Cazzola Runs To Individual Title At WIAC Championship

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire captured its fourth straight first-place trophy at the 2010 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women’s Cross Country Championship held at Whitetail Golf Course Oct. 30.

The league crown for the Blugolds is the sixth in program listings. UW-Eau Claire totaled 43 team points to squeeze past UW-Stevens Point’s second-place sum of 45 points. UW-Oshkosh placed third with 61, UW-La Crosse fourth with 103, UW-Platteville fifth with 130, UW-Whitewater sixth with 151, UW-Stout seventh with 192, UW-River Falls eighth with 215 and UW-Superior ninth with 287.

The two-point margin of victory by the Blugolds is the second-closest in the 33-year history of the championship. There were one-point victories in 1980 and 1983.

UW-Oshkosh’s Christy Cazzola secured the individual title, completing the 6,000-meter course in 22:15.96. A total of 102 runners finished the race. The Titans have had eight individuals combine to win 14 WIAC championships.

UW-Stevens Point’s Kelly Haen placed second at this year’s championship with a time of 22:30.26. UW-Oshkosh’s Jennifer Piskor third in 22:38.27, UW-Eau Claire’s Alyssa Sybilrud fourth in 22:40.19, UW-Eau Claire’s Elly Prunty fifth in 22:46.19, UW-Stevens Point’s Claire Roberts sixth in 22:46.82, UW-La Crosse’s Rachel Boldt seventh in 22:47.99, UW-Eau Claire’s Margaret Ho eighth in 22:49.33, UW-Stevens Point’s Sarah Glunn ninth in 22:51.22, UW-Stevens Point’s Shaun Krueger 10th in 22:56.89, UW-Whitewater’s Maddy Roznos 11th in 23:08.46, UW-Eau Claire’s Madi Sawyer 12th in 23:08.61, UW-River Falls’ Katie Rydeen 13th in 23:11.21, UW-Eau Claire’s Ashlyn Mauer 14th in 23:12.08, UW-La Crosse’s Rachel Schroeder 15th in 23:12.58, UW-Oshkosh’s Cassie Petersen 16th in 23:14.61, UW-Eau Claire’s Kacey Rindy 17th in 23:19.09, UW-Stevens Point’s Kelsey Laska 18th in 23:21.04, UW-Eau Claire’s Molly Woodford 19th in 23:22.11 and UW-Oshkosh’s McKenzie Kelly 20th in 23:24.82.

The top seven runners in the race received All-WIAC first team recognition, while runners placing eight through 14 earned All-WIAC second team accolades. Individuals finishing 15 through 20 claimed honorable mention laurels.

UW-Eau Claire’s Margaret Ho received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.

An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school. Named to the squad were: UW-Eau Claire’s Teresa Coughlin, UW-La Crosse’s Ellen Kumm, UW-Oshkosh’s Brittany Haas, UW-Platteville’s Katie Binning, UW-River Falls’ Bridget Holmes, UW-Stevens Point’s Brittany Dantinne, UW-Stout’s Emily Stenzel, UW-Superior’s Katelyn Huberty and UW-Whitewater’s Kristi Egnarski.

All nine WIAC teams will return to action Nov. 13, and participate in the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional in Rock Island, Ill. The regional event will be hosted by Augustana College. The NCAA Division III Championship is scheduled for Nov. 20, in Waverly, Iowa, and will be hosted by Wartburg College.