Joel Walden Leads Pioneer Men to UW-Oshkosh Open Title

University of Wisconsin-Platteville freshman Joel Walden was the first collegiate runner across the finish line in 26:36 to lead the Pioneer men’s cross country team recently at the UW-Oshkosh Open at Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne, WI.

Walden set a new personal best by 44 seconds on the course that will serve as the site of the upcoming WIAC Cross Country Championships to lead the Pioneers also to the team title. Ahead of Walden was former UW-Platteville standout Patrick Klein.

Behind Walden, four Pioneers were in the top eight including Matt Smaga (4th, 26:59), Jordan Joaquin (5th, 27:10), Evan Morgan (6th, 27:12) and Bryan Zimmerman (8th, 27:15).

Other Pioneer finishers were Matt Kocak (13th, 27:23), Damon Trainor (14th, 27:33), Jonathan Haberle (16th, 27:35), Jason Henkins (20th, 27:58), Joe Pecora (21st, 27:58), Ethan Shanks (24th, 28:08), Chris Czech (25th, 28:25), Jacob James (27th, 28:32), Drake Rooney (30th, 28:48), Kyle Hartmann (31st, 29:00) and Garret Wernecke (35th, 30:23).

Unviersity of Wisconsin-Platteville senior Ann Tank was the top Division III finisher at the UW-Oshkosh Open recently. The Dodgeville native finished fifth overall and ran a time of 22:51 to lead the Pioneers' women's cross country team at the Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne, Wisconsin. The Pioneers finished fourth overall as a team.

Jessa Pierce and Katie Bining were 22nd (26:18) and 23rd (26:26), respectively for UW-Platteville. Gabrielle Ethier was 27th in 26:47, followed by Kaleigh Dunn was 32nd in 27:52 to round out the top five for the Pioneers.

Other UW-Platteville finishers were Ellyssa Moll (33rd, 27:52); Cherie Bennett (35th, 28:07), Chelsea Dalzer (40th, 28:50) and Kayla Doan (42nd, 29:24).