U cross-country: Rolling out with two No. 9s
Posted on September 16th, 2008 – 9:58 PMBy Roman Augustoviz
The women’s and men’s cross-country teams were both ranked No. 9 in the first U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association national polls of the season.
The Gophers women’s team won the Big Ten and Midwest Region titles a year ago for the first time and placed 12th in the NCAA meet.
“Our team has lofty goals for the season,” said Gary Wilson, starting his 24th year as head coach.
Seven Big Ten teams cracked the top 30. Michigan State was No. 8 and Illinois No. 10, sandwiching the Gophers. Wisconsin was No. 13, Michigan No. 17 and Iowa No. 27.
Wilson has 52 runners on his team, making it one of the largest in the nation. Fourteen letterwinners return from last season, including 10 with NCAA experience.
Jamie Cheever, the team co-MVP last fall, leads a strong junior class. She was 33rd in the NCAA, earning All-America status. Other top juniors are Elizabeth Yetzer, Megan Duwell, Heather Dorniden and Sally Paulson. All of them ran in the NCAA meet, too.
Cheever, Yetzer, Duwell, Dorniden and senior Gabriele Anderson were all-region picks.
The Gophers women’s team will receive its first big test on Sept. 27 at the Roy Griak Invitational at the University of Minnesota Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights.
Also competing there will be the U of M men’s team in its own Division I race. The Griak is the only home meet each Gophers team has.
The men’s team was eighth in the NCAA meet and returns two All-Americans, senior Chris Rombough and sophomore Hassan Mead. Rombough was 29th, Mead 43rd in the NCAA meet.
“It’s exciting for our program to receive a top 10 ranking,” coach Steve Plasencia said. “… I’m looking forward to seeing how the season plays out.”
Three conference men’s teams are in the top 10. Wisconsin is No. 6 and Michigan is No. 8, one spot ahead of the Gophers.
Indiana and Michigan State are not in the top 30, but are among other teams receiving votes.
