Badgers to pursue eighth-straight Great Lakes Regional title
November 12, 2009 | Men's Cross Country
Nov. 12, 2009
MADISON, Wis.--The No. 10 Wisconsin men’s cross country team travels to Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday, Nov. 14, to compete in the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship. The UW looks to extend its winning streak at the event to eight years in a row and 25 Great Lakes Regional titles overall. If successful, the Badgers will tie the record for consecutive Great Lakes Regional titles, also held by Wisconsin from 1981-88. Last year, the Badgers won the race by 23 points over their rival, Michigan.
The UW returns to action a week removed from a spectacular weekend at the Big Ten Championship. The Badgers earned eight individual honors in their 11th-straight Big Ten title including four first-team All-Big Ten honors, two second-team All-Big Ten honors, Big Ten Freshman of the Year and Big Ten Coach of the Year.
The teams that finish in the top two spots at Regionals earn a bid to the NCAA Championship held in Terre Haute, Ind., on Nov. 23. However, it is likely that the team who finishes in third place could receive an at large bid to attend the NCAAs as well.
Along with Wisconsin, Butler and Big Ten rivals Indiana and Ohio State will be vying for the top two spots.
An additional change from past races is that this race has a different length. For the remainder of the season, all races will increase from eight kilometers to 10.
According to Wisconsin men’s cross country head coach Mick Byrne, the Badger’s lineup will be a race day decision. Byrne is confident in his team’s ability to qualify for the NCAAs but does not want to wear anyone out in anticipation of victory.
“We don’t want to overlook Regionals,” Byrne said. “But we’re confident that we will finish in the top two spots. I won’t know who is going to the line until race day.”
The Badger’s current roster holds three returners from last year’s Great Lakes Regional, including seniors Craig Miller and Ryan Gasper and junior Landon Peacock. Peacock crossed the finish line first for the UW, finishing fourth overall with a time of 31:33.3. Miller finished in seventh place in a time of 31:35.6 and Gasper finished in 42nd place in a time of 32:28.4).
The 10k race is set to start at 11 a.m. (CT).
--------------
Justin Mozer
Athletic Communications
