By Brett Haffner, UWEC Sports Information
LOUISVILLE, KY. (blugolds.com) Earning bids to the NCAA DIII Cross Country Nationals, the UW-Eau Claire Blugolds took on the best of DIII this Saturday at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park in Louisville, Kentucky. This year's edition of the national meet was one of the fastest and deepest fields on record, with the Men's Individual Champion Alex Phillip of John Carroll University and the Women's Individual Champion Kassie Parker of Loras College setting National meet records in their respective races.
Men's Results | Women's Results | Photo Album - Dan Schwamberger
For the Blugold women, they finished 22nd out of 32 teams, scoring 506 points. Carolyn Shult (So. - Augusta, WI/Augusta) was the top finisher for the team, taking 70th place and running 22:10.6 for the 6k distance. Katie Faris (Sr. - Chippewa Falls, WI/Chippewa Falls) finished close behind, taking 80th place and running 22:18.7.
Naomi Long (Sr. - Medina, MN/Wayzata) came through in 92nd, running 22:24.9; Emma Drangstveit (Sr. - Lakeville, MN/Lakeville) was next in 192nd, running 23:02.4; and Morgan Dahl (Fr. - Shoreview, MN/Mounds View) rounded out the scorers, placing 219th and running 23:18.7.
Kylie Judd (So. - Anchorage, AK/AJ Diamond) and Christi Forman (Fr. - Waterloo, WI/Waterloo) were the other two athletes who competed at the National meet. Judd placed 247th and ran 23:32.9 while Forman placed 251st and ran 23:35.0.
The Blugold men were led by Connor Dolan (Sr. - Nekoosa, WI/Assumption) who placed 46th, running 24:26.2 for the 8k distance. Tyler Osen (So. - Lakeville, MN/Lakeville) finished in 82nd, running 24:42.1.
Mason Shea (Fr. - River Falls, WI/River Falls) was the next scorer, finishing 225th and running 25:42.1. Jackson Wichtendahl (Jr. - Alexandria, MN/Alexandria) was close behind, finishing in 238th and running 25:48.9. Zach Yengo (Jr. - Eau Claire, WI/Regis) finished in 255th, running 25:55.4 to round out the scoring for the Blugolds.
Jake Petri (Jr. - Muskego, WI/Muskego) and Brett Haffner (Jr. - Darien, IL/Hinsdale South) were the other runners for the Blugolds. Petri finished 269th, running 26:11.6 and Haffner finished 273rd, running 26:20.8.
On both team's performances, Coach Dan Schwambeger said "Both teams were capable of finishing higher at the National meet. However, it was still a fun finish to the season and will provide plenty of motivation heading into the upcoming track season. The men and women were extremely positive and supportive of one another through the ups and downs that this season presented, which makes me very proud to be coaching this special group."
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