RELEASED:  Saturday, November 10, 2007

UW-La Crosse Men Finish First, UW-Eau Claire Women Place Second At NCAA Division III Cross Country Midwest Regional

Winneconne, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s men’s team finished first and the UW-Eau Claire’s women’s squad placed second to lead the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Midwest Regional that was held at Lake Breeze Golf Course on Nov. 10.

UW-La Crosse won the men’s race with 70 points to outdistance UW-Stevens Point’s second-place total of 76.   North Central College (Ill.) took third with 118, while Augustana College (Ill.) was fourth with 152 and UW-Platteville fifth with 178.

In the women’s competition, Washington University (Mo.) compiled 41 points to easily surpass UW-Eau Claire’s second-place sum of 87.   UW-Platteville placed third with 99, while UW-La Crosse was fourth with 113 and UW-Oshkosh fifth with 221.

A total of 35 teams competed in the men’s race and 37 squads participated in the women’s event.  The top two squads and top seven individuals advance to the national meet for both genders.

Additional WIAC team finishes in the men’s race included:  UW-Whitewater ninth with 280 points, UW-Oshkosh 10th with 309, UW-Stout 14th with 396, UW-River Falls 15th with 422, UW-Eau Claire 16th with 435 and UW-Superior 20th with 544.

UW-Platteville’s Tyler Sigl won the men’s competition for the second straight year, completing the 8,000-meter course in 24:01.06 to outdistance a field of 258 runners.

UW-La Crosse’s Paul Zdroik placed third in 24:17.61, while UW-Whitewater’s Brian Butzler finished fourth in 24:20.15, UW-Stevens Point’s Cory Towle fifth in 24:22.55 and Dominick Meyer ninth in 24:38.02.

Also receiving All-Midwest Region honors for finishing in the top 35 were:  UW-La Crosse’s Paul Moran 11th, UW-Stevens Point’s Phil Richert 12th, UW-La Crosse’s Dallas Vincent 14th and Connor Lonning 19th, UW-Stevens Point’s Brandon Dworak 21st, UW-Oshkosh’s Andrew McGuire 22nd, UW-La Crosse’s Dan Thour 23rd and Kyle Coghlan 25th, UW-Stevens Point’s Travis Nechuta 30th, UW-Stout’s Nate Carey 32nd, UW-River Falls’ Chad Ernst 33rd, UW-Stout’s David Schonscheck 34th and UW-Platteville’s Tony Kilburg 35th.

Additional WIAC team finishes in the women’s race included:  UW-Stevens Point sixth with 223, UW-River Falls ninth with 302, UW-Whitewater 10th with 325, UW-Stout 16th with 469 and UW-Superior 22nd with 631.

UW-River Falls’ Becca Jordahl secured the women’s individual title, completing the 6,000-meter course in 21:05.21 to outdistance a field of 266 competitors.

UW-Oshkosh’s Ayla Mitchell finished second in 21:18.35, while UW-Eau Claire’ Beth Lutz took fourth in 21:27.62.   UW-Platteville’s Jessica Scott placed sixth in 21:37.57 and UW-Eau Claire’s Mary Palmer seventh in 21:44.86.

Also claiming All-Midwest Region honors for placing in the top 35 were:  UW-Platteville’s Emma Dreis 12th, UW-La Crosse’s Katelyn Williams 15th, UW-Eau Claire’s Molly Warner 16th, UW-Stevens Point’s Hannah Dieringer 17th, UW-La Crosse’s Kristen Howe 18th, UW-Oshkosh’s Jessie Scheer 21st, UW-Platteville’s Alli Tank 23rd, UW-Eau Claire’s Hannah Humbach 24th, UW-La Crosse’s Megan Johnson 25th, Eileen McGuire 26th and Jena Gerten 29th, UW-Platteville’s Lindsey Vick 31st, UW-River Falls’ Maria Michaud 33rd and UW-Oshkosh’s Jenny Melville 34th.