Behind 3 individual titles, Eagles win third consecutive, 15th National Championship
GENEVA, Ohio — Dynasty might not be a good enough term for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse track and field team.
Three athletes came away NCAA Division III champions over the weekend, in leading the Eagles to it’s third consecutive Division III national title.
Before getting into that dynasty talk, however, it is worth noting how the Eagles won it all.
Entering the 1,600-meter relay, the meet’s final event, UW-L was tied 45-45 with UW-Whitewater.
The Warhawks didn’t have a team in the race but the Eagles still needed to finish in the Top 8 to get at least one point. And, of course, the team of Ross Denman Zak Wallenfang, Sam Smith and Ben Jordan came through with a seventh-place finish (3:13.93), securing the outright title.
And that means the Eagles padded their already NCAA DIII record for national outdoor titles, now with 15.
UW-L also won the indoor title this year – the 18th time it’s done that, which is padded its NCAA DIII record in that department.
And, in accomplishing both those feats, the Eagles swept indoor and outdoor titles for the 12th time in school history.
As for those three individual titles, they were won by Ian Ewers, Luke Rohloff and Denman – giving UW-L 49 individual national champions in school history.
Ewers started things off winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:05.58). He’s only the second athlete in UW-L history to do so (Brett Altergott – 1997 and 1998).
Rohloff took the 110-meter hurdles crown (14.17), also only the second runner at UW-L to do so (Marcus Walgrave – 2006).
And Denman finished his career a national champion in the 400 dash (46.89) – the third UW-L athlete to do so (David Coates – 1994, Andrew Rock – 2003 and 2004). It was nice icing on the cake for Denman, who finished second in the 400 in 2015 and third as a freshman.
Denman also finished sixth in the 200 (21.28) this season, and finishes his UW-L career a three-time national champion having helped win the 400 relay in 2015 and the 1,600 relay last year.
UW-L came away with the silver in the 400 relay (40.52) this season. That team consisted of Matthew Foster, Ernest Winters, Zach Rothering and Joe Koenecke, who was on the national championship 400 relay in 2015.
Brendan Deiss finished fifth in the high jump (6-9 1/2) for UW-L on Friday.
In the pole vault, Wes Evansen tied for ninth (15-09), while Austin Zajkowski ran 13th (14:54.75) in the 5,000 for the Eagles. Teammates Nathan Berg was 10th (178-11) and Andrew Jarrett 16th (169-10) in the hammer throw.
UW-La Crosse will look for the four-pete at home at Roger Harring Stadium at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex next year (May 24-26).
Here are the years UW-L has won outdoor national championships: 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Here are the years the Eagles have swept indoor and outdoor titles: 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2013, 2017.
On the women’s side, UW-L’s Kendra Antony took sixth (46-04 3/4) in the shot put. She took third in the indoor championships this year.