 WIAC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Headlines

Rock Claims Gold Medal at World Championships

Helsinki, Finland--Former University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student-athlete Andrew Rock won a gold medal Sunday (August 14) as a member of the United States' 4x400-meter relay at the 2005 World Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Rock ran the opening leg of the relay, joining Derrick Brew, Darold Williamson and Jeremy Wariner in a winning time of 2:56.91.

Following are quotes from Rock after Sunday's 4x400-meters (posted on usatf.org):

"I just wanted to set the tempo for the team, and get the guys going. That's what the coaches told me to do. You never doubt Jeremy. He proved it in the open and he proved it again tonight. When you have Jeremy Wariner running, that's a pretty good feeling. It was a great feeling to see him (run 43.5). It was a great feeling to see him do that and come away with the victory."

Following are quotes from Rock after Sunday's 4x400-meters (posted on iaaf.org):

"I just wanted to get the team out to a good start, make sure we are ready for the race."

Rock finished second in the finals of the open 400-meter dash Friday at the 2005 World Outdoor Track & Field Championships to capture a silver medal. Rock ran a personal-best time of 44.35 to finish second. Wariner (USA) won with a time of 43.93 while Christopher Tyler (Canada) was third (44.44).

Following are quotes from Rock after Friday's 400-meters (posted on usatf.org):

"I felt good. It felt like the race got out hard. I felt pretty strong through the end. I wanted to push through the line and not give up. It was so close between (Canada's) Tyler Christopher and myself. I wanted to sneak in there and try to get a medal. It was obviously good weather as compared to the other night. I think being through the U.S. Nationals helps. We have to run those rounds. Running with Jeremy and Darold helps. I have raced against those guys before, so you get a feel for what they can do. Coming off the turn, I was in either fourth or fifth. I didn't panic. I just keep going. I knew the race was going to go out hard. It's hard to be in the outside lane. I have run in a lot of outside lanes this year, so I was kind of familiar with it. I expected they would come up real fast. I didn't panic. I stayed patient."

Following are quotes from Rock after Friday's 400-meters (posted on iaaf.org):

"I am very excited right now. It was good to see Jeremy (WARINER) win and great to finish one-two for the USA. My goal for the year was to run a personal best, which I did today by 0.3 seconds, and also to medal here in Helsinki, so I achieved all of those. The conditions for the semi-final were pretty tough, but it cleared out for today so that helped a lot."

Rock advanced to the finals with a time of 45.78 in the semifinals August 10. He won his preliminary heat August 9 with a time of 44.98.

For complete 2005 World Track & Field Championship results click here.

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UW-Eau Claire's Schuna and UW-Stevens Point's LaLonde Named To Academic All-America Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Team

RELEASED: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's John Schuna and UW-Stevens Point's Mark LaLonde have been named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Second Team.

The Academic All-America Team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA athletes from around the country.

Schuna, a senior from Hudson, Wis., is majoring in exercise management and posts a 3.84 grade point average. He was the recipient of UW-Eau Claire's Super Six Award and also claimed the WIAC Max Sparger Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this year. Schuna is a nine-time All-American (indoor and outdoor) and claimed the indoor national title in the shot put in 2002. He is also a two-time outdoor conference champion in the shot put, winning the event in 2002 and 2004.

LaLonde, a senior from Park Falls, Wis., carries a 3.79 grade point average and is majoring in business administration. He was named UW-Stevens Point's Male Athlete of the Year this season and also received the 2004 WIAC Max Sparger Cross Country Scholar-Athlete Award. LaLonde is a five-time All-American (indoor and outdoor) and a two-time All-American in cross country. He is also a three-time conference champion with titles in the 5,000-meter run, 10,000-meter run and steeplechase.

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Three Named To Academic All-District Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Team

RELEASED: Friday, June 3, 2005

Madison, Wis.--Three Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Men's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. UW-Eau Claire's John Schuna and UW-Stevens Point's Mark LaLonde were selected to the first team, while UW-Oshkosh's Kevin Deering was a second team choice.

Deering, a senior from Mukwonago, Wis., is majoring in broadfield natural science and maintains a 3.58 grade point average. He received the WIAC Max Sparger Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award earlier this year and also was the recipient of his school's Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Award. Deering recently captured the outdoor national title in the decathlon to secure All-America honors for the third time in his career (indoor and outdoor). He was named the conference's Outdoor Outstanding Field Athlete of the Meet after claiming titles in the decathlon, high jump and javelin earlier this season.

The academic all-district team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA student-athletes from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Schuna and LaLonde are now eligible for the Academic All-America squad, which will be announced on June 21.

# # # # # Conference Places Three Teams In Top 21 at NCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Waverly, Iowa--The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) placed three teams in the top 21 at the 2005 NCAA Division III Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which were held May 26-28 at Wartburg College's Walston-Hoover Stadium.

UW-La Crosse had its string of four straight national titles broken after placing second with 66.50 team points, while UW-Oshkosh tied for ninth with 24 points and UW-Whitewater finished 21st with 13 points.

Additional league schools placing at the national meet included: UW-Stevens Point placing 34th with seven points, UW-Eau Claire tied for 44th with four points and UW-Platteville tied for 63rd with one point.

Lincoln (Pa.) won the seventh national championship in school history with 69 points to outdistance UW-La Crosse, which placed second with 66.50 points. Nebraska Wesleyan finished third with 54 points, Willamette (Ore.) placed fourth with 43 points and North Central (Ill.) finished fifth with 31.50 points.

UW-La Crosse's Kevin Becker won the national title in the hammer throw with a stadium record toss of 208-10. He is the second athlete in school history to claim the hammer throw championship, joining Mike Koenning in 2001.

The Eagles also won the 4x400-meter relay championship for the third straight season with a stadium record time of 3:08.71. Jeremy Deterville, Nate Olson, Eric Svestka and Tony Marcinek comprised the winning team.

UW-Oshkosh's Kevin Deering claimed the national crown in the decathlon with a stadium record point total of 7,104 points. It is the first decathlon title in school history.

Deering was named the Midwest Region Male Athlete of the Year by the United States Track Coaches Association, while UW-La Crosse head coach Mark Guthrie received the Midwest Region Coach of the Year.

Claiming All-America honors (top eight finish in each event) from the WIAC were:

200-Meter Dash: Nate Olson (UW-La Crosse-3rd) 400-Meter Dash: Nate Olson (UW-La Crosse-2nd) 5,000-Meter Run: Mark LaLonde (UW-Stevens Point-6th) 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Mike Herlihy (UW-La Crosse-3rd), Mark LaLonde (UW-Stevens Point-5th) 400-Meter Hurdles: Nolan Hietpas (UW-La Crosse-7th), Brad Peterson (UW-La Crosse-8th) Discus: Pete Ringquist (UW-Whitewater-3rd), Dan Hytinen (UW-Whitewater-7th) Shot Put: Brandon Houle (UW-Oshkosh-3rd), John Schuna (UW-Eau Claire-5th) Long Jump: Herc Hyland (UW-La Crosse-4th) Triple Jump: Aaron Henderson (UW-Whitewater-7th), Nick Fix (UW-Platteville-8th) High Jump: Tom Roszak (UW-Oshkosh-8th) Pole Vault: Nick Pergande (UW-La Crosse-2nd), Matt Novak (UW-La Crosse-3rd), Jon Heinz (UW-La Crosse-6th) Hammer Throw: Kevin Becker (UW-La Crosse-Champion), Steve Pratt (UW-Oshkosh-5th), Brandon Houle (UW- Oshkosh-6th) Decathlon: Kevin Deering (UW-Oshkosh-Champion)

4x100-Meter Relay: UW-Whitewater (Cameron Austin, Jon Otte, Brandon Wood, Mike Sampson-6th), UW-La Crosse (Matt Schultz, Marcus Walgrave, Andrew Buchberger, Eric Schmidt-7th)

4x400-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Jeremy Deterville, Nate Olson, Eric Svestka, Tony Marcinek-Champion)

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UW-Oshkosh's Deering and UW-Stevens Point's Legel Named Men's Outdoor Track and Field Co-Scholar-Athletes

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 11, 2005 Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's Kevin Deering and UW-Stevens Point's Mathew Legel have been named 2005 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men's Outdoor Track and Field Co-Scholar-Athletes, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Deering, a senior from Mukwonago, Wis., is majoring in broadfield natural science and carries a 3.57 grade point average. He is a two-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has been recognized on UW-Oshkosh's Dean's List three semesters. Deering also received UW-Oshkosh's Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Award this year.

Deering, a team captain this season, was named the conference's Outstanding Field Athlete of the Meet for the second time in his career after claiming WIAC titles in the decathlon, high jump and javelin. He also secured the honor during the 2003 league meet after winning the decathlon and high jump. In 2003, Deering claimed All- America honors in the decathlon with a second-place finish at the national meet. He holds the conference and school record in the decathlon.

Legel, a senior from Crystal Lake, Ill. (Central H.S.), maintains a 3.72 grade point average, while majoring in biology/pre-med with a minor in chemistry. He is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has been recognized on UW-Stevens Point's Dean's List/Honor Roll every semester. Legel was the recipient of an institutional scholarship recognizing him as an Outstanding Out of State Student.

Legel is a three-time NCAA national qualifier and has been the conference runner-up in the 800-meter run and as a member of the 1,600-meter relay. He was a team captain in 2004 and was selected the team's Most Valuable Freshman in 2002.

Legel is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi national academic honor societies and a member of UW- Stevens Point's Pre-Med Allied Health Society, Pre-Med Club and Pre-Chiropractic Club. He has served as a biology advisor for underclassmen and as a tutor in Biology-Human Physiology. Legel has volunteered for the Salvation Army, collecting food, clothing and toys for underprivileged children.

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-Oshkosh's Steve Pratt, UW-Stevens Point's Cory Christnovich and UW-Stout's Scott Barthel.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is sponsored by Culver's. In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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UW-La Crosse Secures 15th Straight Men's Outdoor Track and Field Conference Title

La Crosse, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse secured its 15th straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) men's outdoor track and field title at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday, May 7.

The Eagles have claimed 27 of the last 28 league crowns and won this year's meet with 278 team points. The 278 points is the second-best total in conference meet history, trailing only UW-La Crosse's 302-point effort in 1985.

UW-Whitewater finished second at this year's championship with 175 points, followed by UW-Oshkosh (162.50), UW-Stevens Point (96), UW-Platteville (58.50), UW-Stout (36), UW-Eau Claire (25), UW-River Falls (18) and UW-Superior (9).

UW-La Crosse was led by Nate Olson, who claimed Track Performer of the Meet honors after winning the 200- meter dash and 400-meter dash titles with times of 21.52 and 46.83, respectively. His time in the 200-meter dash was a NCAA provisional qualifying mark, while his effort in the 400-meter dash automatically qualified him for the NCAA Division III Championships.

The Eagles' Marcus Walgrave was also a double-winner after securing the 100-meter dash and 110-meter hurdles with times of 10.77 and 14.69, respectively. Both times surpassed the provisional standard for the NCAA Division III Championships. Nolan Hietpas, Herc Hyland and Nick Pergande also claimed individual titles for UW-La Crosse. Hietpas won the 400-meter hurdles with a provisional qualifying time of 52.99, while Hyland claimed the long jump with a leap of 24-0 1/4. Hyland's leap automatically qualified him for the NCAA Division III Championships.

Pergande secured the pole vault crown with a provisional qualifying height of 16-4 3/4.

UW-La Crosse also won the 4 x 100-meter and 4 x 400-meter relay competitions. Matt Schultz, Andrew Buchberger, Eric Schmidt and Walgrave claimed the 4 x 100-meter event with a provisional qualifying time of 41.19, while Jeremy Deterville, Tony Marcinek, Jonathan Doble and Hietpas won the 4 x 400-meter event with a WIAC-meet record time of 3:14.01.

UW-Oshkosh claimed six individual crowns, including a three-time winner and two-time champion. Kevin Deering was voted the Field Performer of the Meet after claiming titles in the decathlon, high jump and javelin. He also claimed the performer of the meet award during the 2003 conference championship.

This year, Deering accumulated a conference-meet record 6,999 points to win the decathlon, while his effort of 184- 5 in the javelin surpassed the provisional standard for the NCAA Division III Championships. He claimed the high jump title with a provisional qualifying height of 6-8 3/4. Deering won the decathlon and high jump at the 2003 league meet.

Nick Boehlke was a double-winner for the Titans after capturing the 5,000-meter run and 10,000-meter run titles with times of 14:45.29 and 31:41.41, respectively. His time in the 5,000-meter run was a provisional qualifying mark.

UW-Oshkosh's Brandon Houle claimed the hammer throw with an automatic qualifying toss of 188-10.

UW-Whitewater secured four individual titles during the two-day meet. Joe Boberschmidt won the 800-meter run with a time of 1:53.66, while Pete Ringquist claimed the discus with an automatic qualifying toss of 171-1.

The Warhawks' Ross Kapp captured the shot put with an automatic qualifying heave of 57-6 1/4 and Aaron Henderson secured the triple jump with a provisional qualifying distance of 48-6.

UW-Platteville's Tyler Sigl won the 1,500-meter run with a provisional qualifying time of 3:55.29, while UW- Stevens Point's Mark LaLonde captured the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:04.92.

UW-Platteville claimed the 4 x 800-meter relay with a time of 7:48.76. Cameron Klein, Erik Bartelson, Taylor Reynolds and Kyle Stangel comprised the winning team.

UW-La Crosse head coach Mark Guthrie was voted the Coach of the Year for the seventh consecutive season.

Team Scores: 1. UW-La Crosse 278 2. UW-Whitewater 175 3. UW-Oshkosh 162.50 4. UW-Stevens Point 96 5. UW-Platteville 58.50 6. UW-Stout 36 7. UW-Eau Claire 25 8. UW-River Falls 18 9. UW-Superior 9

Individual Event Champions: 100-Meter Dash: Marcus Walgrave (UW-La Crosse), 10.77 200-Meter Dash: Nate Olson (UW-La Crosse), 21.52 400-Meter Dash: Nate Olson (UW-La Crosse), 46.83 800-Meter Run: Joe Boberschmidt (UW-Whitewater), 1:53.66 1,500-Meter Run: Tyler Sigl (UW-Platteville), 3:55.29 5,000-Meter Run: Nick Boehlke (UW-Oshkosh), 14:45.29 10,000-Meter Run: Nick Boehlke (UW-Oshkosh), 31:41.41 3,000-Meter Steeplechase: Mark LaLonde (UW-Stevens Point), 9:04.92 110-Meter Hurdles: Marcus Walgrave (UW-La Crosse), 14.69 400-Meter Hurdles: Nolan Hietpas (UW-La Crosse), 52.99 Discus: Pete Ringquist (UW-Whitewater), 171-1 (52.14m) Shot Put: Ross Kapp (UW-Whitewater), 57-6 1/4 (17.53m) Long Jump: Herc Hyland (UW-La Crosse), 24-0 1/4 (7.32m) Triple Jump: Aaron Henderson (UW-Whitewater), 48-6 (14.78m) High Jump: Kevin Deering (UW-Oshkosh), 6-8 3/4 (2.05m) Pole Vault: Nick Pergande (UW-La Crosse), 16-4 3/4 (5.00m) Hammer Throw: Brandon Houle (UW-Oshkosh), 188-10 (57.57m) Javelin: Kevin Deering (UW-Oshkosh), 184-5 (56.22m) Decathlon: Kevin Deering (UW-Oshkosh), 6,999 points*

Relay Champions: 4x100-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Matt Schultz, Marcus Walgrave, Andrew Buchberger, Eric Schmidt), 41.19 4x400-Meter Relay: UW-La Crosse (Jeremy Deterville, Tony Marcinek, Jonathan Doble, Nolan Hietpas), 3:14.01* 4x800-Meter Relay: UW-Platteville (Cameron Klein, Erik Bartelson, Taylor Reynolds, Kyle Stangel), 7:48.76

*Conference Record

Track Performer of the Meet: Nate Olson of UW-La Crosse Field Performer of the Meet: Kevin Deering of UW-Oshkosh Coach of the Year: Mark Guthrie of UW-La Crosse Max Sparger Co-Scholar-Athletes: Kevin Deering of UW-Oshkosh and Matt Legel of UW-Stevens Point

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