Golden Gopher Cross Country This Week: 2009 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships Monday, Nov. 23 Men — 11:08 a.m. (CT) Women — 11:58 a.m. (CT) LaVern Gibson Championship Course Terre Haute, Ind. Indiana State U. - Host TV - Live - Versus TV Network Webcast - NCAA.com
Golden Gopher Watch List — Nov. 23, 2009 • Golden Gopher Travel to NCAA Championships - The Minnesota men’s and women’s cross country teams both earned berths into the fields of the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships. Indiana State U. plays host to the Championships at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute, Ind. The men’s 10-kilometer race begins at 11:08 a.m. (CT), followed by the women’s 6-kilometer race at 11:58 a.m. (CT). • Golden Gopher Women Consistent - The Minnesota women’s cross country team is coming off their third consecutive title at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships. The Golden Gophers are among an elite trio of teams to place in the top 12 in the NCAAs in each of the last four seasons. • Mead Paces Golden Gopher Men - The Minnesota men’s cross country team will be led by junior Hassan Mead, who has the chance to become the second three-time All-American in Golden Gopher history. Mead defended both his Big Ten and NCAA Midwest Region titles this season. • NCAA Meet Televised - The Versus Network will broadcast the NCAA Cross Country Championships live. NCAA.com will carry a live webcast of the national meet.
2009 Minnesota Men’s Schedule Date Sept. Sept. Oct.
Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov.
Opponent
Time/Result
11 Oz Memorial Run 1st (22) 26 Roy Griak Invitational - Men’s Gold 4th (101) 17 at Pre-NCAA Meet 11th (341) (Terre Haute, Ind. - host: Indiana State) 17 at Jim Drews Invitational NTS (West Salem, Wis. - host: Wis.-LaCrosse) 1 at Big Ten Championships 3rd (97) (Ann Arbor, Mich. - host: Michigan) 6 at Fall Finale NTS (Collegeville, Minn. - host: St. John’s) 14 at NCAA Midwest Region Championships 4th (125). (Springfield, Mo. - host: Missouri State) 23 at NCAA Championships 11:08 a.m. (Terre Haute, Ind. - host: Indiana State)
2009 Minnesota Women’s Schedule Date Sept. Sept. Oct. Oct. Oct.
Opponent 11 26 2 3 17 17
Oct. Nov.
24 1
Nov. Nov.
8 14
Nov.
23
Time/Result
Oz Memorial Run 1st (17) Roy Griak Inv -Jack Johnson Gold 2nd (48) at Wis-Eau Claire Invitational 4th (125) South Dakota State Invitational 1st (24) at Pre-NCAA Meet 6th (214) (Terre Haute, Ind. - host: Indiana State) at Tori Neubauer Invitational 7th (204) (West Salem, Wis. - host: Wis.-LaCrosse) Jack’s Run NTS at Big Ten Championships 3rd (80) (Ann Arbor, Mich. - host: Michigan) Rocky’s Run NTS at NCAA Midwest Region Championships 1st (60) (Springfield, Mo. - host: Missouri State) at NCAA Championships 11:58 a.m. (Terre Haute, Ind. - host: Indiana State)
Home meets at the Les Bolstad Course in Falcon Heights, Minn. All times listed as Central times. NTS - no team score
2008 and 2009 Big Ten champion Hassan Mead
Two-time All-Big Ten First Team Megan Duwell
GOLDEN GOPHER MEN
GOLDEN GOPHER WOMEN
NCAA Championships Next For Gophers The Minnesota men’s cross country team will make its 12th appearance in 13 seasons at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, held Monday, Nov. 23 in Terre Haute, Ind. Indiana State plays host to the meet at the LaVern Gibson Championships Course. The men’s 10kilometer race begins at 11:08 a.m. (CT).
NCAA Cross Country Championships The Minnesota women’s cross country team will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., to compete in the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Monday, Nov. 23. The Golden Gophers are making their fifth consecutive trip to the national meet. The women’s 6-kilometer begins at 11:58 a.m. (CT). Indiana State plays host to the meet at the LaVern Gibson Championships Course.
Watch It Live The NCAA Cross Country Championships will be broadcast live on Versus TV Network and streamed online via NCAA.com. Check out Flotrack.com for additional coverage and interviews from the national meet. The NCAA Field Thirty-one (31) teams will compete in the NCAA Championships, 18 of them having earned automatic
Watch It Live The NCAA Cross Country Championships will be broadcast live on Versus TV Network and streamed online via NCAA.com. Check out Flotrack.com for additional coverage and interviews from the national meet. Consistency at the Highest Level Minnesota has finished in the top 12 in each of the last
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four NCAA Championships placing the Golden Gophers among an elite group of teams to consistently place that high during that span of time. Only two teams – Illinois and Stanford – can match the feat of consecutive top-12 national finishes the past four years. The NCAA Field Thirty-one (31) teams will compete in the NCAA Championships, 18 of them, including Minnesota, having earned automatic berths in the NCAA field by placing in the top two of last weekend’s region championships. The NCAA field is completed by 13 at-large teams and 38 individual student-athletes who advanced with top regional finishes. Big Ten Set Record With Seven Teams to NCAAs The Big Ten Conference will be represented by a record seven teams at the NCAA Championships, three of them (Illinois, Minnesota and Ohio State) who earned automatic berths. Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State were at-large selections. The Big Ten had six teams compete in the NCAA meets the last two years.
Ben Blankenship (2), Travis Burkstrand (3) and Pieter Gagnon (4) at the start of the Griak Invitational earlier this season.
berths in the NCAA field by placing in the top two of last weekend’s region championships. The NCAA field is completed by 13 at-large teams, including Minnesota, and 38 individual student-athletes who advanced with top regional finishes. Four Big Ten Teams Advance to NCAA Field Four Big Ten Conference teams will compete at the NCAA Championships for the second year in a row. Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin made the national meet this season. If This Were Football, We’d Add a Fifth Quarter For NCAA competition, both at the regional and national championships, the race distance is lengthened from 8 kilometers to 10 kilometers. That extra two kilometers makes the races 20 percent longer than the ones run during the regular season. NCAA Championships Men’s Preview Oregon is the two-time defending team champion, but it has been Pac-10 rival Stanford who has held the top ranking for much of the season. Other team’s expected to contend are Oklahoma State and Alabama. Oregon’s, the Galen Rupp, the 2008 individual champion, has graduated. Minnesota at the NCAA Championships Minnesota will make its 21st appearance in the NCAA Cross Country Championships. The Gophers have competed in 12 of the last 13 Championships, missing out only in 2006. The best finish for the Gophers was a fourth-place showing in 1968. More recently, the Gophers notched an eighth-place showing in 2007. Minnesota owns 15 top-20 finishes in the NCAA meet.
Golden Gophers Ranked No. 13 Heading into the NCAAs Minnesota is ranked No. 13 in this week’s the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division I poll. The other Big Ten teams ranked are Penn State (No. 11), Illinois (No. 16), Ohio State (No. 27), Michigan (No. 29) and Indiana (No. 30). NCAA Championships Women’s Preview Defending champion Washington is the favorite to repeat in the team competition. The Huskies have held the No. 1 rank in the national poll all season. Other teams in the top five are Villanova, Princeton, Oregon and Florida. Texas Tech’s Sally Kipyego the NCAA individual champion the last three years has graduated. Minnesota at the NCAA Championships Minnesota will make its 13th appearance in the NCAA Cross Country Championships and fifth consecutively. The Golden Gophers posted their highest finish in school history in 2005, placing ninth, then 11th in 2006 and 12th in 2007 and 11th in 2008. Megan Duwell ran to All-America honors in 2008. A Senior Class Like No Other The Golden Gophers’ senior class of 2009 has enjoyed more success than any other in Minnesota cross country history. Among this senior class are six runners who will represent the Gophers at the NCAA meet this season: Jamie Cheever, Heather Dorniden, Megan Duwell, Amy Laskowske, Mallory Van Ness and Elizabeth Yetzer. Going into their final cross country meet of their collegiate careers, these six Gophers have left an incredible legacy in the history of the program. Combined they have celebrated: • Three top-12 NCAA Championships finishes • Two (Cheever, Duwell) NCAA All-America honors • Three NCAA Midwest Region team titles • 15 All-Midwest Region honors • The first two Big Ten team titles (2007, 2008) in school history Heather Dorniden Caps Off Historic Golden Gopher Running Career Heather Dorniden will run her final competition at the NCAA Championships writing the final chapter of a brilliant Golden Gopher collegiate career. Dorniden has competed in
Gophers at the 2008 NCAA Championships Minnesota finished 15th overall in the 2008 NCAA Championships. Chris Rombough and Hassan Mead once again earned All-America honors. Rombough became the first three-time cross country All-American in Minnesota history. Mead earned his second national award of his career. Golden Gophers Ranked No. 29th The Gopher men enter the national meet ranked No. 29 (tied with Texas) in the USTFCCCA National Poll. Minnesota is one of three Big Ten Conference teams listed in the rankings with Wisconsin at No. 10 and Michigan State at No. 28. The Golden Gopher Lineup Seven Golden Gophers will compete at the NCAA Championships. A team’s final lineup does not have to be declared until the day of the competition. Following is a list of the Gophers’ lineup and a listing of any previous experience at the national meet. Matt Barrett (Sr., Monroe, Wis./Monroe HS) 2008 – 160th, 31:23.6 Ben Blankenship (Jr., Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS/Mississippi State) 2008 – 100th, 30:55.1 Pieter Gagnon (R-Fr., Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn HS)
A pack of Gophers at this season’s Griak Invitational: (l-r) Elizabeth Yetzer, Amy Laskowske, Nikki Swenson, Mallory Van Ness.
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Paul Hilsen (R-Fr., Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South HS) Mike McFarland (Jr., Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead HS) 2007 – 161st, 31:36.5 2008 – 171st, 31:27.0 Hassan Mead (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn./Minneapolis South HS) 2007 – 43rd, 30:37.6 (All-American) 2008 – 31st, 30:06.2 (All-American) Sean Olson (So., Menomonie, Wis./Menomonie HS) Derek Storkel (Fr., Tomah, Wis./Tomah HS) Minnesota Coaching Staff Golden Gopher head coach Steve Plasencia is in his 14th season leading the Minnesota program. Plasencia has guided the Gophers to NCAA Championships berths in 12 of his 14 years with his alma mater with the 2007 eighth-place NCAA finish the Gophers’ best since 1969. Volunteer assistant coach Jason Rengo is in his first year with the Gophers. Hassan Mead Honored as the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Runner of the Year Junior Hassan Mead was named the 2008 USTFCCCA Midwest Region Runner of the Year for the second consecutive season after defending his individual titles at both the Big Ten Conference Championships and NCAA Midwest Region Championships in the past month. Mead Continues to Build on Impressive Minnesota Resume Junior Hassan Mead continues to build on a Minnesota running resume that already has him ranked among the very best to ever compete for the Maroon and Gold. Mead is a twotime Big Ten and NCAA Midwest Region cross country medalist. He is also a three-time track All-American. Mead has already won five individual Big Ten track titles, winning the outdoor 5,000 meters in both his first two season with the Golden Gophers.
every NCAA meet (cross country, indoor and outdoor track) in her Minnesota career. Dorniden is the most decorated Gopher women’s track athlete earning nine career NCAA All-America honors, including a national title in the indoor 800 meters in 2006. The Golden Gopher Lineup Seven Golden Gophers will compete at the NCAA Championships. A team’s final lineup does not have to be declared until the day of the competition. Following is a list of possible participants and a listing of any previous experience at the national meet. Jamie Cheever (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest) - alternate 2006 - 150th, 22:31.4 2007 - 33rd, 20:58.3 (All-American) 2008 - 164th, 21:41.5 Heather Dorniden (Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Rosemount) 2006 - 185th, 22:50.6 2007, 186th, 22:15.2 2008, 135th, 21:28.8 Megan Duwell (Sr., West Bend, Wis./West Bend West HS) 2007 - 147th, 21:52.5 2008 - 32nd, 20:36.5 (All-American) Amy Laskowske (Sr., Palatine, Ill./Palatine HS) 2006 - 157th, 22:33.4 2008 - 94th, 21:10.2 Stephanie Price (So., Mankato, Minn./Loyola Catholic HS) Nikki Swenson (Jr., Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd HS) Mallory Van Ness (Sr., Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS/Missouri) - alternate 2008 - 116th, 21:19.4 Kayla Wagner (Fr., Baldwin, Wis./Baldwin-Woodville HS) Elizabeth Yetzer (Sr., Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS) 2006 - 22:11.8, 108th 2007 - 105th, 21:34.5
Storkel a Team Player True freshman Derek Storkel lifted the redshirt title from his season when his team called upon the rookie hoping to bring a solid fifth scorer into the lineup. Storkel ran well in his first collegiate action, placing 44th in the Big Ten Championships, helping the Gophers secure a third-place team finish. He was the Gophers’ sixth finisher (66th overall) at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships. Mead Defends Region Crown Hassan Mead cruised to his second consecutive NCAA Midwest Region Championships title on Saturday in Matt Barrett Springfield, Mo., crossing the finish line 28 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor. Minnesota finished fourth as a team and will have to wait until Monday to see if the Golden Gophers’ season of work warrants an at-large berth in the NCAA Championships. Mead is the first back-to-back regional champion in Gopher history (Andrew Carlson won in 2002 and again in 2004). The Minneapolis native covered the 10-kilometer Missouri State University course in a time of 30 minutes, 21.9 seconds. Mead and Iowa State’s Guor Marial took the lead early and quickly distanced themselves from the pack. Mead made a second push around the 4-kilometer mark and soon found himself alone at the front. The Gophers’ standout had built such a big lead that he was able to even ease up a bit in the final kilometer, important since the national championship race is just nine days away. Southern Illinois senior Jeff Schirmer was second in 30:49.9. “Hassan really was the class of the field out there today,” said Golden Gopher head coach Steve Plasencia. “We went in with a plan today and Hassan executed it perfectly.” Senior Matt Barrett picked up his second career all-region honor by placing 15th overall, second for the Gophers, in a time of 31:05.0. Oklahoma State, ranked third in the nation, captured the Midwest Region title with a team score of 50 points and collected one of the region’s automatic qualifiers for the NCAA Championships. Oklahoma earned the second automatic bid by placing second with 71 points. Iowa State finished third with 104 points ahead of the Gophers’ tally of 125. The Gophers were unable to close the gap between their top two finishers (Mead and Barrett) and the remainder of their scoring runners. Ben Blankenship finished 28th in a time of 31:48.3, followed by Pieter Gagnon in 38th (32:02.8) and Mike McFarland in 51st
Golden Gopher Coaching Staff Gary Wilson, the dean of the Big Ten women’s cross country coaches, is in his 25th season heading the Minnesota program. He is assisted by volunteer assistant head coach, Sarah Hesser, who is in her fifth season on the coaching staff after competing for the Golden Gophers. Gary Wilson Honored as USTFCCCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year Minnesota head coach Gary Wilson was honored as the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season. Wilson directed the Golden Gophers to NCAA Midwest Region in each of the last three years.. Minnesota Wins Third Consecutive Midwest Region Crown The Minnesota women’s cross country Heather Dorniden captured the team title, and an automatic berth to the national meet, at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships in Springfield, Mo., on Saturday, Nov. 14. The Golden Gophers landed all seven runners in the top 25 to earn all-region honors. “We ran like a team on a mission,” said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. “After the Big Ten meet we felt we had a little something to prove today. This was by far our best team race of the season.” Senior Megan Duwell paced the Gophers’ effort covering the 5-kilometer Missouri State course in a school-record time of 20 minutes, 14.5 seconds and capturing runner-up honors. Duwell’s time was almost five seconds faster than the previous Minnesota record mark of 20:19.3 set by Ladia Albertson-Junkans at the NCAA Championships in 2005. Duwell battled Illinois’ Angela Bizzarri at the front of the pack for most of the race. Bizzarri, who finished second to Duwell’s third at the Big Ten Championships, edged ahead in the race’s final 500 meters to win in 20:07.5. Illinois finished second in the Midwest Region to earn the region’s other NCAA automatic qualifier. The Gophers captured their third consecutive Midwest Region title compiling 60 team points. For the first time in Minnesota history, every Gopher competitor earned all-region
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(32:32.9). Other Gophers competing were Derek Storkel (66th, 33:01.7) and Paul Hilsen (117th, 34:27.7). Gagnon, Storkel and Hilsen ran their first NCAA 10-kilometer races of their collegiate careers. 2009 NCAA Midwest Region Cross Country Championships Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 Missouri State Cross Country Course – 10K Springfield, Mo. Team Results 1. Oklahoma State 2. Oklahoma 3. Iowa State 4. Minnesota 5. Southern Illinois * 25 teams competed
8-9-10-11-12-(13)-(15) 3-4-17-20-27-(35)-(37) 5-6-28-30-40-(65)-(96) 1-14-26-36-48-(63)-(112) 2-25-29-31-73-(118)
Top Individuals 1. Hassan Mead (MInnesota) 2. Jeff Schirmer (Southern Illinois) 3. Kevin Schwab (Oklahoma) 4. Robert Sorrell (Oklahoma) 5. Hillary Bor (Iowa State) 6. Guor Marial (Iowa State) 7. Jonah Lagat (Oral Roberts) 8. John Beattie (Tulsa) 9. David Chirchir (Oklahoma State) 10. John Kosgei (Oklahoma State) Other Golden Gopher Finishes 15. (14) Matt Barrett 28. (26) Ben Blankenship 38. (36) Pieter Gagnon 51. (48) Mike McFarland 66. (63) Derek Storkel 117. (112) Paul Hilsen
50 71 106 125 160
30:31.9 30:49.9 30:52.0 30:53.4 30:55.6 30:56.4 30:58.5 31:00.4 31:03.0 31:03.2
31:05.0 31:48.3 32:02.8 32:32.9 33:01.7 34:27.7
Mead Wins, Gophers Third at Big Ten Championships Minnesota junior Hassan Mead captured the individual title at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships leading the Gold en Gophers to a third-place finish in the team standings. Mead covered the 5.2-mile course at the Penn State Cross Country Course in a time of 25 minutes, 0.2 seconds. He is the third Gopher to win two or more Big Ten cross country crowns, joining Fred Watson (1913-15) and Garry Bjorklund (1969-71). Mead is the 19th Big Ten multiple champion and first since Wisconsin’s Simon Bairu won back-to-back crowns in 2004-04. Mead, who crossed the finish line 5.7 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, also collected his third All-Big Ten First Team honor of his career. Senior Matt Barrett contributed a ninth-place finish to earn All-Big Ten Second Team
accord. Senior Amy Laskowske ran her finest race of the season finishing as the Gophers’ number-two runner and placing ninth overall. Laskowske was clocked in a career-best time of 21:04.5. “Amy ran great today,” said Wilson. “She rebounded very well from a race (the Big Ten meet) where she was our ninth finisher.” Senior Heather Dorniden posted her highest finish at a regional meet, placing 14th in a time of 21:15.4. The three non-seniors of the Gopher lineup teamed to grab consecutive finishes at 19th, 20th and 21st. Sophomore Stephanie Price led the trio with a time of 21:26.9, followed by freshman Kayla Wagner at 21:28.5 and Nikki Swenson at 21:32.3. Completing the Gophers’ lineup was senior Elizabeth Yetzer, who finished 25th in a time of 21:34.7. All four Gopher seniors – Duwell, Laskowske, Dorniden and Yetzer – are now three-time career all-region honorees. 2009 NCAA Midwest Region Cross Country Championships Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 Missouri State Cross Country Course – 6K Springfield, Mo. Team Results 1. Minnesota 2. Illinois 3. Iowa State 4. Nebraska 5. Iowa * 22 teams competed
2-8-13-18-19-(20)-(24) 1-4-11-22-48-(64)-(65) 3-9-15-34-45-(47) 10-28-30-35-44-(60)-(68) 12-32-33-41-42-(43)-(52)
60 86 106 147 160
Top Individuals 1. Angela Bizarri (Illinois) 2. Megan Duwell (Minnesota) 3. Lisa Koll (Iowa State) 4. Kristin Sutherland (Illinois) 5. Lauren Bonds (Kansas) 6. Beverly Ramos (Kansas State) 7. Mihaela Susa (Oklahoma State) 8. Kaitie Vanatta (Missouri) 9. Amy Laskowske (Minnesota) 10. Aliphine Tuliamuk (Iowa State)
20:07.5 20:14.5 20:19.2 20:44.1 20:49.1 20:55.9 20:59.6 21:01.8 21:04.5 21:04.6
Other Golden Gopher Finishes 14. Heather Dorniden 19. Stephanie Price 20. Kayla Wagner 21. Nikki Swenson 25. Elizabeth Yetzer
21:15.4 21:26.9 21:28.5 21:32.3 21:34.7
Gophers, Duwell Third at Big Ten Championships Minnesota had won the previous two Big Ten Cross Country Championships by single digits. This season, the result was once again decided by single digits with a margin of just nine points separating the top three teams. The Golden Gophers were on the short end this time around placing third. Penn State captured its first Big Ten cross country title with 71 points, hosting the Championships on their home course. Senior Bridget Franek won the individual title with a time of 20:03. Illinois finished second with 77 points, followed by Minnesota with 80. The Gophers were led by senior Megan Duwell, who placed third in a personal-best time of 20 minutes, 23 seconds to match the third-fastest (Jamie Cheever, 2007) 6-kilometer time in school history. Duwell earns her second All-Big Ten First Team award. True freshman Kayla Wagner continues to impress, placing 14th overall in 21:06 and earning All-Big Ten Second Team honors. Completing the Gophers’ scoring was Stephanie Price, Heather Dorniden and Elizabeth Yetzer. Price, a sophomore, finished 18th in the Big Ten Cross Country Championships crossing the finish line in a time of 21:19. Dorniden was 20th in a time of 21:21, while Yetzer finished 25th in 21:29. Other Gophers competing were Mallory Van Ness, who placed 29th in 21:31; and Amy Laskowske, who placed 34th in 21:38. Duwell Finishes Third in Pre-NCAA White Race Minnesota senior Megan Duwell placed third in the Pre-NCAA White Race to pace the No. 8 Golden Gophers to an eighth-place finish in Terre Haute, Ind., on Oct. 17. The Pre-NCAA Meet is held on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course, the site of the NCAA Cross Country Championships each fall.
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accord. Barrett was timed in 25:35.2. The Gophers compiled 97 team points to finish third behind Wisconsin (26) and Ohio State (91). The Badgers won their 11th straight Big Ten title. Completing the scoring for the Gophers was Ben Blankenship, who finished 18th (25:53.4); Pieter Gagnon, who placed 27th in 26:09.4; and Derek Storkel, who finished 42nd in 26:41.9. Other Gophers running were Paul Hilsen, who finished 55th in 27:06.2; and Mike McFarland, who placed 66th in 27:42.9. Mead Claims Second Big Ten Weekly Honor of 2009 Season For the second time in the 2009 season, Minnesota junior All-American Hassan Mead was honored as the Big Ten Conference Runner of the Week. Mead tallied a third-place finish in the White Race at the Pre-NCAA Meet in Terre Haute, Ind. He clocked a time of 23 minutes, 49.2 seconds over the 8-kilometer LaVern Gibson Championship Course. The award is the fourth of Mead’s Golden Gopher career. The Big Ten defending champion, Mead was honored twice with Runner of the Week accolades during the 2008 campaign, and earlier this season after winning the Griak Invitational title. Mead Fifth in Pre-NCAA White Race Hassan Mead placed fifth in the White Race at the Pre-NCAA Meet in Terre Haute, Ind., on Saturday, Oct. 17. Minnesota placed 11th as a team. The meet is held at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course, the same facility that plays host to the NCAA Championships in November. An 8-kilometer course was traversed in the Pre-NCAA Meet. The race distance will jump to 10 kilometers for the national meet. Mead clocked a time of 23 minutes, 49.2 seconds over a soft, somewhat muddy course. A year ago, Mead set the Minnesota 8-kilometer record at the Gibson Course with a time of 23:33.1. Ben Blankenship tallied a 24th-place showing as the Gophers’ number-two runner. Blankenship crossed the finish line in 24:11.2. Matt Barrett was 60th in a time of 24:39.1, while Pieter Gagnon placed 90th in 25:00.8. Paul Hilsen was the final Gopher scorer, placing 162nd in 25:51.3. “We had a good, not great outing, today,” said Golden Gopher head coach Steve Plasencia. “Our top four ran solid but we just need to move our fifth guy up. That gap between 90 and 162 is too big. It’s the different. We have another runner up there in the mix and we would have a much better finish as a team.” Other Gophers competing were Sean Olson, who placed 173rd in 25:59.6, and Travis Burkstrand, who finished 200th in 26:24.7. The Gophers compiled 341 points in the team standings. Stanford captured the team win in the White Race with 47 behind individual titlist Chris Derrick (23:27.1). Oregon won the Blue Race team title with 79 points. Mead Wins Griak Title, Gophers Fourth as a Team Golden Gopher All-American Hassan Mead set Minnesota history on Saturday (Sept. 26), becoming the first Minnesota men’s cross country runner to capture medalist honors at the Roy Griak Invitational. Mead, running his first meet of the 2009 season, covered the 8-kilometer course in a time of 24 minutes, 37.5 seconds. Despite placing three runners in the top six, Minnesota finished fourth in the team standings with 101 points. Ben Blankenship posted an impressive fourth-place finish running a time of 24:56.9, while Matt Barrett tallied a sixth-place showing in 25:01.0. Mead pushed the pace of the race early on then ran comfortably from the front and extending his lead. The defending Big Ten champion, Mead won the Griak crown by over 12 seconds over runner-up Iowa State’s Guor Majak.
Duwell covered the 6-kilometer course in a time of 20:31.5, a solid time considering soft track conditions. Duwell finished 4.2 seconds after Illinois’ Angela Bizarri, who won the race in a time of 20:27.8. Washington’s Kendra Schaf was second in 20:29.0. Minnesota tallied a team score of 214 points. Defending national champion Washington collected three top-five finishes to easily win the team title with 59 points. Florida was the team runner-up with 89, followed by Princeton (126), Syracuse (191) and Illinois (206). Colorado won the Blue Race team crown with 94 points. “I was pleased with the way our team was able to focus through adversity on this whole road trip,” said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. “I think it’s going to one of those type of seasons where we are going to have to work very hard for everything we get. From a race standpoint, we got out a little too slow as a team. We continued to battle, but against this good of competition, any mistakes are magnified.” The Gophers travel posed a challenge. Delays and finally a rearranged flight schedule got the squad to Terre Haute but the stage was already set. It was past midnight before the team settled into their hotel rooms for the night. Wilson recognized the efforts of the two youngest Gophers on the trip, sophomore Stephanie Price and freshman Kayla Wagner. “These two ran very well today,” he said. “We needed them to step up and they have.” Price notched her highest team finish of her Gopher career running to the team’s No. 2 spot. She placed 43rd overall in a time of 21:32.3. Wagner was the Gophers’ fourth finisher, 57th overall, in 21:41.7. The other scorers for the Gophers were Elizabeth Yetzer, who finished 53rd in a time of 21:40.2 and Nikki Swenson, who placed 58th in 21:42.2. Closing out the Gophers competing were Heather Dorniden in 62nd in 21:43.8 and Amy Laskowske in 80th in 21:51.1. The Pre-NCAA event holds an open race in addition to the White and Blue Races. Gopher senior Mallory Van Ness captured the open race title with a time of 21:51.2. “Seeing Mallory win the race was pretty cool,” added Wilson. “We have great depth; we were able to have a solid finish in the White Race, and also have four runners finish in the top 13 of the open race.” Duwell Wins Griak Title, Honored by Big Ten Minnesota senior Megan Duwell captured her second Big Ten Runner of the Week accolade of the season as the Conference office recognized her accomplishment of winning the individual title at the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 26. A West Bend, Wis., native, Duwell is the first Golden Gopher to capture two Big Ten Runner of the Week awards in the same season. Duwell was also honored by the Big Ten after winning the Oz Memorial Run title earlier this month. Duwell WIns Griak Title, Gophers Second as a Team Golden Gopher senior All-American Megan Duwell wrote her name in the Griak Invitational record books, winning the Jack Johnson Women’s Gold Race title in a time of 21 minutes, 0.37 seconds. Duwell is the second Minnesota women’s runner to take Griak gold, joining Rasa (nee Michnoivaite) Troup who won the title in 1998. Duwell broke free from the pack before the race’s 2-kilometer mark and went on to win by over 12 seconds over runner-up Lisa Koll (Iowa State). Duwell’s time is the fourth-best time in Minnesota history by a Gopher on their home 6-kilometer course at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights. Minnesota’s streak of Griak titles was ended at two by Iowa State, who landed five runners in the top 10 to tally 31 points and take home their first Griak crown. The Gophers finished second with 48 points, followed by Michigan State in third with 75 points. The Gophers scored all five runners in the top 20. Nikki Swenson was the Gophers’ number-two runner finishing in eighth place in a time of 21:56.87. Elizabeth Yetzer finished 11th in 22:01.57 and started a string of five consecutive Minnesota finishes. Amy Laskowske was 12th in 22:03.27, followed by Kayla Wagner (13th, 22:07.32), Heather Dorniden (14th, 22:16.82) and Mallory Van Ness (15th, 22:20.42). Duwell WIns Griak Title, Gophers Second as a Team Minnesota senior Megan Duwell was named the Co-Big Ten Cross Country Runner of the Week after defending her individual title in the Oz Memorial Run on Sept. 11. Duwell ran an impressive 21 minutes 13.24 seconds, beating the 6-kilometer race’s second place finisher by 53 seconds and leading her teammates to a first-place team finish. This was Duwell’s first weekly Big Ten honor of her Gopher career. Duwell’s award is the first time a Gopher has been Runner of the Week since 2005. Minnesota’s Emily Brown received the honor in September, 2005, and her team went on to finish ninth at the NCAA Championships. In the time between Brown and Duwell’s awards Minnesota has won two Big Ten Championships and has placed 12th or higher at the NCAA Championships in three appearances. “I was surprised to find out that we had not won a Big Ten weekly award for such a long time, considering the caliber of the teams we’ve had here in recent years. Megan has been training very hard and is very deserving of this award,” said head coach Gary Wilson.
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USTFCCCA NCAA Men's CC Poll
Minnesota Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Rosters
Conducted bythe U.S. Cross Country Coaches Association Poll 7 - Nov. 17, 2009
Rank 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29.
Team Stanford Oklahoma State Alabama Portland BYU Colorado William & Mary Oregon Syracuse Wisconsin Iona New Mexico Northern Arizona Georgetown Washington Oklahoma Villanova North Carolina State Arkansas Florida State Providence Arizona State Louisville Iowa State Auburn Duke Virginia Michigan State Texas Minnesota
Points 359 349 326 317 306 296 287 281 256 247 234 232 218 208 188 170 167 162 136 122 120 103 89 73 64 51 50 49 31 31
USTFCCCA NCAA Women's CC Poll Conducted by the U.S. Cross Country Coaches Association Poll 6 - Nov. 17, 2009
Rank 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
Team Washington Villanova Princeton Oregon Florida Colorado West Virginia Florida State Texas Tech Stanford Penn State Syracuse Minnesota Duke Georgetown Illinois Arizona State Iowa State BYU Virginia Providence SMU UTEP Notre Dame New Mexico Baylor Ohio State Arizona Michigan Indiana
Points 358 350 319 317 315 299 290 276 263 225 223 220 217 211 198 188 168 145 135 133 128 111 96 81 74 63 51 44 40 20
Name Year Matt Barrett * Sr. Ben Blankenship Jr. Travis Burkstrand RFr. Pieter Gagnon RFr. Paul Hilsen So. Nick Hutton RFr. David Krueger Sr. Kevin Lachowitzer RFr. Andrew Larson Fr. Joe McFarland So. Mike McFarland Jr. Hassan Mead * Jr. Sean Olson So. Drew Paradis Fr. Andy Richardson RFr. Derek Storkel Fr. Steve Sulkin Fr. Mike Torchia Jr. Erik Truedson Fr. Matthew Volz So. Head Coach: Steve Plasencia (14th Season)
Exp. Hometown (High School) 3V # Monroe, Wis. (Monroe) 1V # Stillwater, Minn. (Stillwater/Mississippi State) RS Apple Valley, Minn. (Eastview) RS Minneapolis, Minn. (Washburn) SQ Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville South) RS Burnsville, Minn. (Apple Valley) SQ Perham, Minn. (Perham) RS Perham, Minn. (Perham) HS Glen Ellyn, Ill. SQ Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead) 2V # Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead) 2V # Minneapolis, Minn. (South) 1V # Menomonie, Wis. (Menomonie) HS Alexandria, Minn. RS New Brighton, Minn. (Irondale) HS Tomah, Wis. HS Elmhurst, Ill. 2V # Rochester, Minn. (Lourdes) HS Bemidji, Minn. HS Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville South) Volunteer Assistant Coach: Jason Rengo
Name Year Maggie Bollig Fr. Heather Brunn RFr. Kelli Budd Fr. Kendall Cederstrom Fr. Jamie Cheever Sr. Kayla Dahl So. Ashley Deisting So. Jamie Dittmar So. Laura Docherty Fr. Heather Doniden * Sr. Rachel Drake Fr. Chelsey Dunkle So. Megan Duwell * Sr. Katelan Dyson Jr. Jaclyn Edmonds Jr. Christina Engstrom Sr. Emily Fowler So. Becca Gusmer RFr. Tari Helmers Jr. Celia Hemmerich Sr. Katie Hill Fr. Laura Koch Jr. Mikaya Larson RFr. Amy Laskowske Sr. Danielle LeBreck So. Jenna Lewein Jr. Taylor Light So. Amanda Meagher So. Emma Miller Sr. Kaitlin Mincke Fr. Katie Moraczewski Fr. Marie Muscala So. Calla Nelson Jr. Cassy Opitz Fr. Paige Orcutt So. Stephanie Price So. Claire Rindo RFr. Kathryn Ritter RFr. Kathryn Salvatore Jr. Jessica Schmidt Fr. Alyson Siegrist Sr. Megan Smith Jr. Brittni Swanson Jr. Nikki Swenson Jr. Annie Talajkowski Fr. Bre Valle Fr. Mallory Van Ness Sr. Jamie Vandenberg Fr. Melissa Varpress Fr. Michelle Volz Fr. Kayla Wagner Fr. Kelly Wilson Sr. Elizabeth Yetzer * Sr. Kayla Zander Sr. Head Coach: Gary Wilson (25th Season) Volunteer Assistant Head Coach: Sarah Hesser
Exp. HS RS HS HS 3V # SQ SQ SQ HS 3V # HS SQ 3V # SQ SQ SQ SQ RS SQ SQ HS RS RS 3V # SQ SQ SQ SQ SQ HS HS SQ SQ HS SQ SQ RS RS SQ HS SQ RS SQ 2V # HS HS 2V # HS HS HS HS SQ 3V # SQ
Hometown (High School) Cross Plains, Wis. (Middleton) Rogers, Minn. (Rogers) Omaha, Neb. (Omaha Marian) Woodbury, Minn. (Woodbury) Minneapolis, Minn. (Southwest) Chippewa Falls, Wis. (McDonnell Central) Buffalo, Minn. (Buffalo) Wausau, Wis. (Wausau East) St. Paul, Minn. (Cretin-Derham Hall) Inver Grove Hts, Minn. (Rosemount) White Bear Lake, Minn. (White Bear Lake) Brookings, S.D. (Brookings) West Bend, Wis. (West Bend West) Roseville, Minn. (Roseville Area) Eau Claire, Wis. (Eau Claire Memorial) West Bend, Wis. (West Bend West) Middleton, Wis. (Middleton) Green Bay, Wis. (Preble) Minot, N.D. (Minot) Sparta, Wis. (Sparta) Onalaska, Wis. (Onalaska) Waukesha, Wis. (Waukesha West) Edina, Minn. (Edina) Palatine, Ill. (Palatine) Cary, Ill. (Prarie Ridge) West Allis, Wis. (Nathan Hale) Minnetonka, Minn. (Minnetonka) Readfield, Wis. (New London) Menomonie, Wis. (Menomonie/St. Thomas) Farmington, Minn. (Farmington) White Bear Lake, Minn. (White Bear Lake) Minneapolis, Minn. (Benilde St. Margaret’s) Roseville, Minn. (Roseville Area) Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie) Sioux Falls, S.D. (O’Gorman) Mankato, Minn. (Loyola Catholic) Berlin, Wis. (Berlin) Mukwonago, Wis. (Mukwonago) Roseville, Minn. (Roseville Area) DePere, WIs. (West DePere) Wesley, Iowa (Summit Academy) Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie) Hartford, Wis. (Hartford Union) Dawson, Minn. (Lac qui Perle) Whitefish Bay, Wis. (Whitefish Bay) Minnetonka, Minn. (Minnetonka) Shoreview, Minn. (Mounds View / Missouri) Niagara, Wis. (Niagara) Montevideo, Minn. (Montevideo) Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville North) Baldwin, Wis. (Baldwin-Woodville) Ortonville, Mich. (Brandon) Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville North) Waunakee, Wis. (Waunakee)
Volunteer Student Administrative Assistant: Gabriele Anderson
Key: V - Varsity Letters Earned; SQ - Squad Member; RS - Redshirt; HS - High School, TR - Transfer, * - Captains, # - 2008 Letterwinner
2009 | GOLDEN GOPHER CROSS COUNTRY | 2009
2009 Golden Gopher Men’s Cross Country Individual Results — as of Nov. 14
Name (Date) Location Matt Barrett Ben Blankenship Travis Burkstrand Pieter Gagnon Paul Hilsen Nick Hutton David Krueger Kevin Lachowitzer Andrew Larson Joe McFarland Mike McFarland Hassan Mead Sean Olson Drew Paradis Andy Richardson Derek Storkel Steve Sulkin Mike Torchia Eric Truedson Matt Volz (Individual Finish) Meet (Date) Team Finish
Oz Memorial (9/11) 6K Race Falcon Heights, Minn. DNC DNC 19:31.64 (7, 3) 19:04.58 (2, 1) 19:18.37 (3, 2) 20:00.57 (20, 7) DNF DNC DNC 19:48.49 (15, 6) DNC DNC DNC DNC 19:42.79 (12, 5) DNC DNC DNC DNC 19:37.72 (11, 4)
Roy Griak (9/26) 8K Race Falcon Heights, Minn. 25:01.0 (6, 3) 24:56.9 (4, 2) 26:27.5 (70, 8) 25:31.8 (32, 4) 26:08.3 (60, 6) DNF DNC 26:06.5 (59, 5) DNC 26:55.3 (102, 9) 26:14.3 (62, 7) 24:37.5 (1, 1) DNC DNC 27:30.5 (130, 10) DNC DNC DNC DNC 27:50.9 (135, 11)
Pre-NCAA (10/17) 8K Race Terre Haute, Ind. 24:39.1 (60, 3) 24:11.2 (24, 2) 26:24.7 (200, 7) 25:00.8 (90, 4) 25:51.3 (162, 5) DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 23:49.2 (5, 1) 25:59.6 (173, 6) DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC
Jim Drews Inv. (10/17) 8K Race West Salem, Wis. DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 26:32.2 (98, 4) DNC 25:41.0 (27, 1) DNC 26:31.3 (95, 3) DNC DNC DNC DNC 26:18.0 (69, 2) DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC
Big Ten (11/1) 5.2-Mile Race State College, Pa. 25:35.2 (9, 2) 25:53.4 (18, 3) DNC 26:09.4 (27, 4) 27:06.2 (58, 5) DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 27:42.9 (76, 7) 25:00.2 (1, 1) DNC DNC DNC 26:41.9 (44, 5) DNC DNC DNC DNC
NCAA Midwest (11/14) 10K Race Springfield, Mo. 31:05.0 (15, 2) 31:48.3 (28, 3) DNC 32:02.8 (38, 4) 34:27.7 (117, 7) DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 32:32.9 (51,5) 30:31.9 (1, 1) DNC DNC DNC 33:01.7 (66, 6) DNC DNC DNC DNC
NCAA Champ. (11/23) 10K Race Terre Haute, Ind.
Oz Memorial (9/11) 6K Race 1st of 4 (22) 1-2-4-7-8(10)-(15)
Roy Griak (9/26) 8K Race 4th of 18 (101) 1-4-6-32-58(59)-(61)
Pre-NCAA (10/17) 8K Race 11th of 35 (341) 5-24-60-90-162(173)-(200)
Jim Drews Inv. (10/17) 8K Race No team score
Big Ten (11/1) 5.2-Mile Race 3rd of 10 (97) 1-9-18-27-42(55)-(66)
NCAA Midwest (11/14) 10K Race 4th of 25 (125) 1-14-26-36-48(63)-(112)
NCAA Champ. (11/23) 10K Race
Other results: St. Olaf Opener, (9/5, 5K, Northfield, Minn.): Travis Burkstrand, 15:39 (1), Matt Volz, 15:52 (3), Joe McFarland, 16:17 (4), Nick Hutton, 16:20 (5), David Krueger, 16:53 (17)
Hassan Mead
Jr. • Minneapolis, Minn.
Mead at the NCAA Cross Country Championships 2007 – 43rd, 30:37.6 (All-American) 2008 – 31st, 30:06.2 (All-American)
Mead’s Accolades Five-time All-American (3 in cross country / 2 track) 2008 and 2009 Big Ten and NCAA Midwest Region CC champion Five-time Big Ten track champion
Coach Steve Plasencia on Hassan “Hassan has had another great season winning Big Ten and Midwest Region titles for the second consecutive year. We are very hopefully that he can have a great race at the NCAA Championship next Monday.”
Matt Barrett
Sr. • Monroe, Wis.
Barrett at the NCAA Cross Country Championships 2008 – 160th, 31:23.6
Barrett’s Accolades 2008 and 2009 All-Midwest Region
Coach Steve Plasencia on Matt “He has had a breakthrough season in his final year running for Minnesota Cross Country. Matt, one of our captains (along with Hassan), leads by example and helps show other runners how a guy with some talent who really dedicates himself consistently for a number of years can have success and a rewarding journey in Division I athletics.”
Ben Blankenship Jr. • Stillwater, Minn.
Barrett at the NCAA Cross Country Championships 2008 – 100th, 30:55.1
Blankenship’s Accolades 2007 and 2008 All-Midwest Region NCAA Track Champ. Participant (1,500m)
Coach Plasencia on Ben “Ben is primarily a mile/1,500 runner for us in track, but he has very good range and handles cross country well. He has been seconnd or third man for us all fall and has had some breakthrough races.”
Mike McFarland Jr. • Hartland, Wis.
McFarland at the NCAA Cross Country Championships 2007 – 161st, 31:36.5 2008 – 171st, 31:27.0
McFarland’s Accolades 2007 and 2008 All-Midwest Region
Coach Plasencia on Mike: “Mike missed two critical weeks of training due to the flu virus this fall and is just now showing good fitness. He had his best race of the season at the Midwest Regional.”
Sean Olson
So. • Menomonie, Wis.
Olson at the NCAA Cross Country Championships 2008 – Alternate
Coach Plasencia on Sean: “For Sean it has been kind of a ‘star crossed’ fall experiencing both injury and illness. Only recently has he approached 100 percent health and we think it is just in time to help our squad on Monday.”
Pieter Gagnon
R-Fr. • Minneapolis, Minn.
Gagnon at the NCAA Cross Country Championships First Appearance
Coach Plasencia on Pieter: “As a redshirt freshman, Pieter has started his varsity career here with a very solid season. Pieter has been fourth runner for us since the Griak Invitational.”
Paul Hilsen
R-Fr. • Lakeville, Minn.
Hilsen at the NCAA Cross Country Championships First Appearance
Coach Plasencia on Paul: “Paul has been a middle distance runner for us in track but has shown very good progress at the longer distances for us this fall and captured a spot on our traveling roster.”
Derek Storkel
Fr. • Tomah, Wis.
Storkel at the NCAA Cross Country Championships First appearance
Coach Plasencia on Derek: “Several weeks back I approached Derek about abandoning our redshirt plans and racing for the varsity in his first fall here. Derek did not hesitate when asked to step in and race. I am grateful for his sacrifice and we all know that his contribution helped us move up a team place in the Big Ten Cross Country meet.”