RIVER FALLS, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - Chris Wirtz (Sr.-Weston, Wis./D.C. Everest) led the UW-Eau Claire men's track & field team by winning a conference title on day one of the 2010 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Outdoor Championship at Ramer Field today.

The Blugolds are in fifth place with 29 points while UW-La Crosse is in the lead with 75. UW-Oshkosh holds second place with 52 points while UW-Stevens Point has 37 in third and UW-Whitewater is in fourth with 33.

Wirtz captured the 3,000-meter steeplechase title with a time of 9:14.39, an NCAA Division III provisional qualifying time. He finished the event more than 13 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

The Blugolds also finished in third place in two other event finals.

In the long jump, Kirk Schmidt (Jr.-Athens, Wis.) finished with a leap of 6.91 meters (22-8) as he took third.

Also with a third place finish was the 4x800-meter relay team with a time of 7:48.95. The group was just over two seconds behind winner UW-Oshkosh.

The WIAC Championship will conclude Saturday at Ramer Field.