Cross country runners race for UMAC Championships this Saturday
MORRIS, Minn. (Oct. 29, 2008) – The Pomme de Terre Golf Course in Morris, Minn. will play host to cross country runners from eight Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) teams this Saturday as they compete for the conference title. After running in Duluth, Minn. last year, the race shifts to a hilly terrain in west-central Minnesota.
In the 12 p.m. men’s race, Northwestern College will be looking to defend their title from a year ago. The Eagles return veteran Joel Groten, who ran the 8,000-meter course at the UW-Oshkosh Brooks Invitational in 27:12.
2006 conference champion College of St. Scholastica will be anxious to try and reclaim their title. The Saints, who finished second at the University of Minnesota-Duluth Invitational on Sep. 6, are paced by Jake Turman. Turman had his best time of the season on Oct. 18 at the UW-Oshkosh Brooks Invitational, when he ran a time of 26:15.
Northland College comes to Morris with a 10th place finish this season. Bryce Henry ran a team-best time of 29:20 at the Wisconsin Private School Championships on Oct. 18.
The Saints from Presentation College took a season-best third place at the Northern State Open on Sep. 5, finishing behind NCAA Div. II schools Northern State and Wayne State. Al Bawek ran Presentation’s best time in that meet, placing 15th with a time of 26:12. Also placing third in their best finish of the season was the University of Minnesota, Morris, who was led by Luke Toso at the Crown College Invitational on Oct. 18. Toso placed fourth in the race with a time of 27:40.
Crown is led by last year’s UMAC runner-up in Seth Brickley. Brickley’s best 8,000-meter time this season was 26:40 at the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational on Oct. 3.
North Central University joins the UMAC as an associate member this year, and will be competing in both the men’s and women’s championship races. The Ram men’s team is led by Daniel Bare, who also received player of the week accolades earlier this season. The UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational was also good to Bare, who ran a season-best 26:25 at the meet.
One hour after the men’s competition, the women will begin their quest for the UMAC championship. The College of St. Scholastica has won the conference title in each of the last seven seasons, and will be seeking an eighth in 2008. The Saints, who earned second place for their best finish of the season at the Tom Barry Invitational, are led by Katelyn Meger. Meger ran her season’s best time of 22:33 at the UW-Oshkosh Brooks Invitational.
Northland took first in a meet hosted by Finlandia University on Oct 24, and is led by Francesca Pascale. Pascale’s best time came at the Wisconsin Private School Championships, where she ran a time of 21:46.
Northwestern’s women have won two races this season, both of which were three-team meets. Mel Olson won the Martin Luther Invitational with a time of 24:39.
The University of Minnesota, Morris women’s team took third place at the Crown College Invitational on Oct. 18. Katie Schneiderman was the team’s best runner on the day, earning sixth place as an individual with a time of 24.35. North Central’s Stephanie Christensen also ran her best race at the Crown Invitational, placing ninth with a time of 24:53.
Freshman Erika Stamfl leads the Storm from Crown. Stampfl ran her best 6,000-meter race in 26:58 at the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational.
To learn more about the UMAC Cross Country Championships, click here.