RELEASED:  Saturday, October 31, 2009

UW-Eau Claire Secures Third Straight Women’s Cross Country Crown

WHITEWATER, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire won its third straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s cross country championship at UW-Whitewater’s campus course on Oct. 31.

The conference title for the Blugolds is the fifth in program archives and marks the first time a league team has won three straight crowns since UW-Oshkosh claimed 15 consecutive from 1986-2000.

UW-Eau Claire totaled 29 team points for the best score at a WIAC meet since UW-Stevens Point’s 26 points in 2003.  UW-La Crosse finished second with 57 points, UW-Oshkosh third with 71, UW-Stevens Point fourth with 111, UW-Platteville fifth with 151, UW-Whitewater sixth with 161, UW-River Falls seventh with 201 and UW-Stout eighth with 213.  UW-Superior also competed, but did not accumulate a team score.

UW-Oshkosh’s Ayla Mitchell secured the individual title for the second time in her career, completing the 6,000-meter course in 22:00.79.  A total of 100 runners participated in the 32nd gathering of the conference event.  Mitchell also won the crown in 2007 and is the sixth two-time champion in league archives.

UW-Eau Claire’s Alyssa Sybilrud finished second with a time of 22:18.69, UW-Eau Claire’s Hannah Humbach third in 22:21.80, UW-La Crosse’s Stephanie Perleberg fourth in 22:25.31, UW-La Crosse’s Katelynn Williams fifth in 22:28.03, UW-Stevens Point’s Clare Roberts sixth in 22:40.06, UW-Eau Claire’s Beth Easker seventh in 22:43.42, UW-Eau Claire’s Margaret Ho eighth in 22:51.44, UW-Eau Claire’s Elly Prunty ninth in 22:53.00, UW-Eau Claire’s Kacey Rindy 10th in 23:18.56, UW-Oshkosh’s McKenzie Kelly 11th in 23:20.44, UW-Eau Claire’s Jenna Smith 12th in 23:21.08, UW-La Crosse’s Alison Kolinski 13th in 23:24.89 and UW-Platteville’s Alli Tank 14th in 23:29.16.

The top seven runners received All-WIAC first team recognition, while runners placing eighth through 14th earned All-WIAC second team accolades.  Individuals finishing 15th through 20th claimed honorable mention recognition.

An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season.  Named to the squad were:  UW-Eau Claire’s Kelly Palmer, UW-La Crosse’s Kayla La Porte, UW-Oshkosh’s Shannon Madigan, UW-Platteville’s Alli Tank, UW-River Falls’ Carly Eggert, UW-Stevens Point’s Sandy Hause, UW-Stout’s Emily Stenzel, UW-Superior’s Jenna Halverson and UW-Whitewater’s Katie Wagner.

UW-Oshkosh’s Ayla Mitchell received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.

All nine WIAC teams will return to action on Nov. 14, and participate in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional at Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne. The regional event will be hosted by UW-Oshkosh. The NCAA Division III Championship is scheduled for Nov. 21 in Highland Hills, Ohio, and will be hosted by Baldwin-Wallace College (Ohio).