Ian LaMere wins WIAC Cross Country Championship

The UW-Platteville Cross Country teams competed at the WIAC Championships hosted at Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne, Wis. UW-Platteville Junior Ian LaMere (Green Bay, Wis. /Southwest) won his first conference championship Saturday. LaMere had never won a conference championship despite having won the national championship in the 10,000 meters last spring. LaMere pulled away early from the field to win by one of the largest margins in WIAC history.

October 31, 2015

Winneconne, Wis.- The UW-Platteville Cross Country teams competed at the WIAC Championships hosted at Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne, Wis.

UW-Platteville Junior Ian LaMere (Green Bay, Wis. /Southwest) won his first conference championship Saturday. LaMere had never won a conference championship despite having won the national championship in the 10,000 meters last spring. LaMere pulled away early from the field to win by one of the largest margins in WIAC history.

"I executed my race plan pretty well. My plan was to go at the 1K. After the 1K there was a tail wind and it helped me pull away. I didn't feel good during the second mile but started feeling better by the fourth" said LaMere. LaMere ran 4:46 for the first mile, had pulled away to a 22 second lead by the second mile and a 38 second lead by the fourth mile. LaMere added "I didn't know how far behind the next runner was so I just kept pushing. When I finished I turned around and there was nobody behind me." Despite the rain and soggy conditions LaMere finished the 8K course in an impressive 24:08, 41 seconds ahead of second place and the largest margin of victory in at least the last 18 years. LaMere's time was also the fastest winning 8,000 meter time in WIAC Championship history.

Josh Thorson, who bested LaMere at this course two weeks ago, finished second (24:49) and led UW-Eau Claire to their third team title. The No. 1 nationally ranked Blugold men had four runners in the top six and finished with an impressive 33 points. No. 8 ranked UW-LaCrosse finished in second place with 80 points and slightly ahead of No. 20 ranked UW-Oshkosh's 82 points. UW-Platteville finished in fourth with 104 point, 7 points ahead of No. 11 ranked UW-Stevens Point. UW-Stout finished sixth with 153 points, UW-Whitewater seventh with 191 points and UW-River Falls eighth with 204 points.

The second Pioneer to earn All-WIAC honors was Jason Winchel with his 17^th place finish in 26:13. Following LaMere and Winchel for the Pioneers were Zach Lee (26:31, 29^th), Trevor Wunnicke (26:32, 31^st), Dan LaCroix (26:47, 34^th), Walker Rynes (26:56, 41^st), Benjamin Rhode (26:59, 46^th), Isaac Schuetz (27:10, 54^th), Logan Steinhoff (27:32, 63^rd), Brian Rivers (27:34, 65^th), Chris Czech (27:38, 68^th), and Mitchell Frager (28:31, 86^th).

On the women's side the Pioneers had three runners earn All-WIAC honors. Chelsey Heiden Led the Pioneers with an eighth place finish in 22:43. Heiden said "I felt good. I like running in the rain and it boosted my spirits. I tried to go out even pace and then pass people. I was happy with my place but wished I could have finished 1 spot higher to earn first team All-Conference." The WIAC's top-seven finishers earn first team All-WIAC, finishers eigth to 14 earn second team All-WIAC and finishers 15-20 earn All-WIAC honorable mention. Kiera Depies followed Heiden with an 11^th place finish in 22:53 and Janelle Ferguson finished 20^th in 23:30.

The women's team scored five fewer points than the men but their 99 points, the second lowest score in program history, placed them in fifth place. The No. 29^th nationally ranked UW-Oshkosh squad upset No. 13 UW-La Crosse to come away with the team title. UW-Oshkosh scored 49 points, UW-La Crosse scored 51 points and No. 23 ranked UW-Eau Claire finished in third place with 72 points. UW-Stout finished 8 points ahead of the Pioneers with 91 points for fourth place. UW-Stevens Point finished sixth beating UW-Whitewater with a tie-breaker, both teams finished with 187 points. In eighth place was UW-River Falls with 230 points.

Ashlynne Wamfler was the Pioneers fourth finishers and broke into the Pioneers sub 24 minute All-time best list with her 34^th place finish in 23:51. Wampfler ran an impressive 18 second personal best in less than ideal conditions. Following Wampfler were Hannah Ihlenfeldt (23:52, 35^th), Teagan Seneczko (24:26, 50^th), Katie Wardinski (24:58, 62^nd), Kara Linzmeier (25:37, 72^nd), Johanna Meister (25:47, 77^th), Allison Wells (26:06, 81^st), Brooke Higbee (26:23, 83^rd), and Camille Felton (27:30, 93^rd).

Earning All-Sportsmanship honors for the Pioneers were Brian Rivers and Kimberly Gutierrez.