Cazzola Captures Roy Griak Invitational Title

Christy Cazzola (Jr. • Kaukauna) outran 384 competitors to take individual honors and lead UW-Oshkosh to a 12th-place finish at the Roy Griak Women’s Cross Country Invitational held Saturday (Sept. 24) in Falcon Heights, Minn.

UW-Eau Claire claimed first place with 82 points, followed by Emory University (Ga.) in second with 110, Lewis & Clark College (Ore.) in third with 114, Carleton College (Minn.) in fourth at 143 and UW-La Crosse in fifth at 177. The Titans’ 303 points positioned them 12th among the 32 squads.

Cazzola won the 6,000-meter race with a time of 22:06. She was followed by Linda Keller (Minnesota-Morris) in 22:16 for second, Simone Childs-Walker (Carleton) in 22:36 for third, Emily Thomas (Lewis & Clark) in 22:42 for fourth and Illana Livstrom (Lewis & Clark) in 22:46 for fifth.

UW-Eau Claire entered the meet ranked fifth in the NCAA Division III by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), while Lewis & Clark stood 18th, Emory University 20th, Carleton College 22nd and UW-La Crosse 29th.

The Titans’ other top runners were McKenzie Kelly (Jr. • New Richmond), who booked a 24:23 for 57th, and Morgan Engelhart (So. • Oregon), who used 24:36 to place 75th. Allie DeBaker (Jr. • Green Bay) also crossed the line 87th with her score of 24:48.

UW-Oshkosh travels to South Bend, Ind. for the Notre Dame Invitational next Friday (Sept. 30).