RELEASED:  Saturday, November 15, 2008

WIAC Teams and Individuals Fare Well At NCAA Division III Cross Country Regional

ROCK ISLAND, Ill.--All nine Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schools competed in the 2008 NCAA Division III Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Midwest Regional that was held at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Ill., Nov. 15.  The event was hosted by Augustana College (Ill.).

UW-Eau Claire won the 43-team women’s competition with 108 points and was followed by UW-La Crosse’s second-place total of 115 points.  Washington University (Mo.) finished third with 117 points, Wheaton College (Ill.) fourth with 130 points and UW-Oshkosh fifth with 146.

The Blugolds and Eagles earned automatic bids into the NCAA Division III Championship.

UW-Oshkosh’s Ayla Mitchell placed first on the 6,000-meter course with a time of 21:28.2 to surpass the field of 292 competitors.  UW-River Falls’ Becca Jordahl took second with a time of 21:32.0, while UW-Eau Claire’s Mary Palmer was sixth in 21:53.8, UW-Platteville’s Jessica Scott eighth in 22:02.1, UW-Oshkosh’s Christy Cazzola ninth in 22:05.5 and UW-La Crosse’s Katelyn Williams 10th in 22:10.7.

Also claiming All-Midwest Region honors for placing in the top 35 were:  UW-Eau Claire’s Beth Easker 11th, UW-Stevens Point’s Kelly Haen 14th, UW-La Crosse’s Megan Johnson 15th, UW-Eau Claire’s Hannah Humbach 22nd, UW-Eau Claire’s Alyssa Sybilrud 23rd, UW-La Crosse’s Lauren Moss 24th, UW-Stevens Point’s Claire Roberts 27th, UW-Platteville’s Ann Tank 30th, UW-La Crosse’s Michelle Horn 31st and UW-La Crosse’s Kristina Bennwitz 35th.

Additional WIAC team finishes in the women’s race included:  UW-Stevens Point seventh with 219 points, UW-Platteville 10th with 305 points, UW-Whitewater 11th with 354 points, UW-River Falls 13th with 367 points, UW-Stout 18th with 529 points and UW-Superior 27th with 802 points.

In the men’s race, North Central College (Ill.) took first with 51 points to outdistance 39 teams and UW-La Crosse’s second-place total of 64 points.  UW-Stevens Point finished third with 83 points, UW-Oshkosh fourth with 134 and Augustana College (Ill.) fifth with 182.

The Eagles secured an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Championship.

UW-Oshkosh’s Willy Kaul finished second individually with a time of 24:38.5 on the 8,000-meter course.  UW-La Crosse's Paul Moran took third with a time of 24:50.1, while UW-Stevens Point’s Dominick Meyer was fifth in 25:00.7, UW-La Crosse’s Connor Lonning sixth in 25:01.7 and UW-Stevens Point’s Cory Towle ninth in 25:07.8.  Brandon Mull of Wheaton College (Ill.) won the race with a time of 24:33.6 to outdistance the 280 individuals that finished in the race.

Also securing All-Midwest Region honors for placing in the top 35 were:  UW-Oshkosh’s Andrew McGuire 12th, UW-La Crosse’s Logan O’Grady 15th, UW-La Crosse’s Kyle Coghlan 17th, UW-Eau Claire’s Christopher Wirtz 19th, UW-Stevens Point’s Joel Heroux 20th, UW-Whitewater’s Mathias Werve 21st, UW-Stevens Point’s Brandon Dworak 22nd, UW-La Crosse’s Scott Hayden 23rd, UW-Stevens Point’s Phil Richert 27th, UW-River Falls’ Jason Phillippi 28th, UW-Platteville’s Nathan Petesch 29th, UW-Stevens Point’s Jason Lisowe 31st, UW-Oshkosh’s Derrick Fameree 32nd and UW-Eau Claire’s Brent Kann 35th.

Additional WIAC team finishes in the men’s race included:  UW-Eau Claire sixth with 200 points, UW-Platteville eighth with 274 points, UW-Whitewater 11th with 321 points, UW-River Falls 12th with 402 points, UW-Stout 13th with 419 points and UW-Superior 30th with 880 points.

The NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships will be held Nov. 22 in Hanover, Ind.  The national meet will be hosted by Hanover College (Ind.).

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