Source: UWBadgers.com
Posted: Saturday, October 03, 2009 4:33:00 PM EST
Published: Saturday, October 03, 2009 4:39:58 PM EST
Posted: Saturday, October 03, 2009 4:33:00 PM EST
Published: Saturday, October 03, 2009 4:39:58 PM EST
VERONA, Wis. -- The No. 4-ranked Wisconsin men's cross country team helped christen the new Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course with a third-place finish Saturday in the inaugural Wisconsin adidas Invitational.
The Badgers scored 94 points in the 8-kilometer race. Unranked Syracuse claimed the team title with 41 points, followed by No. 10 Georgetown with 60 points.
"I saw some real positive stuff out there today," UW head coach Mick Byrne said. "As a coach, you just have to look at the positives and take positives as you go into the rest of October. We've always said that we're a championship team. We still walked out with third and now we have to take it how it is and build off it."
Redshirt freshman Maverick Darling was the first UW runner to cross the finish line, taking sixth place in a time of 24:02.8. This race marks that first time that Darling has been the top finisher for the UW.
"I was surprised I finished in the top 10," Darling said. "I didn't know how things were going to work out competition wise. I was pretty happy with how the race felt. I felt really good through 6k, and then 6k kind of hit me a little bit, but it went well."
Sophomore Elliot Krause was the next to cross the finish line for the Badgers, finishing in 13th place with a time of 24:13.6. Junior Landon Peacock finished soon after in a time 24:27.1 to claim 18th place.
Junior Noel Bateman and sophomore Phil Thomas were the final two runners to score for the UW, taking 27th and 34th, respectively, in times of 24:41.1 and 24:47.7.
Seniors Ryan Gasper and Craig Miller also ran for the Badgers. Gasper finished in a time of 24:50.8 to claim 36th place and was followed by Miller, who took 39th place in a time of 24:53.0.
The Badgers also ran several freshmen as unattached competitors. Leading the charge was Reed Connor, who finished in 16th place in a time of 24:23.8. Also, Andrew Shields finished in 49th place in a time of 25:04.9, Michael Brice finished in 65th place in a time of 25:20.3.
"We got what we wanted out of this race," Byrne said. "We've got a number of young kids that are ready to go, and I'm excited for what's to come."
As for the course, despite the slight drizzle, the debut of the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course was widely considered to be a success.
"Just look at it, this is fantastic," Byrne said. "It's a great day for Wisconsin and a great day for Wisconsin cross country.
"I mean this is just fun. It's the way cross country should be."
The UW will take a two week break from competition in preparation for the Jim Drews Invitational on Oct. 17, a meet hosted by UW-La Crosse.
BADGER WOMEN TAKE NINTH IN INAUGURAL EVENT
VERONA, Wis. -- The excitement of the inaugural Wisconsin adidas Invitational overpowered the gloomy forecast Saturday.
Seven of the top 30 nationally-ranked teams were in attendance for the debut of the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course.
Wisconsin's Caitlin Comfort broke into the top 10 of the women's 5-kilometer race by placing ninth out of the 123 runners with a time of 17:27.9. As a whole, UW placed 11th overall in the team standings.
Duke, ranked No. 29 nationally won the team race with 78 points. No. 21 Syracuse ended with 80 points for a close second-place finish. No. 10-ranked Illinois ended at third with BYU at fourth and No. 17 Michigan rounding out the top five.
"It's always nice to come out and run well for the team," Comfort said. "It's important for everyone to run well and take advantage of our home course."
"The team was really excited to get these amazing teams out here and welcome them to our new home course," she added. "When we were practicing yesterday, a few teams yelled out that they really liked the course … it was great to hear."
Stepping up for the Badgers was freshman Kiah Ehrke, who finished second on the team and 67th overall in 18:19.9. She was followed by junior Karen Greuel who crossed the finish line 10 seconds later, earning 77th place.
Senior Hanna Grinaker, competing unattached, finished 83rd overall in a time of 18:47.5. Karlye Wolff and Alexa Renstrom finished next for the Badgers, earning 96th and 103rd place, respectively.
With three of their top runners not competing at their full potential, the Badgers are not yet at full strength.
"Leah Coyle, Hanna Grinaker and Ashley Beutler are not ready to go and that's a killer for us right now," said head coach Jim Stintzi. "As far as the meet goes, it's pretty exciting. We were definitely excited about the opening of the course and the quality of the meet we can put on here."
The Badgers have two weeks to regain their strength before heading to Terre Haute, Ind., on Oct. 17 for the Pre-NCAA Invitational.
The Badgers scored 94 points in the 8-kilometer race. Unranked Syracuse claimed the team title with 41 points, followed by No. 10 Georgetown with 60 points.
"I saw some real positive stuff out there today," UW head coach Mick Byrne said. "As a coach, you just have to look at the positives and take positives as you go into the rest of October. We've always said that we're a championship team. We still walked out with third and now we have to take it how it is and build off it."
Redshirt freshman Maverick Darling was the first UW runner to cross the finish line, taking sixth place in a time of 24:02.8. This race marks that first time that Darling has been the top finisher for the UW.
"I was surprised I finished in the top 10," Darling said. "I didn't know how things were going to work out competition wise. I was pretty happy with how the race felt. I felt really good through 6k, and then 6k kind of hit me a little bit, but it went well."
Sophomore Elliot Krause was the next to cross the finish line for the Badgers, finishing in 13th place with a time of 24:13.6. Junior Landon Peacock finished soon after in a time 24:27.1 to claim 18th place.
Junior Noel Bateman and sophomore Phil Thomas were the final two runners to score for the UW, taking 27th and 34th, respectively, in times of 24:41.1 and 24:47.7.
Seniors Ryan Gasper and Craig Miller also ran for the Badgers. Gasper finished in a time of 24:50.8 to claim 36th place and was followed by Miller, who took 39th place in a time of 24:53.0.
The Badgers also ran several freshmen as unattached competitors. Leading the charge was Reed Connor, who finished in 16th place in a time of 24:23.8. Also, Andrew Shields finished in 49th place in a time of 25:04.9, Michael Brice finished in 65th place in a time of 25:20.3.
"We got what we wanted out of this race," Byrne said. "We've got a number of young kids that are ready to go, and I'm excited for what's to come."
As for the course, despite the slight drizzle, the debut of the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course was widely considered to be a success.
"Just look at it, this is fantastic," Byrne said. "It's a great day for Wisconsin and a great day for Wisconsin cross country.
"I mean this is just fun. It's the way cross country should be."
The UW will take a two week break from competition in preparation for the Jim Drews Invitational on Oct. 17, a meet hosted by UW-La Crosse.
BADGER WOMEN TAKE NINTH IN INAUGURAL EVENT
VERONA, Wis. -- The excitement of the inaugural Wisconsin adidas Invitational overpowered the gloomy forecast Saturday.
Seven of the top 30 nationally-ranked teams were in attendance for the debut of the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course.
Wisconsin's Caitlin Comfort broke into the top 10 of the women's 5-kilometer race by placing ninth out of the 123 runners with a time of 17:27.9. As a whole, UW placed 11th overall in the team standings.
Duke, ranked No. 29 nationally won the team race with 78 points. No. 21 Syracuse ended with 80 points for a close second-place finish. No. 10-ranked Illinois ended at third with BYU at fourth and No. 17 Michigan rounding out the top five.
"It's always nice to come out and run well for the team," Comfort said. "It's important for everyone to run well and take advantage of our home course."
"The team was really excited to get these amazing teams out here and welcome them to our new home course," she added. "When we were practicing yesterday, a few teams yelled out that they really liked the course … it was great to hear."
Stepping up for the Badgers was freshman Kiah Ehrke, who finished second on the team and 67th overall in 18:19.9. She was followed by junior Karen Greuel who crossed the finish line 10 seconds later, earning 77th place.
Senior Hanna Grinaker, competing unattached, finished 83rd overall in a time of 18:47.5. Karlye Wolff and Alexa Renstrom finished next for the Badgers, earning 96th and 103rd place, respectively.
With three of their top runners not competing at their full potential, the Badgers are not yet at full strength.
"Leah Coyle, Hanna Grinaker and Ashley Beutler are not ready to go and that's a killer for us right now," said head coach Jim Stintzi. "As far as the meet goes, it's pretty exciting. We were definitely excited about the opening of the course and the quality of the meet we can put on here."
The Badgers have two weeks to regain their strength before heading to Terre Haute, Ind., on Oct. 17 for the Pre-NCAA Invitational.
