Wisconsin High School Track Athlete Bios Last Updated: November 29, 2002

Cathy Branta, Slinger, won 6-WIAA titles in 1979 through 1981 in the 1-mile, 2-mile and 1600 and 3200 meter runs.  

Cathy (Branta) Easker

After high school Branta went on to a highly successful college career at the University of Wisconsin.  She was a five-time national champion (twice in the 3,000 meters outdoors and once each in cross country, the 3,000 meters indoors and the 1,500 meters outdoors).  The Badgers won the NCAA cross country team title the year Branta took the individual championship (1984).  Set NCAA Meet records in the 3,000-meter run indoors (9:04.81) and outdoors (8:59.57).  Branta was an 11-time All-American and eight-time Big Ten champ.

Internationally, Cathy was an alternate in the 3,000-meter run on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team.  She won the 3,000-meter run at the 1985 World University Games and the Olympic Sports Festival and she had a second-place finish in the 1984 World Cross Country Championships which helped the U.S. to the team title

Branta has earned the following awards.
 1991 Named to the Wisconsin Track Coaches Association Hall-of-Fame
 1993 Named to the University of Wisconsin Hall-of-Fame
 1985 Big Ten Medal of Honor for proficiency in scholarship and athletics
 Three-time (1983-85) UW Women’s Athlete of the Year
 Academic All-Big Ten honors twice in her career
 Big Ten Women’s Athlete of the Year in 1985
 1985 Broderick Award in cross country
 1984-85 Honda Sports Award, given to the top women college athlete in 11 different sports
 Named to the Big Ten’s All-Decade Team in the conjunction with the 10-year anniversary of women’s athletics in the conference