Saturday, November 19
Terre Haute, Ind.
10 AM
Wisconsin Badgers
at
NCAA Championship
Photo by: David Stluka
Ready to Rumble: Badgers to compete at NCAA Championship
November 17, 2016 | Women's Cross Country
Wisconsin continues to prove they can contend for a national title
MADISON, Wis. – After surprising everybody but themselves at the 2016 NCAA Great Lakes Regional, the No. 25 Wisconsin women's cross country team is headed to the 2016 NCAA Cross Country Championship. The meet will take place in Terre Haute, Indiana on Saturday with the women's six-kilometer race beginning at 10 a.m. CT
The team could not be more excited and prepared for the opportunity to represent Wisconsin one last time this season.
"We were so fired up," junior Sarah Disanza said about the regional meet. "We knew that this was going to be the make-or-break and we didn't want this to be the end of our season."
Disanza is one of only three Badgers who have raced at the NCAA championship before. Last time out, she became the 2014 national runner-up and led Wisconsin to a 10th-place finish. Senior Sarah Heinemann was also part of the 2014 squad, placing sixth for UW and 197th overall.
Last year, sophomore Shaelyn Sorensen individually qualified for the national race by placing fourth at regionals. She concluded her fantastic freshman season by placing 93rd overall at the NCAA Championship.
Qualifying for nationals was only possible due to a dominant team performance at the 2016 NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
"Incredible," Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Mick Byrne said of their race. "You watched the race form Regionals and you saw how much they stuck with the race plan and to see the four women up front sticking together, they were never outside of a couple of seconds apart."
Veteran leadership and excitement from freshmen proved to be the perfect combination for the Badgers. Senior Michele Lee and Disanza helped the team get off to a fast start, while freshmen Alicia Monson and Amy Davis tagged along for the ride. Then, at the end, it was Monson who helped push the pace, leading Wisconsin to a third place finish.
"To see true freshman Alicia Monson hanging in there with them and then eventually passing them, that was a huge performance for us," Byrne said. "Getting Alicia going was a little bit unexpected but some good things always happen if you want to get a national championship. And certainly Alicia was a huge part of that.
"Overall it was a great performance from all the ladies."
The Badgers will be racing for their third national title this weekend, as Wisconsin captured the 1984 and 1985 NCAA crowns.
"As a team, I think we are capable of a top-15 finish," Disanza explained. "Especially after the showing that we had this Friday. I think our team has a lot of potential and that we still haven't peaked yet. Our girls are definitely in it to be very tough and competitive with some of the top girls there this next weekend."
For the first time in meet history, the 2016 NCAA Cross Country Championship will be streamed live by FloTrack.
The team could not be more excited and prepared for the opportunity to represent Wisconsin one last time this season.
"We were so fired up," junior Sarah Disanza said about the regional meet. "We knew that this was going to be the make-or-break and we didn't want this to be the end of our season."
Disanza is one of only three Badgers who have raced at the NCAA championship before. Last time out, she became the 2014 national runner-up and led Wisconsin to a 10th-place finish. Senior Sarah Heinemann was also part of the 2014 squad, placing sixth for UW and 197th overall.
Last year, sophomore Shaelyn Sorensen individually qualified for the national race by placing fourth at regionals. She concluded her fantastic freshman season by placing 93rd overall at the NCAA Championship.
Qualifying for nationals was only possible due to a dominant team performance at the 2016 NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
"Incredible," Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Mick Byrne said of their race. "You watched the race form Regionals and you saw how much they stuck with the race plan and to see the four women up front sticking together, they were never outside of a couple of seconds apart."
Veteran leadership and excitement from freshmen proved to be the perfect combination for the Badgers. Senior Michele Lee and Disanza helped the team get off to a fast start, while freshmen Alicia Monson and Amy Davis tagged along for the ride. Then, at the end, it was Monson who helped push the pace, leading Wisconsin to a third place finish.
"To see true freshman Alicia Monson hanging in there with them and then eventually passing them, that was a huge performance for us," Byrne said. "Getting Alicia going was a little bit unexpected but some good things always happen if you want to get a national championship. And certainly Alicia was a huge part of that.
"Overall it was a great performance from all the ladies."
The Badgers will be racing for their third national title this weekend, as Wisconsin captured the 1984 and 1985 NCAA crowns.
"As a team, I think we are capable of a top-15 finish," Disanza explained. "Especially after the showing that we had this Friday. I think our team has a lot of potential and that we still haven't peaked yet. Our girls are definitely in it to be very tough and competitive with some of the top girls there this next weekend."
For the first time in meet history, the 2016 NCAA Cross Country Championship will be streamed live by FloTrack.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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