Men's Cross Country Win NCAA Regional; Women Sixth Place
November 15, 2003 | Women's Cross Country
The No. 2 ranked Badger men added to their Big Ten Title with a regional victory at the NCAA Division I Great Lakes Regional Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. The UW women's team placed sixth at the event.
The men's win was the 19th title for the Badgers and adds to their previous Wisconsin-held mark of 18 in the 2002 season. UW's victory in the 32-team field earned Wisconsin an automatic bid to the NCAA championships in Waterloo, Iowa. Michigan earned the other automatic bid, finishing four points behind Wisconsin in second place.
Four Wisconsin men runners placed within the top 25 to earn All-Region honors. Two-time second-team All Big-Ten and 2002 All-American Bobby Lockhart was the first Badger to cross the finish line placing ninth with a time of 30:49.7. Reigning Big Ten Athlete of the year Simon Bairu and Freshman of the Year Chris Solinksy followed closely behind finishing in 11th (30:50.5) and 13th (30:51.5), respectively. Rounding out Wisconsin's top five runners was Josh Spiker in 16th (30:54.2) and Tim Nelson (31:08.2). Other Wisconsin finishers included Ben Gregory who took 37th in 31:19.5, and Joe Eckerly was 42nd in 31:25.6.
The Wisconsin women matched their 2002 NCAA Regional finish, placing sixth in a field of 30. Leading the Badger scorecard and earning All-Region honors was senior Megan Guiney finishing tenth in 21:04.4. Rounding out the top five UW finishers were Hilary Edmondson who finished 36th (21:55.), Sarah Koplin placed 45th (22:07.5), A Havahla Haynes came in 50th (22:13.9) and Linsey Blaisdell took 62nd (22:24.8). Also finishing for Wisconsin were Michelle Lilienthal in 64th (22:26.0) and Sarah Konkel in 139th (23.41.1).
The Badger men will be competing next week at the 2003 NCAA Championships on Nov. 24 in Waterloo, Iowa. The women's team will await to see if they are selected as an at large team.
