UW-La Crosse Captures Women’s Cross Country Championship
Championship Website
RIVER FALLS, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse captured the 2013 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Cross Country Championship at Kilkarney Hills Golf Course on Nov. 2.
The Eagles won the seventh first-place trophy in program history, and first since 2006, with 34 points to exceed UW-Stevens Point’s second-place sum of 78 points. UW-River Falls finished third with 86 points, six-time defending champion UW-Eau Claire fourth with 86, UW-Oshkosh fifth with 119, UW-Platteville sixth with 129, UW-Stout seventh with 200, UW-Whitewater eighth with 232 and UW-Superior ninth with 286.
UW-La Crosse’s Laura Mead claimed the individual title, completing the 6,000-meter course in 21:46.39. She is the sixth person in program listings to win the individual crown, joining Gail Rusch (1979), Tori Neubauer (1982 and 1983), Sheri Winter (1986), Jenny Fiedler (1999) and Julia Rudd (2002 and 2005).
UW-Platteville’s Danielle Kunkel placed second in 22:07.29, UW-La Crosse’s Alyssa Luker third in 22:11.66, UW-River Falls’ Tia Harris fourth in 22:15.55, UW-Stevens Point’s Julia Colling fifth in 22:18.29, UW-La Crosse’s Natalie Powell sixth in 22:23.43 and UW-Stevens Point’s Ana Breit seventh in 22:31.65.
UW-Oshkosh’s Kylee Verhasselt took eighth in 22:40.89, UW-La Crosse’s Rebecca Zych ninth in 22:42.58, UW-River Falls’ Brittany Nordland 10th in 22:44.71, UW-Eau Claire’s Nikki Rendler 11th in 22:50.41, UW-Eau Claire’s Alana Jenkins 12th in 22:51.58, UW-Platteville’s Kiera Depies 13th in 22:54.66 and UW-River Falls’ Beth Riihinen 14th in 22:57.45.
UW-La Crosse’s Rachel Schroeder finished 15th in 22:57.47, UW-Eau Claire’s Lucy Ramquist 16th in 22:58.41, UW-Eau Claire’s Sydney Pretasky 17th in 22:59.71, UW-La Crosse’s Kelsey Boyle 18th in 23:00.67, UW-Stevens Point’s Emily Ellman 19th in 23:01.35 and UW-Stevens Point’s Lauren Dilley 20th in 23:02.24.
A total of 100 runners completed the race. The top seven runners received All-WIAC first team recognition, while runners placing eight through 14 earned All-WIAC second team accolades. Individuals finishing 15 through 20 claimed honorable mention laurels.
UW-La Crosse’s Rachel Schroeder received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school. Named to the squad were: UW-Eau Claire’s Angie Gasser; UW-La Crosse’s Alyssa Luker; UW-Oshkosh’s Betsy Gray; UW-Platteville’s Jennifer Bajorek; UW-River Falls’ Anna Kehn; UW-Stevens Point’s Holly Winberg; UW-Stout’s Alexa Bitzer; UW-Superior’s Christina Micheletti; and UW-Whitewater’s Lauren Mosher.
All nine WIAC teams will return to action on Nov. 16, and participate in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Ill. The regional event will be hosted by Augustana College (Ill.). The NCAA Division III Championship is scheduled for Nov. 23, at L.S. Ayres Athletic Complex in Hanover, Ind., and will be hosted by Hanover College (Ind.).
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