UW-Oshkosh To Run At NCAA Midwest Regional

Twelve nationally ranked teams will compete when UW-Oshkosh runs at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional on Saturday (Nov. 16) in Rock Island, Ill.

The 6,000-meter women’s race is scheduled for 11 a.m., and the men’s 8,000-meter event will begin at 12:30 p.m. Augustana College is serving as the meet host.

UW-Oshkosh is one of eight ranked squads in the men’s field. North Central College (Ill.) is ranked first, while Washington University (Mo.) stands second and UW-La Crosse fourth. UW-Eau Claire checks in ninth, followed by 11th-ranked UW-Oshkosh and 17th-ranked University of Chicago (Ill.).

Remaining squads in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll are #25 UW-Stout and #30 Wheaton College (Ill.).

Last year, North Central earned its fifth straight team title as UW-La Crosse placed second and Washington University third. The Titans listed 11th among the 39 squads. Washington University’s Kevin Sparks, who finished fifth, is the top returning individual.

UW-Oshkosh is coming off a third-place result at the WIAC Championship. The Titans had a balanced effort with Sean Kutz finishing fifth and Derek Johnsrud taking sixth. Jordan Carpenter (17th), McKena Ramos (18th) and Erik Hofferber (21st) also contributed to the scoring.

The women’s event should be a tough competition between #7 University of Chicago, #17 Washington University, #19 UW-La Crosse and #27 UW-Stevens Point.

UW-Eau Claire is the defending Midwest Regional champion. The 2012 standings featured Chicago in second and Illinois Wesleyan University in third. UW-Oshkosh placed fourth thanks to an individual title from Christy Cazzola.

Washington University’s Lucy Cheadle, who finished second, is the top woman back from last year.

The Titans’ leading runners at the WIAC Championship were Kylee Verhasselt (8th), Kristen Linzmeier (24th), Sonny Jenkins (25th) and Danica Harrison (30th). Leah Rendflesh, Rhea Fiorita, Erica Munyan and Mariah McMullen have also been strong this season.

The top two teams in each of the men’s and women’s standings automatically qualify for the NCAA Division III Championship next week in Hanover, Ind.

NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Website

By Jon Feyen