UW-La Crosse Captures Women’s Cross Country Title
STEVENS POINT, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse won the 2016 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Cross Country Championship (Presented by Culver’s) at Wisconsin River Golf Club on Oct. 29.
The league title for the Eagles is the ninth in program history and third in the last four seasons. UW-La Crosse compiled 26 points to outdistance the second-place total of 55 points by defending champion UW-Oshkosh. UW-Eau Claire took third with 61 points, while UW-Stout was fourth with 122, UW-River Falls fifth with 150, UW-Platteville sixth with 155, UW-Stevens Point seventh with 175 and UW-Whitewater eighth with 238.
UW-Oshkosh’s Cheyenne Moore captured the individual title, completing the 6,000-meter course with a time of 21:49.8. She is the ninth individual in program history to post a first-place finish at league meet, joining Cheryl Niederberger (1987-88), Cathy Vandermar (1989), Laura Horejs (1990-91), Natalie Goetsch (1992), Tiffany Speckman (1994, 1996-97), Liz Woodworth (2003-04), Alya Mitchell (2009) and Christy Cazzola (2010-12). A total of 90 completed this year’s race.
UW-La Crosse had four runners in the top seven as Sadie Kroll was second in a time of 21:55.5, Elizabeth Frick third in 22:00.6, Kaitlyn McDaniel fourth in 22:03.2 and Sarah Ziolkowski seventh in 22:13.2. UW-Eau Claire’s Morgan Marek took fifth in 22:04.9 and UW-Oshkosh’s Kristen Linzmeier sixth in 22:08.8.
UW-Oshkosh’s Erica Munyan finished eighth in 22:15.0, UW-Eau Claire’s Callie Fischer ninth in 22:23.3, UW-La Crosse’s Annie Brekken 10th in 22:28.2, UW-La Crosse’s Ellen Smith 11th in 22:30.1, UW-Platteville’s Chelsey Heiden 12th in 22:32.0, UW-La Crosse’s McKenzie Kirtz 13th in 22:40.1 and UW-La Crosse’s Rebecca Voss 14th in 22:42.1.
UW-Eau Claire’s Sam Slattery took 15th in 22:44.3, UW-Stout’s Courtney Shaffer 16th in 22:47.3, UW-Eau Claire’s Karen Gomez 17th in 22:50.1, UW-Eau Claire’s Maggie Louiselle 18th in 22:52.5, UW-River Falls’ Linsey Tolkkinen 19th in 22:55.0 and UW-Oshkosh’s Michelle Draxler 20th in 22:57.6.
The top seven runners received All-WIAC first team recognition, while runners placing eight through 14 earned All-WIAC second team accolades. Individuals finishing 15 through 20 claimed honorable mention laurels.
UW-La Crosse’s Elizabeth Frick received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award. The award is sponsored by Badgerland Financial.
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 Lian Arzbecker; UW-La Crosse’s McKenzie Kirtz; UW-Oshkosh’s Leah Rendflesh; UW-Platteville’s Camille Felton; UW-River Falls’ Nicole Jurik; UW-Stevens Point’s Samantha Bemke; UW-Stout’s Katie Repka; and UW-Whitewater’s Katelyn Pena.
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