The outdoor season is heating up for the men’s and women’s track and field teams, as they both will travel to meet stellar competition at the Meet of Champions this weekend in Augustana, Ill.

Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams will try to capture each program’s very first WIAC Championship Feb. 25-26 at UW-River Falls. “It would be an incredible feeling [to win],” head women’s coach Josh Ireland said. “It’s something that has never happened before in the existence of our program, it would be huge.”

When thinking of powerhouse women’s track and field programs, the UW-Whitewater coaches and players know not many think of them as one. Part of the reason is that in the last three years they haven’t contended for a conference championship and have finished in the bottom-half at the year-end WIAC indoor meet. But with the new season underway, new coach Josh Ireland wants to change the perception and attitude surrounding the program.