UW-Eau Claire Captures Fifth Consecutive Women’s Cross Country Crown
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COLFAX, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire captured its fifth consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) women’s cross country crown at Whitetail Golf Course on Oct. 29.
The league championship for the Blugolds is the seventh in program listings. UW-Eau Claire totaled 41 team points enroute to this year’s crown to easily exceed UW-Stevens Point’s second-place sum of 94. UW-La Crosse placed third with 103 points, UW-Oshkosh fourth with 107, UW-Stout fifth with 124, UW-Platteville sixth with 128, UW-Whitewater seventh with 146, UW-River Falls eighth with 186 and UW-Superior ninth with 286.
UW-Oshkosh’s Christy Cazzola secured the individual title for the second straight year to become the first back-to-back champion since former Titan Liz Woodworth in 2003 and 2004. She completed 6,000-meter course in a time of 21:27.2 to top the field of 102 competitors.
UW-Stevens Point’s Kelly Haen took second in 22:07.6, UW-River Falls’ Katie Rydeen third in 22:31.3 and UW-Platteville’s Danielle Kunkel fourth in 22:31.8. UW-Eau Claire’s Madi Sawyer, Ashlyn Mauer and Alyssa Sybilrud took fifth, sixth and seventh with times of 22:34.5, 22:36.3 and 22:39.3, respectively.
UW-Whitewater’s Alyssa Duncan finished eighth in 22:39.3, UW-Stevens Point’s Julia Colling ninth in 22:46.2, UW-Stout’s Katie Hicks 10th in 22:50.0, UW-Eau Claire’s Lucy Ramquist 11th in 22:54.2, UW-Eau Claire’s Steph Sjostrom 12th in 22:58.9, UW-Oshkosh’s McKenzie Kelly 13th in 23:00.7, UW-Whitewater’s Maddy Roznos 14th in 23:03.9, UW-Stout’s Alexa Ahler 15th in 23:05.3, UW-Platteville’s Ann Tank 16th in 23:06.9, UW-Eau Claire’s Kacey Rindy 17th in 23:07.0, UW-La Crosse’s Corissa Conard 18th in 23:07.2, UW-La Crosse’s Rachel Schroeder 19th in 23:07.3 and UW-Eau Claire’s Nikki Rendler 20th in 23:10.4.
The top seven runners in the race received All-WIAC first team recognition, while runners placing eight through 14 earned second team accolades. Individuals finishing 15 through 20 claimed honorable mention laurels.
UW-Stevens Point’s Kelly Haen received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school. Named to the squad were: UW-Eau Claire’s Alana Jenkins; UW-La Crosse’s Kristin Lillie; UW-Oshkosh’s Kelsey Sweeney; UW-Platteville’s Katie Binning; UW-River Falls’ Kathryn Krause; UW-Stevens Point’s Erica Claas; UW-Stout’s Alexa Ahler; UW-Superior’s Alyssa Breu; and UW-Whitewater’s Janna Wise.
All nine WIAC teams will return to action Nov. 12, and participate in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional in Rock Island, Ill. The regional event will be hosted by Augustana College. The NCAA Division III Championship is scheduled for Nov. 19, at Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne, Wis., and will be hosted by UW-Oshkosh.
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