UW-Oshkosh To Host NCAA Cross Country Regional

Fifteen nationally ranked teams will be running at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Cross Country Championship on Saturday (Nov. 10) in Winneconne.

The 8,000-meter men’s race begins at 11 a.m. from Lake Breeze Golf Club. At noon, the women start their 6,000-meter competition. The top two teams in each race automatically advance to the national championship on Nov. 17 in Terre Haute, Ind.

In the men’s field, there are 10 nationally ranked squads. Four Midwest schools appear in the top-nine of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll. North Central College (Ill.) lists third, followed by UW-La Crosse in sixth, UW-Eau Claire in seventh and Washington University (Mo.) in ninth.

Other squads in the rankings include #13 Wheaton College (Ill.), #15 UW-Platteville, #18 UW-Stevens Point, #21 Augustana College (Ill.), #26 University of Chicago (Ill.) and #32 UW-Stout. A total of 42 teams are competing.

North Central captured the 2011 Midwest Regional title with a score of 42 in Rock Island, Ill. Washington University came in second with 114 points, while UW-Oshkosh placed third with 136.

Six of the top-10 individuals from last season are back. UW-Stout’s Tim Nelson came in third place, as Chicago’s Billy Whitmore took fourth and UW-La Crosse’s Josh Kaul fifth. North Central’s Matt Brinkmeier crossed the line seventh, along with UW-Oshkosh’s John Dewitt in ninth and Washington University’s David Hamm in 10th.

North Central has won the Midwest Regional title 24 times, including the past four years. UW-La Crosse earned the crown four times from 2004-07.

In the women’s race, UW-Oshkosh’s Christy Cazzola goes for her second straight individual championship.

At last season’s Midwest Regional, Cazzola posted a time of 21:31 to win by more than 22 seconds. Other strong performers returning this year are Lucy Cheadle (Washington Univ.), who placed fourth, and Megan O’Grady (Carroll), who ranked 10th.

The 2011 team standings featured Washington University (Mo.) in first with 24 points. UW-Eau Claire listed second with 115 and the University of Chicago (Ill.) took third with 146.

Chicago, eighth in the national rankings, headlines five prominent squads in the field. UW-Eau Claire stands 11th in the poll, followed by Illinois Wesleyan University in 27th, Washington University in 31st and UW-La Crosse in 34th.

Historically, UW-Oshkosh has the most Midwest Regional crowns, with 14 since 1986. Washington University owns five of the last 10 titles.

A total of 43 teams and nearly 300 women are participating in the event.