Pioneer Women Beat Multiple Ranked Teams at Pre-Nationals

The UW-Platteville cross country teams competed at the Principia Cowbell Classic which served as this year’s pre-nationals meet. The women exceeded expectations finishing 15th out of 36 teams with 406 points beating No. 15 nationally ranked Calvin by 12 points. The Pioneers also finished ahead of No. 32 ranked UW-Stevens Point. The pointers finished 18th with 520 points.

October 14, 2017

Battling warm temperatures, the Pioneers where led with a trio of personal best performances. Katie Wardinski finished 21^st out of 332 runners with a lifetime best of 22:24 for the six kilometer course. Following close behind was Johanna Meister in 23^rd crossing in a best of 22:29. Next was Camille Felton finishing 113^th with a personal best of 24:04. Caitlyn Ifft (152^nd, 24:37) and Janelle Ferguson (173^rd, 25:00) finished strong to help bring home the Pioneers' top-5. Rounding out the scoring top-7 were Kim Gutierrez (219^th, 25:55) and Mariah Brown (222^nd, 25:59).

Also representing the Pioneers were Kaitlyn Galgon (230^th, 26:13), Hannah Ihlenfeldt (242^nd, 26:28), Anna Drazkowski (274^th, 27:52), and Haley Daniels (313^th, 31:15).

On the men's side, the team met expectations beating those ranked below them but falling short of those ranked ahead of them. The No. 27 ranked Pioneers finished 16^th out of 39 teams. Their 437 points beat out No. 30 ranked Emory University (17^th, 494 points) and No. 31 ranked Albion College (18^th, 558 points). The top-15 teams beating the Pioneers were all ranked ahead, including No. 1 ranked North Central College who took the meet with 47 points.

The eight kilometer race, which included 354 finishers, saw two Pioneers finishing in the top-20. Zach Lee led the charge with a 16^th place finish and a time of 25:33. Walker Rynes followed in 17^th place with a time of 25:34. Logan Steinhoff was the Pioneer's third finisher in 147^th place crossing the finish in 27:10. Mitch Muffler joined the Pioneer top-5 for the first time finishing in 152^nd place and 27:15. Ben Rhode was close behind in 157^th place and 27:17. The scoring top-7 was capped by Cole Shurbert-Hetzel (167^th, 27:25) and Isaac Schuetz (177^th, 27:32).

Also competing for the Pioneers were Alex Clark (184^th, 27:35), Mitchell Frager (189^th, 27:38), Ben Nemec (228^th, 28:14), Kyle Herbrand (236^th, 28:27), and Nolan Wallenkamp 249^th, 28:48.

The Pioneers will compete a partial squad next Friday, Oct. 20 at UW-Oshkosh before contesting the WIAC Championships at UW-Whitewater on Oct. 28.