Benzing Leads Titans To First at Warhawk Open

WHITEWATER, Wis.- UW-Oshkosh women's cross country took home first place in the four-team UW-Whitewater Warhawk Open on Friday (Oct. 20) with 25 points.

Meygan Benzing (Sr. • Juneau) paced seven top-10 Titan runners in the 6,000-meter competition with a season-best 25:19 finish for third place.

Titans that also contributed to team points were, Paige Hagner (Jr. • Mukwonago) in 26:08 for a fourth place position, Liv Schwarm (Jr. • Madison) in 26:11 for fifth, Kate Haffner (Fr. • Darien, Ill.) in sixth with a season-best time of 26:12, Allison Van Der Wegen (Fr. • Kaukauna) followed behind in seventh in 26:17, Dana Valdez-Berber (Fr. • Summit) in eighth with 26:26, and Katelyn Puetz (Jr. • Waterford) in 26:46 for ninth.

Ally Verbauwhede of Edgewood College won the individual title at 24:00, followed by Ashley Maclean of Dominican University (Ill.) for the second place position.

Following behind Oshkosh was Edgewood in second with 60 points and Whitewater in third with 67 points.

Other Titans Ella Galaszewski (So. • West Allis) finished 10th with a 26:55, Carleigh Kaczmarek (Fr. • Oconto Falls) in 12th with a 27:05 finish, Maddie Bertram (Jr. • Winnebago, Ill.) in 27:24 for 14th, Lexi Hall (Fr. • Bettendorf, Iowa) in 21st with a 29:25, and Lauren Young (Jr. • Germantown) in 31:55 for 21st.

The Titans will head to Prescott High School in River Falls for the WIAC Championship on Saturday (Oct. 28). The women's race is scheduled for 1 p.m., following the men's race at noon.

Written by Emily Buffington, UW-Oshkosh Sports Information