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     Anyone looking to scout the talent for next weekend's NCAA Division III men's indoor track and field championships better not miss the upcoming Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships on March 2-3 in Stevens Point.

     Of the 14 NCAA events, 10 of the nation's top qualifiers are from the WIAC. In fact, 24 WIAC athletes have already automatically qualified for the 14 NCAA championship events and numerous more have already provisionally qualified.

     Leading the way among top national qualifiers is UW-Stevens Point's Jesse Drake, who has the nation's best time in the 1500 meters and 5000 meters, while also running on the Pointers' national-best distance medley relay team, which finished second at nationals last season.

     Six defending WIAC champions are back this season, but only two enter this weekend's meet with the top performances in their respective event. UW-La Crosse's Derek Walgrave is favored to repeat in the 55 meter hurdles and Eagles' senior Mike Koenning has thrown the 35-pound weight seven feet further than any other WIAC thrower this season.

     Other returning WIAC champions include UW-Stout's Jamie Buchholtz, a two-time defending champ in the pole vault, UW-Stevens Point's Mike Mead in the high jump, UW-La Crosse's Andy Basler in the long jump and UW-La Crosse's Tyler Foos in the 3000 meters.

     Mead will be challenged by 1999 high jump champion Shannon King of UW-Oshkosh, who has competed in just one meet this season, but had the nation's best jump with a leap of 7 feet, 1/4 inch at last weekend's UW-Oshkosh Invite. King will also battle Basler in the long jump with the best leap this season and a title at the 2000 Division III outdoor championships.

     UW-La Crosse freshman Hans Schmidt has the second-best pole vault in the country this season at 16 feet, 8 inches to challenge Buchholtz.

     UW-La Crosse's Danny Tutskey has the nation's best time in the 55 meters and the conference's best time in the 200 meters, joining Drake and King as the best chances for a double event winner.

     Freshman Andrew Rock of UW-La Crosse has the country's best time in the 400 meters and is a member of the Eagles' national-best 4x400 relay team. UW-Stevens Point's Chris Horvat is on the Pointers' distance medley relay and has the nation's best time in the 800 meters as the WIAC features five of the nation's top six runners in the event.

     Another Eagles' freshman, Jim Nelson, has the nation's top shot put performance this season at 57 feet, 1 inch, which is nearly three feet further than any other WIAC athlete.

     The triple jump could be wide open with no athlete among the top 16 performances in the country this season and six athletes within one meter of another. UW-Eau Claire's Jeff Bergstrom has the top performance this season.

     The heptathlon will also make its debut at the WIAC championships this season. The meet featured a pentathlon event in previous seasons.

     UW-La Crosse again appears to be the favorite in the team standings, having won 26 of the previous 32 WIAC titles. UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point will be the top challengers.