Women's Cross Country Geared For Midwest Regionals

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Posted: Wednesday, November 9, 2005

PEORIA, IL - The UW-Eau Claire women's cross country team will run at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regionals at Detweiller Park in Peoria this Saturday. The race begins at 11:00 a.m.

The team has finished fourth or above in all races it has competed in. It claimed first at UW-River Falls on the first meet of the season. The runner-up placements occurred at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis and the home Blugold Open. At the other home meet, the Lake Wissota Tri-meet, the Blugolds place third, as they did in the St. Olaf meet in Northfield, MN. Eau Claire finished fourth at the La Crosse event and at the WIAC Conference Championships in Superior.

Molly Warner (So.-Mosinee) has led the Blugold charge this season, finishing first on the team in all events but the WIAC Championship. She was the top runner overall in the opening meet of the year, and has never finished below 16th. Her top time is 22:24.

The person who took the top Eau Claire spot at the conference championships was Rachel Anderson (Sr.-St. Paul, MN/Harding). She has also finished second for the Blugolds in three races and third twice. In River Falls, she captured second place behind Warner. Her 22:34 time in the La Crosse invite is her best.

Jane-Marie Ovanin (Sr.-Amherst) has been another top Eau Claire runner. She has finished second twice for the team this year, while also finishing third three times and fourth once on the team. Her top overall spot is third behind Anderson at the opening event of the season. Her best race was 22:54 this season.

Last year the Blugolds took seventh and scored 234 points at this event. UW-Stevens Point took first last year, while UW-Oshkosh and UW-La Crosse took third and fourth respectively. The top five teams and top nine individuals will qualify.