Women's Cross Country


The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh women's cross country program began in the fall of 1981. Women's cross country came about because women's badminton, which was a recognized inter-collegiate sport, was dropped. UW Oshkosh needed to replace women's badminton, and the choices were between golf and cross country. Cross country was chosen because there was already a recognized conference championship meet (UW-Madison was the first champion in 1978) and a men's cross country team at UW Oshkosh. Much of the interest and pressure to add women's cross country came from female athletes on the track and field team. They wanted the same opportunity as other conference schools, as well as the ability to improve their running skills and competitiveness.
Deb Vercauteren	Deb Vercauteren was the first and founding coach of UW Oshkosh women's cross country program. When she started coaching in 1981, the men's cross country coach told her that she and the program would never be successful. Vercauteren said that this comment "lit a fire under her" and motivated her to work hard and make the program a success. Eighteen years later, the cross country program has won 4 NCAA Division III National Championships, finished second at nationals three times, and won 13 straight conference championships (the second-longest WIAC championship streak in any sport). Vercauteren has guided the program to NCAA Division III Nationals 15 times out of its 18-year existence, and she has been named NCAA Division III Coach of the Year twice. The program has come a long way from the team's sixth-place conference finish in 1981. This is still remarkable considering the team was only informed in May or June of 1981that they would begin competing the following fall season.
In 1982, UW Oshkosh qualified for its first appearance in the NCAA Nationals, finishing seventh. This began the team's continued dominance and success of the UW Oshkosh women's cross country program. In a local newspaper, Vercauteren described the team's 1982 finish as "Fantastic! We did better than I could have hoped for from the start of the season. I think it will start a tradition here." How right she was. Since 1981, the distance of the race that women compete at has been 3.1 miles (5K).
1982 UW Oshkosh women's cross country team.	The 1981 UW Oshkosh women's cross country team members were Joan Hardziak (University of Oshkosh first cross country All-American), Kris Blade, Mary Gellerup, Patti Nimham, Terry Jo Dickey, Kathy Schmidt, Missy Lutz, Sue Peiffer, Karen Bauldry, and Anne Weber (no picture available). The 1982 UW Oshkosh women's cross country team members (pictured left) were Mary Nimphuis, Cindy Teague, Brigette Miller, Diane Cooney, Mary Gellerup, Mary Towers, Theresa Peske, Amy Christianson, Joan Handziak, Deb Marchiando, Karin Jacobson, and Mary Knepfel.
Interesting facts about UWO women's cross country: UW Oshkosh has produced two national champions, 18 All-Americans, and nine Conference champions. The UW Oshkosh women's cross country team has also dominated academically. From 1994-1999, the teams have averaged a GPA of 3.18. Following the 1999 performance, the UWO women's cross country team was tied with the State University of New York-Cortland for the most top five national finishes with 13, the highest in NCAA Division III history. UW Oshkosh and the State University of New York-Cortland also dominated Division III women's cross country by being the only schools to win the national championship from 1987 until 1998, when this streak was broken by Calvin College of Michigan. UW Oshkosh will host the 1999 NCAA Division III National Championships.
References Kenny, Mike. (1982). "Harris seventh at national meet". Oshkosh Northwestern. University of Oshkosh Women's Cross Country Booklet. (1998). Oshkosh, WI: University of Oshkosh Athletic Production. University of Oshkosh Women's Cross Country Meet Results/Rosters. (1981 & 1982). Oshkosh, WI. University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Women's Cross Country Yearbook. (1992). Oshkosh, WI. Vercauteren, Deb. (1999, March). Personal Interview on the history of cross country at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh.