W4Kteam W4Kindv. W5Kteam W5Kindv.
M5Kteam M5Kindv. M8Kteam MKindv.
Four separate cross country race were held at UW-Parkside’s Wayne E. Dannehl National Cross Country Course on Saturday. The Lucian Rosa Invitational featured women’s 5K and men’s 8K race, along with smaller fields for a women’s 4K and men’s 5K race.
The races featured schools from all three NCAA divisions along with NAIA schools.
“It was a great day for cross country,” said UW-Parkside head coach Mike DeWitt. “This was kind of a homecoming week for us and we had a few alums run in open races.”
WOMEN’S 5K
Ferris State emerged triumphant in the women’s 5K event. The Bulldogs scored 60 points, which was a good distance ahead of second place DePaul, 93. Marquette prepared for the Big East championship race, which will be held at UW-Parkside Saturday, Oct. 31, by finishing third at 97.
Host UW-Parkside finished in 10th place out of 21 schools.
The individual winner was Tina Muir of Ferris State, who took the lead just prior to the 2K mark and held off unattached runner and UW-Parkside alum Jessica Monson. Muir’s time was 17:45, while Monson was timed in 18:01. Another Ranger alum, Val Hubbard, was third in 18:17.
Parkside’s best was Whitney Olson, who placed 37th among collegiate runners and 43rd overall in a time of 19:39.
“Whitney took charge of the team and led the way,” said DeWitt. “We had a group time, one through five, from 19:39 to 20:04. That’s 25 seconds. That's solid.”
The rest of the Ranger pack includes Danielle Dietz, 45th, 19:52; Jessica Watychowicz, 49th, 19:59; Jenny Kindt, 53rd, 20:02; and Jessica Enderby, 54th, 20:04.
A total of 176 runners competed, 130 of which were collegiate runners.
MEN’S 8K
Wayne State (Mich.) was an easy winner in the men’s 8K race. The team totaled 38, well ahead of second place Augsburg, 73. DePaul was third with 75. UW-Parkside finished sixth out of 19 teams with a 121 score.
Individually, Matthew Graham of DePaul set the pace and won in a time of 25:17. Chris Mulvany, an unattached runner, was second in 25:30. UW-Parkside’s Ben Orvold was the third collegiate runner to cross the line and the sixth runner overall. His time was 25:46.
Other prominent Parkside places were Dustin Baldwin, 27th, 27:07; Alex Mena, 30th, 27:13; Brian McLoone, 53rd, 27:45; and Matt Vidas, 58th, 27:42.
“Our men did an exceptional job,” cited DeWitt. “They did a little better than I expected.” The coach cited all of his athletes for running ‘solid races.’
A field of 193 runners completed.
WOMEN’S 4K
The women’s 4K race had two full teams and two incomplete teams. Indianapolis won the event with a team total of 21. Eastern Illinois logged a 38. UW-Parkside had two finishers and Judson, one.
A total of 29 runners competed with Katherine Wihelm of the University of Indianapolis coming out on top. She was clocked in 14:53 and led throughout the race. Greyhound teammate Stephanie Cave was next best, 18 seconds off the pace at 15:11. There was a 36-second gap to the third place runner, which was Britney Whitehead of Eastern Illinois, 15:47.
UW-Parkside’s won runners were Le’erin Voss, 14th, 17:01; and Miranda Melville, 23rd, 17:36.
MEN’S 5K
Four full teams and one incomplete team took part in the men’s 5K race. The University of Chicago was the team winner with a score of 27, nosing out Indianapolis, 39. California University of Pennsylvania was third, 64.
Unattached runner Mike Mangieri was the individual winner in 15:59. He edged Mark Martinez of Indianapolis, who was clocked in 16:03.
Thirty seven runners finished the race.