Men surprise with 5th place Regional finish; LaMere claims individual title
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's Cross Country team finished 5th out of 38 teams at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional on Saturday, while Junior Ian LaMere captured the individual title. He is the third Pioneer to win the regional crown, joining Ryan Kleimenhagen (2002, 2003) and Tyler Sigl (2005, 2006, 2007).The women's squad placed 12th out of 40 teams.
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's Cross Country team finished 5th out of 38 teams at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional on Saturday, while Junior Ian LaMere captured the individual title. He is the third Pioneer to win the regional crown, joining Ryan Kleimenhagen (2002, 2003) and Tyler Sigl (2005, 2006, 2007).The women's squad placed 12th out of 40 teams.
The unranked men's team finished ahead of three nationally ranked teams. No. 23 ranked Augustana finished sixth, No. 29 Chicago seventh and No. 16 Washington University eight. Top-ranked UW-Eau Claire and No. 3 North Central took first and second respectively, while No. 13 UW-La Crosse placed third and 15th-ranked UW-Oshkosh claimed fourth-place.
LaMere led the Pioneers in a course and school record with a time of 23:32, 28-seconds ahead of second place. The pioneers had an aggressive start to the race with three runners in the top-5 at the one mile mark. LaMere took control of the race in the second mile pulling away to a 17-second lead by the halfway mark. Senior Jason Winchel hung on for 16th place and All-Region honors with a time of 24:46, the 10th fastest time in school history. Sophomore transfer Trevor Wunnicke also earned All-Region honors with his 23rd place finish in 24:52. Rounding out the top seven for the pioneers were Dan LaCroix (25:39, 56th), Zach Lee (25:47, 63rd), Walker Rynes (25:51, 70th), and Ben Rhode (26:53, 133rd).
On the women's side, Chelsey Heiden earned All-Region honors with a 24th place finish in a time of 21:57, the sixth fastest time in school history. Senior Ashlynne Wampfler finished off her career with 37-second personal best with a time of 23:17 (81st). Following Wampfler were Hannah Ihlenfeldt (23:18, 83rd), Teagan Seneczko (23:27, 98th), Kiera Depies (23:30, 101st), Janelle Ferguson (23:45, 115th), and Katie Wardinski (23:47, 118th).
The men's squad will find out on Sunday at 2 p.m. if they received an at-large berth to the NCAA Championships on Saturday, Nov. 22.