Results (PDF)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Less than 20 seconds separated its top-five finishers as the 14^th-ranked Wisconsin men's cross country team won the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic on Saturday morning. 

The Badgers scored 26 points, to finish 41 points ahead of second-place Grand Valley State.

Wisconsin ran as a pack for most of the race but it was redshirt senior Olin Hacker, who led the Badgers, finishing the 8,000-meter course second in 23 minutes, 18.1 seconds, a 20-plus second personal best. Sophomore Bob Liking also ran a personal best, finishing third in 23:21.5, improving his previous best time by more than a minute.

Eight Badgers recorded personal best times on the day.

Sophomore Evan Bishop finished fourth in 23:25.9, an improvement of more than 40 seconds, while senior Seth Hirsch crossed in 23:26.1 for fifth place. His time was also nearly a 40-second improvement from his previous best. Junior Jackson Sharp rounded out the top-10 finishers, breaking the tape in 23:37.8, a 30-second personal best.

Other UW finishers were senior Charlie Wheeler, who finished 11^th in 23:38.9; sophomore Rowen Ellenberg, taking 20^th in 23:55.7, and sophomore David Vannucchi placing 39^th in 24:15.8. Redshirt freshman Oliver Paleen finished 98^th in 24:53.7.

Straight from the Course

Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Mick Byrne
"The plan for today's race was to run hard and work on keeping our pack together as long as possible. To do this, you have to be humble and selfless. Of course all of our guys wanted to go for the win today, but if we're going to be good when we need to be, then you have to look at the big picture. The guys did a real good job at that today. They ran hard, but they did not turn the screw too tight.

"If I can single out one performance from today It would be Bob Liking, who looked amazing running beside veteran Olin Hacker. Evan Bishop also had an outstanding race. Overall, I'd say we had a very good day with seven guys under 24 minutes. The guys should take a ton of confidence from today.

Up Next

The Badgers host the prestigious Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on Oct. 15 at the Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course. Races begin at 11 a.m.
 

Top 15 Team Scores
1. Wisconsin	26
2. Grand Valley State	67
3. Eastern Illinois	174
4. Louisville	196
5. Lipscomb	206
6. Appalachian State	261
7. UTEP	319
8. Mississippi College	323
9. Miami (OH)	360
10. ETSU	372
11. St. Francis (IL)	402
12. Loyola	412
13. New Orleans	444
15. Queens (NC)	448
15. Middle Tennessee State	454

 

Top 10 Individuals
1. Isaac Harding	GVSU	23:16.7
2. Olin Hacker	WIS	23:18.1
3. Bob Liking	WIS	23:21.5
4. Tanna Chada	GVSU	23:23.7
5. Evan Bishop	WIS	23:25.9
6. Seth Hirsch	WIS	23:26.1
7. Dustin Hatfield	EIU	23:28.2
8. Josh Park	Ohio	23:32.4
9. Anthony Camerieri	Miami	23:36.1
10. Jackson Sharp	WIS	23:37.8
Other Wisconsin Finishers
11. Charlie Wheeler	WIS	23:38.9
20. Rowen Ellenberg	WIS	23:55.7
39. David Vannucchi	WIS	24:15.8
98. Oliver Paleen	WIS	24:53.7