Klokow finishes third place at 2019 WIAC Cross Country Championships
CUBA CITY, Wis. – On a course that two days ago would have been better suited to host a cross country skiing meet rather than a cross country meet, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville hosted the 2019 WIAC Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship presented by Culver’s at Cole Acres Golf Course in rural Cuba City, Wisconsin.
CUBA CITY, Wis. – On a course that two days ago would have been better suited to host a cross country skiing meet rather than a cross country meet, the University of Wisconsin-Platteville hosted the 2019 WIAC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championship presented by Culver's at Cole Acres Golf Course in rural Cuba City, Wisconsin.
After two days of shoveling, plowing, and blowing off snow and leaves, the course was ready for the runners from the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Zach Klokow (Sr. Sheboygan Wisconsin, South) was the top finisher for the Pioneers running the 8,000m course in 26:16.5 and placing 3rd earning All-Conference accolades. Klokow ran with a quiet strength that began to build in the second half of the race. Two UW-La Crosse athletes, Josh Schraeder and Tyler Nault, took hold of the championship individual title and runner up.
Sophomore Ben Trihey ran in at 28:32.3 as the Pioneer men's second runner. Trihey placed 57th among the 90 competitors. Close behind were teammates Jacob Harland and Nick Hein. Harland finished in 28:34.7, directly behind Trihey in 58th place. Hein crossed the finish line in 29:01.7 in 64th place for the day and was also recognized as All-Sportsmanship Athlete.
The Pioneer men's pack of runners consisting of Lars Hay, Jason Voelker, Jarod Baker, and Caleb Christiansen took up places 68th through 71st. Senior Hay was the Pioneer men' s fifth runner, completing the course in 29:08.4. Sophmore Xander Furmanek finished in 29:25.5 for 73rd place. Evan Krug (29:37.4) and Trevor Viren (29:42.1) finished in 75th and 76th place respectively. Freshman Brett Grisar finished in 79th place with 29:50.1.
As a team, the Pioneer men's team finished in 7th place overall. The UW-La Cross men's team took home the team championship title, with UW-Stout taking runner up team.
On the Pioneer women's cross country team, Kaitlyn Galgon (Jr. Waunakee Wisconsin, Waunakee Community) was the top performer for the Pioneers. Galgon finished the 6,000m course in 26:02.71, placing her 47th among the 86 competitors. Caitlyn Ifft crossed the finish line in 26:50.46, placing 60th.
Junior Brenna Kautz was four places behind Ifft, running in at 27:09.26. Kirstie Ramsey was the fourth Pioneer to finish the race, closing in 27:31.84 for 69th place. A trio of seniors finished next for the women's team. Anna Drazkowski ran 28:08.17, while Haley Daniels and Claudia De Valk finished the race within a second of each other. Senior Daniels was recognized as All-Sportsmanship Athlete.
In a head to head match up between the top five Pioneer women's runners and the top five Falcon women's runners, UW-Platteville women's team broke the tie breaker to take 7th place as a team. The UW-Eau Claire women's team won the team championship title, while UW-La Crosse women's team finished as runner up.
The Pioneer men's and women's cross country teams will travel to the University of Wisconsin -Oshkosh's cross country course in Winneconne, Wisconsin for the NCAA Midwest Region Championships on Saturday, Nov. 16.
