To put it quite simply, UW-Platteville’s track and field teams are on a mission.

Over 50 Pioneers representing the finest track and field athletes UW-P has to offer are headed to UW-Eau Claire for the WIAC Championships on May 2-3.

Are the Pioneers ready to take on the WIAC?

“I do believe,” head coach Jim Nickasch said.

Although all roads should lead to greatness as UW-P standouts Tyler Sigl and Marcia Taddy take to the track, the Pioneers will have their work cut out for them in Eau Claire.

With 17-time defending outdoor champion UW-La Crosse set to defend its title, the Pioneer men will have to finish strong to top their fifth-place finish just a year ago.

Sigl, who last Thursday became the second person in UW-P history to win at the Drake Relays, is a three-time consecutive WIAC champion in the 1,500-meter race and winner of last year’s 5,000-meter race.

“Mentally I’m just staying relaxed and preparing for the conference meet just like I prepare for all of my other meets,” Sigl said about the conference championships. “If you put a meet on top of a pedestal, you just wear yourself out before the race even happens.

“We haven’t had very good weather to run fast this season and this will be the last meet for a lot of people so they are going to want to run fast.”

Sigl will be joined by fellow WIAC veteran Ben Zizis, who won the 110-meter hurdles last year.

“Our team is definitely ready for the WIAC championships,” Sigl said. “For the first time in a while, our team has been showing some depth, so we’re looking to be knocking on some of the big dogs’ doors and asking them to move on over for us.”

True to form, UW-La Crosse has also dominated on the women’s side of things, winning 21 out of the last 31 team titles.

Last year, the women Pioneers finished sixth at the conference championships, but with one of the most decorated runners in WIAC history in Taddy, the Pioneers are looking to improve.

Taddy, who has combined for nine individual and relay WIAC titles in her career, has won the 800-meter and the 1,500-meter races in three consecutive seasons.

Joined by fellow senior Lindsey Vick, Taddy has also captured the 4 x 800-meter title for the last three seasons.

“I am very excited for this weekend, and being a senior, I will miss being a part of track after I graduate,” Vick said.

“Everyone from sprints and jumps to the distance crew has been waiting for this chance to show what Platteville brings to the WIAC,” Pat Klein said.

“I’m excited,” Nickasch said. “I think we’ve positioned ourselves quite appropriately to do well. All we have to do is get there and do it.”