Pioneers Compete at the 2012 Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville men's and women's cross country teams competed at the 2012 Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational hosted by UW-La Crosse on Saturday.

The Pioneer men, who are currently ranked No. 22 in the nation, finished second behind No. 7 and host UW-La Crosse. Sophomore Joel Walden was the first Pioneer across the finish line in a time of 25:41.6 en route to a ninth-place overall finish. Stanley Kebenei of Iowa Central College was the individual winner in a time of 24:45.3.

Behind Walden were senior Derek Fahrenkrug and Ian LaMere, who were 11th (25:42.9) and 12th (25:43.0), respectively. Pioneer junior Matt Kocak and senior Matt Borneman were 30th (26:03.6) and 49th (26:24.7), respectively to round out the top five for the Pioneers.

On the women's side, the Minnesota finished first and Wartburg was second overall and first among NCAA Division III teams. The Pioneers were 19th overall and 15th among Division III competition. Sophomore Alana Enabnit of Wartburg won the individual race in a time of 21:41.5. Four of the top five runners for UW-Platteville were freshman.

Freshman Kiera Depies was the first Pioneer across the line in a time of 23:58.6 to finish 76th, next was another freshman Teagan Seneczko, who was 89th (24:18.5). Behind the freshmen duo was junior Megan Knutson was 93rd in a time of 24:34.3, freshman Connie Spyropoulos in 139th (25:50.2) and freshman Allison Wells, who finished 150th in 26:08.3.

With the WIAC Championship, just two weeks away, the Pioneers will next race on Friday, Oct. 19 at the UW-Oshkosh Open.