2009 | GOLDEN GOPHER CROSS COUNTRY | 2009

GOLDEN GOPHER MEN

NCAA Championships Next For GophersThe Minnesota men’s cross country team will make its12th appearance in 13 seasons at the NCAA CrossCountry Championships, held Monday, Nov. 23 in TerreHaute, Ind. Indiana State plays host to the meet at theLaVern Gibson Championships Course. The men’s 10-kilometer race begins at 11:08 a.m. (CT).

Watch It LiveThe NCAA Cross Country Championships will bebroadcast live on Versus TV Network and streamedonline via NCAA.com. Check out Flotrack.com for addi-tional coverage and interviews from the national meet.

The NCAA FieldThirty-one (31) teams will compete in the NCAAChampionships, 18 of them having earned automatic

2009 Minnesota Men’s ScheduleDate Opponent Time/ResultSept. 11 Oz Memorial Run 1st (22)Sept. 26 Roy Griak Invitational - Men’s Gold 4th (101)Oct. 17 at Pre-NCAA Meet 11th (341)

(Terre Haute, Ind. - host: Indiana State)17 at Jim Drews Invitational NTS

(West Salem, Wis. - host: Wis.-LaCrosse)Nov. 1 at Big Ten Championships 3rd (97)

(Ann Arbor, Mich. - host: Michigan)Nov. 6 at Fall Finale NTS

(Collegeville, Minn. - host: St. John’s)Nov. 14 at NCAA Midwest Region Championships 4th (125).

(Springfield, Mo. - host: Missouri State)Nov. 23 at NCAA Championships 11:08 a.m.

(Terre Haute, Ind. - host: Indiana State)

2009 Minnesota Women’s ScheduleDate Opponent Time/ResultSept. 11 Oz Memorial Run 1st (17)Sept. 26 Roy Griak Inv -Jack Johnson Gold 2nd (48)Oct. 2 at Wis-Eau Claire Invitational 4th (125)Oct. 3 South Dakota State Invitational 1st (24)Oct. 17 at Pre-NCAA Meet 6th (214)

(Terre Haute, Ind. - host: Indiana State)17 at Tori Neubauer Invitational 7th (204)

(West Salem, Wis. - host: Wis.-LaCrosse)Oct. 24 Jack’s Run NTSNov. 1 at Big Ten Championships 3rd (80)

(Ann Arbor, Mich. - host: Michigan)Nov. 8 Rocky’s Run NTSNov. 14 at NCAA Midwest Region Championships 1st (60)

(Springfield, Mo. - host: Missouri State)Nov. 23 at NCAA Championships 11:58 a.m.

(Terre Haute, Ind. - host: Indiana State)

Home meets at the Les Bolstad Course in Falcon Heights, Minn.All times listed as Central times. NTS - no team score

Golden Gopher Cross CountryThis Week:

2009 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships

Monday, Nov. 23Men — 11:08 a.m. (CT)

Women — 11:58 a.m. (CT)LaVern Gibson Championship Course

Terre Haute, Ind.Indiana State U. - Host

TV - Live - Versus TV NetworkWebcast - NCAA.com

Golden Gopher Watch List — Nov. 23, 2009• Golden Gopher Travel to NCAA Championships - The Minnesota men’s and women’s cross country teams

both earned berths into the fields of the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championships.Indiana State U. plays host to the Championships at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute,Ind. The men’s 10-kilometer race begins at 11:08 a.m. (CT), followed by the women’s 6-kilometer race at 11:58a.m. (CT).

• Golden Gopher Women Consistent - The Minnesota women’s cross country team is coming off their third con-secutive title at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships. The Golden Gophers are among an elite trio of teamsto place in the top 12 in the NCAAs in each of the last four seasons.

• Mead Paces Golden Gopher Men - The Minnesota men’s cross country team will be led by junior Hassan Mead,who has the chance to become the second three-time All-American in Golden Gopher history. Mead defendedboth his Big Ten and NCAA Midwest Region titles this season.

• NCAA Meet Televised - The Versus Network will broadcast the NCAA Cross Country Championships live.NCAA.com will carry a live webcast of the national meet.

GOLDEN GOPHER WOMEN

NCAA Cross Country ChampionshipsThe Minnesota women’s cross country team will travel toTerre Haute, Ind., to compete in the NCAA Cross CountryChampionships on Monday, Nov. 23. The GoldenGophers are making their fifth consecutive trip to thenational meet. The women’s 6-kilometer begins at 11:58a.m. (CT). Indiana State plays host to the meet at theLaVern Gibson Championships Course.

Watch It LiveThe NCAA Cross Country Championships will be broad-cast live on Versus TV Network and streamed online viaNCAA.com. Check out Flotrack.com for additional cover-age and interviews from the national meet.

Consistency at the Highest LevelMinnesota has finished in the top 12 in each of the last

2008 and 2009 Big Ten champion Hassan Mead Two-time All-Big Ten First Team Megan Duwell

berths in the NCAA field by placing in the top two of last weekend’s region champi-onships. The NCAA field is completed by 13 at-large teams, including Minnesota, and38 individual student-athletes who advanced with top regional finishes.

Four Big Ten Teams Advance to NCAA FieldFour Big Ten Conference teams will compete at the NCAA Championships for the sec-ond year in a row. Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State and Wisconsin made thenational meet this season.

If This Were Football, We’d Add a Fifth QuarterFor NCAA competition, both at the regional and national championships, the race dis-tance is lengthened from 8 kilometers to 10 kilometers. That extra two kilometers makesthe races 20 percent longer than the ones run during the regular season.

NCAA Championships Men’s PreviewOregon is the two-time defending team champion, but it has been Pac-10 rival Stanfordwho has held the top ranking for much of the season. Other team’s expected to contendare Oklahoma State and Alabama. Oregon’s, the Galen Rupp, the 2008 individualchampion, has graduated.

Minnesota at the NCAA ChampionshipsMinnesota will make its 21st appearance in the NCAA Cross Country Championships.The Gophers have competed in 12 of the last 13 Championships, missing out only in2006. The best finish for the Gophers was a fourth-place showing in 1968. More recent-ly, the Gophers notched an eighth-place showing in 2007. Minnesota owns 15 top-20finishes in the NCAA meet.

Gophers at the 2008 NCAA ChampionshipsMinnesota finished 15th overall in the 2008 NCAA Championships. Chris Romboughand Hassan Mead once again earned All-America honors. Rombough became the firstthree-time cross country All-American in Minnesota history. Mead earned his secondnational award of his career.

Golden Gophers Ranked No. 29thThe Gopher men enter the national meet ranked No. 29 (tied with Texas) in the UST-FCCCA National Poll. Minnesota is one of three Big Ten Conference teams listed in therankings with Wisconsin at No. 10 and Michigan State at No. 28.

The Golden Gopher LineupSeven Golden Gophers will compete at the NCAA Championships. A team’s final line-up does not have to be declared until the day of the competition. Following is a list ofthe Gophers’ lineup and a listing of any previous experience at the national meet.Matt Barrett (Sr., Monroe, Wis./Monroe HS)

2008 – 160th, 31:23.6Ben Blankenship (Jr., Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater HS/Mississippi State)

2008 – 100th, 30:55.1Pieter Gagnon (R-Fr., Minneapolis, Minn./Washburn HS)

2009 | GOLDEN GOPHER CROSS COUNTRY | 2009

four NCAA Championships placing the Golden Gophers among an elite group of teams toconsistently place that high during that span of time. Only two teams – Illinois and Stanford– can match the feat of consecutive top-12 national finishes the past four years.

The NCAA FieldThirty-one (31) teams will compete in the NCAA Championships, 18 of them, includingMinnesota, having earned automatic berths in the NCAA field by placing in the top two oflast weekend’s region championships. The NCAA field is completed by 13 at-large teamsand 38 individual student-athletes who advanced with top regional finishes.

Big Ten Set Record With Seven Teams to NCAAsThe Big Ten Conference will be represented by a record seven teams at the NCAAChampionships, three of them (Illinois, Minnesota and Ohio State) who earned automaticberths. Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State were at-large selections. TheBig Ten had six teams compete in the NCAA meets the last two years.

Golden Gophers Ranked No. 13 Heading into the NCAAsMinnesota is ranked No. 13 in this week’s the U.S. Track & Field and Cross CountryCoaches Association NCAA Division I poll. The other Big Ten teams ranked are Penn State(No. 11), Illinois (No. 16), Ohio State (No. 27), Michigan (No. 29) and Indiana (No. 30).

NCAA Championships Women’s PreviewDefending champion Washington is the favorite to repeat in the team competition. TheHuskies have held the No. 1 rank in the national poll all season. Other teams in the top fiveare Villanova, Princeton, Oregon and Florida. Texas Tech’s Sally Kipyego the NCAA indi-vidual champion the last three years has graduated.

Minnesota at the NCAA ChampionshipsMinnesota will make its 13th appearance in the NCAA Cross Country Championships andfifth consecutively. The Golden Gophers posted their highest finish in school history in2005, placing ninth, then 11th in 2006 and 12th in 2007 and 11th in 2008. Megan Duwellran to All-America honors in 2008.

A Senior Class Like No OtherThe Golden Gophers’ senior class of 2009 has enjoyed more success than any other inMinnesota cross country history. Among this senior class are six runners who will repre-sent the Gophers at the NCAA meet this season: Jamie Cheever, Heather Dorniden,Megan Duwell, Amy Laskowske, Mallory Van Ness and Elizabeth Yetzer.

Going into their final cross country meet of their collegiate careers, these sixGophers have left an incredible legacy in the history of the program. Combined they havecelebrated:

• Three top-12 NCAA Championships finishes• Two (Cheever, Duwell) NCAA All-America honors• Three NCAA Midwest Region team titles• 15 All-Midwest Region honors• The first two Big Ten team titles (2007, 2008) in school history

Heather Dorniden Caps Off Historic Golden Gopher Running CareerHeather Dorniden will run her final competition at the NCAA Championships writing thefinal chapter of a brilliant Golden Gopher collegiate career. Dorniden has competed in

Ben Blankenship (2), Travis Burkstrand (3) and Pieter Gagnon (4) at the start of theGriak Invitational earlier this season.

A pack of Gophers at this season’s Griak Invitational: (l-r) Elizabeth Yetzer, AmyLaskowske, Nikki Swenson, Mallory Van Ness.

2009 | GOLDEN GOPHER CROSS COUNTRY | 2009

Paul Hilsen (R-Fr., Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South HS)Mike McFarland (Jr., Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead HS)

2007 – 161st, 31:36.52008 – 171st, 31:27.0

Hassan Mead (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn./Minneapolis South HS)2007 – 43rd, 30:37.6 (All-American)2008 – 31st, 30:06.2 (All-American)

Sean Olson (So., Menomonie, Wis./Menomonie HS)Derek Storkel (Fr., Tomah, Wis./Tomah HS)

Minnesota Coaching StaffGolden Gopher head coach Steve Plasencia is in his 14th season leading the Minnesotaprogram. Plasencia has guided the Gophers to NCAA Championships berths in 12 of his 14years with his alma mater with the 2007 eighth-place NCAA finish the Gophers’ best since1969. Volunteer assistant coach Jason Rengo is in his first year with the Gophers.

Hassan Mead Honored as the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Runner of the YearJunior Hassan Mead was named the 2008 USTFCCCA Midwest Region Runner of the Yearfor the second consecutive season after defending his individual titles at both the Big TenConference Championships and NCAA Midwest Region Championships in the past month.

Mead Continues to Build on Impressive Minnesota ResumeJunior Hassan Mead continues to build on a Minnesota running resume that already hashim ranked among the very best to ever compete for the Maroon and Gold. Mead is a two-time Big Ten and NCAA Midwest Region cross country medalist. He is also a three-time

track All-American. Mead has alreadywon five individual Big Ten track titles,winning the outdoor 5,000 meters inboth his first two season with theGolden Gophers.

Storkel a Team PlayerTrue freshman Derek Storkel lifted theredshirt title from his season when histeam called upon the rookie hoping tobring a solid fifth scorer into the lineup.Storkel ran well in his first collegiateaction, placing 44th in the Big TenChampionships, helping the Gopherssecure a third-place team finish. Hewas the Gophers’ sixth finisher (66thoverall) at the NCAA Midwest RegionChampionships.

Mead Defends Region CrownHassan Mead cruised to his secondconsecutive NCAA Midwest RegionChampionships title on Saturday inSpringfield, Mo., crossing the finish line

28 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor. Minnesota finished fourth as a team and willhave to wait until Monday to see if the Golden Gophers’ season of work warrants an at-largeberth in the NCAA Championships.

Mead is the first back-to-back regional champion in Gopher history (Andrew Carlson wonin 2002 and again in 2004). The Minneapolis native covered the 10-kilometer Missouri StateUniversity course in a time of 30 minutes, 21.9 seconds.

Mead and Iowa State’s Guor Marial took the lead early and quickly distanced themselvesfrom the pack. Mead made a second push around the 4-kilometer mark and soon foundhimself alone at the front. The Gophers’ standout had built such a big lead that he was ableto even ease up a bit in the final kilometer, important since the national championship raceis just nine days away. Southern Illinois senior Jeff Schirmer was second in 30:49.9.

“Hassan really was the class of the field out there today,” said Golden Gopher headcoach Steve Plasencia. “We went in with a plan today and Hassan executed it perfectly.”Senior Matt Barrett picked up his second career all-region honor by placing 15th overall,second for the Gophers, in a time of 31:05.0.

Oklahoma State, ranked third in the nation, captured the Midwest Region title with ateam score of 50 points and collected one of the region’s automatic qualifiers for the NCAAChampionships. Oklahoma earned the second automatic bid by placing second with 71points. Iowa State finished third with 104 points ahead of the Gophers’ tally of 125.

The Gophers were unable to close the gap between their top two finishers (Mead andBarrett) and the remainder of their scoring runners. Ben Blankenship finished 28th in a timeof 31:48.3, followed by Pieter Gagnon in 38th (32:02.8) and Mike McFarland in 51st

every NCAA meet (cross country, indoor and outdoor track) in her Minnesota career.Dorniden is the most decorated Gopher women’s track athlete earning nine career NCAAAll-America honors, including a national title in the indoor 800 meters in 2006.

The Golden Gopher LineupSeven Golden Gophers will compete at the NCAA Championships. A team’s final lineupdoes not have to be declared until the day of the competition. Following is a list of possibleparticipants and a listing of any previous experience at the national meet.Jamie Cheever (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest) - alternate

2006 - 150th, 22:31.42007 - 33rd, 20:58.3 (All-American)2008 - 164th, 21:41.5

Heather Dorniden (Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Rosemount)2006 - 185th, 22:50.62007, 186th, 22:15.22008, 135th, 21:28.8

Megan Duwell (Sr., West Bend, Wis./West Bend West HS)2007 - 147th, 21:52.52008 - 32nd, 20:36.5 (All-American)

Amy Laskowske (Sr., Palatine, Ill./Palatine HS)2006 - 157th, 22:33.42008 - 94th, 21:10.2

Stephanie Price (So., Mankato, Minn./Loyola Catholic HS)Nikki Swenson (Jr., Dawson, Minn./Dawson-Boyd HS) Mallory Van Ness (Sr., Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS/Missouri) - alternate

2008 - 116th, 21:19.4Kayla Wagner (Fr., Baldwin, Wis./Baldwin-Woodville HS)Elizabeth Yetzer (Sr., Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS)

2006 - 22:11.8, 108th2007 - 105th, 21:34.5

Golden Gopher Coaching StaffGary Wilson, the dean of the Big Tenwomen’s cross country coaches, is inhis 25th season heading the Minnesotaprogram. He is assisted by volunteerassistant head coach, Sarah Hesser,who is in her fifth season on the coach-ing staff after competing for the GoldenGophers.

Gary Wilson Honored as USTFCCCAMidwest Region Coach of the YearMinnesota head coach Gary Wilsonwas honored as the USTFCCCAMidwest Region Women’s CrossCountry Coach of the Year for the thirdconsecutive season. Wilson directedthe Golden Gophers to NCAA MidwestRegion in each of the last three years..

Minnesota Wins Third ConsecutiveMidwest Region CrownThe Minnesota women’s cross countrycaptured the team title, and an auto-

matic berth to the national meet, at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships inSpringfield, Mo., on Saturday, Nov. 14. The Golden Gophers landed all seven runners in thetop 25 to earn all-region honors.

“We ran like a team on a mission,” said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. “Afterthe Big Ten meet we felt we had a little something to prove today. This was by far our bestteam race of the season.”

Senior Megan Duwell paced the Gophers’ effort covering the 5-kilometer Missouri Statecourse in a school-record time of 20 minutes, 14.5 seconds and capturing runner-up hon-ors. Duwell’s time was almost five seconds faster than the previous Minnesota record markof 20:19.3 set by Ladia Albertson-Junkans at the NCAA Championships in 2005.

Duwell battled Illinois’ Angela Bizzarri at the front of the pack for most of the race.Bizzarri, who finished second to Duwell’s third at the Big Ten Championships, edged aheadin the race’s final 500 meters to win in 20:07.5. Illinois finished second in the MidwestRegion to earn the region’s other NCAA automatic qualifier.

The Gophers captured their third consecutive Midwest Region title compiling 60 teampoints. For the first time in Minnesota history, every Gopher competitor earned all-region

Matt Barrett

Heather Dorniden

2009 | GOLDEN GOPHER CROSS COUNTRY | 2009

(32:32.9). Other Gophers competing were Derek Storkel (66th, 33:01.7) and Paul Hilsen(117th, 34:27.7). Gagnon, Storkel and Hilsen ran their first NCAA 10-kilometer races oftheir collegiate careers.

2009 NCAA Midwest Region Cross Country ChampionshipsSaturday, Nov. 14, 2009Missouri State Cross Country Course – 10KSpringfield, Mo.

Team Results1. Oklahoma State 8-9-10-11-12-(13)-(15) 502. Oklahoma 3-4-17-20-27-(35)-(37) 713. Iowa State 5-6-28-30-40-(65)-(96) 1064. Minnesota 1-14-26-36-48-(63)-(112) 1255. Southern Illinois 2-25-29-31-73-(118) 160

* 25 teams competed

Top Individuals1. Hassan Mead (MInnesota) 30:31.92. Jeff Schirmer (Southern Illinois) 30:49.93. Kevin Schwab (Oklahoma) 30:52.04. Robert Sorrell (Oklahoma) 30:53.45. Hillary Bor (Iowa State) 30:55.66. Guor Marial (Iowa State) 30:56.47. Jonah Lagat (Oral Roberts) 30:58.58. John Beattie (Tulsa) 31:00.49. David Chirchir (Oklahoma State) 31:03.0

10. John Kosgei (Oklahoma State) 31:03.2

Other Golden Gopher Finishes15. (14) Matt Barrett 31:05.028. (26) Ben Blankenship 31:48.338. (36) Pieter Gagnon 32:02.851. (48) Mike McFarland 32:32.966. (63) Derek Storkel 33:01.7117. (112) Paul Hilsen 34:27.7

Mead Wins, Gophers Third at Big Ten ChampionshipsMinnesota junior Hassan Mead captured the individual title at the Big Ten Cross CountryChampionships leading the Golden Gophers to a third-place finish in the team standings.

Mead covered the 5.2-mile course at the Penn State Cross Country Course in a time of25 minutes, 0.2 seconds. He is the third Gopher to win two or more Big Ten cross countrycrowns, joining Fred Watson (1913-15) and Garry Bjorklund (1969-71). Mead is the 19thBig Ten multiple champion and first since Wisconsin’s Simon Bairu won back-to-backcrowns in 2004-04. Mead, who crossed the finish line 5.7 seconds ahead of his nearestcompetitor, also collected his third All-Big Ten First Team honor of his career.

Senior Matt Barrett contributed a ninth-place finish to earn All-Big Ten Second Team

accord.Senior Amy Laskowske ran her finest race of the season finishing as the Gophers’ num-

ber-two runner and placing ninth overall. Laskowske was clocked in a career-best time of21:04.5.

“Amy ran great today,” said Wilson. “She rebounded very well from a race (the Big Tenmeet) where she was our ninth finisher.”

Senior Heather Dorniden posted her highest finish at a regional meet, placing 14th in atime of 21:15.4.

The three non-seniors of the Gopher lineup teamed to grab consecutive finishes at19th, 20th and 21st. Sophomore Stephanie Price led the trio with a time of 21:26.9, fol-lowed by freshman Kayla Wagner at 21:28.5 and Nikki Swenson at 21:32.3.

Completing the Gophers’ lineup was senior Elizabeth Yetzer, who finished 25th in a timeof 21:34.7. All four Gopher seniors – Duwell, Laskowske, Dorniden and Yetzer – are nowthree-time career all-region honorees.

2009 NCAA Midwest Region Cross Country ChampionshipsSaturday, Nov. 14, 2009Missouri State Cross Country Course – 6KSpringfield, Mo.

Team Results1. Minnesota 2-8-13-18-19-(20)-(24) 602. Illinois 1-4-11-22-48-(64)-(65) 863. Iowa State 3-9-15-34-45-(47) 1064. Nebraska 10-28-30-35-44-(60)-(68) 1475. Iowa 12-32-33-41-42-(43)-(52) 160

* 22 teams competed

Top Individuals1. Angela Bizarri (Illinois) 20:07.52. Megan Duwell (Minnesota) 20:14.53. Lisa Koll (Iowa State) 20:19.24. Kristin Sutherland (Illinois) 20:44.15. Lauren Bonds (Kansas) 20:49.16. Beverly Ramos (Kansas State) 20:55.97. Mihaela Susa (Oklahoma State) 20:59.68. Kaitie Vanatta (Missouri) 21:01.89. Amy Laskowske (Minnesota) 21:04.5

10. Aliphine Tuliamuk (Iowa State) 21:04.6

Other Golden Gopher Finishes14. Heather Dorniden 21:15.419. Stephanie Price 21:26.920. Kayla Wagner 21:28.521. Nikki Swenson 21:32.325. Elizabeth Yetzer 21:34.7

Gophers, Duwell Third at Big Ten ChampionshipsMinnesota had won the previous two Big Ten Cross Country Championships by single dig-its. This season, the result was once again decided by single digits with a margin of justnine points separating the top three teams. The Golden Gophers were on the short endthis time around placing third.

Penn State captured its first Big Ten cross country title with 71 points, hosting theChampionships on their home course. Senior Bridget Franek won the individual title with atime of 20:03. Illinois finished second with 77 points, followed by Minnesota with 80.

The Gophers were led by senior Megan Duwell, who placed third in a personal-besttime of 20 minutes, 23 seconds to match the third-fastest (Jamie Cheever, 2007) 6-kilome-ter time in school history. Duwell earns her second All-Big Ten First Team award.

True freshman Kayla Wagner continues to impress, placing 14th overall in 21:06 andearning All-Big Ten Second Team honors.

Completing the Gophers’ scoring was Stephanie Price, Heather Dorniden and ElizabethYetzer. Price, a sophomore, finished 18th in the Big Ten Cross Country Championshipscrossing the finish line in a time of 21:19. Dorniden was 20th in a time of 21:21, while Yetzerfinished 25th in 21:29. Other Gophers competing were Mallory Van Ness, who placed 29thin 21:31; and Amy Laskowske, who placed 34th in 21:38.

Duwell Finishes Third in Pre-NCAA White RaceMinnesota senior Megan Duwell placed third in the Pre-NCAA White Race to pace the No.8 Golden Gophers to an eighth-place finish in Terre Haute, Ind., on Oct. 17. The Pre-NCAAMeet is held on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course, the site of the NCAA CrossCountry Championships each fall.

accord. Barrett was timed in 25:35.2.The Gophers compiled 97 team points to finish third behind Wisconsin (26) and Ohio

State (91). The Badgers won their 11th straight Big Ten title.Completing the scoring for the Gophers was Ben Blankenship, who finished 18th

(25:53.4); Pieter Gagnon, who placed 27th in 26:09.4; and Derek Storkel, who finished42nd in 26:41.9.

Other Gophers running were Paul Hilsen, who finished 55th in 27:06.2; and MikeMcFarland, who placed 66th in 27:42.9.

Mead Claims Second Big Ten Weekly Honor of 2009 SeasonFor the second time in the 2009 season, Minnesota junior All-American Hassan Mead washonored as the Big Ten Conference Runner of the Week. Mead tallied a third-place finishin the White Race at the Pre-NCAA Meet in Terre Haute, Ind. He clocked a time of 23 min-utes, 49.2 seconds over the 8-kilometer LaVern Gibson Championship Course.

The award is the fourth of Mead’s Golden Gopher career. The Big Ten defending cham-pion, Mead was honored twice with Runner of the Week accolades during the 2008 cam-paign, and earlier this season after winning the Griak Invitational title.

Mead Fifth in Pre-NCAA White RaceHassan Mead placed fifth in the White Race at the Pre-NCAA Meet in Terre Haute, Ind., onSaturday, Oct. 17. Minnesota placed 11th as a team. The meet is held at the LaVernGibson Championship Course, the same facility that plays host to the NCAAChampionships in November. An 8-kilometer course was traversed in the Pre-NCAA Meet.The race distance will jump to 10 kilometers for the national meet.

Mead clocked a time of 23 minutes, 49.2 seconds over a soft, somewhat muddy course.A year ago, Mead set the Minnesota 8-kilometer record at the Gibson Course with a timeof 23:33.1.

Ben Blankenship tallied a 24th-place showing as the Gophers’ number-two runner.Blankenship crossed the finish line in 24:11.2. Matt Barrett was 60th in a time of 24:39.1,while Pieter Gagnon placed 90th in 25:00.8. Paul Hilsen was the final Gopher scorer, plac-ing 162nd in 25:51.3.

“We had a good, not great outing, today,” said Golden Gopher head coach StevePlasencia. “Our top four ran solid but we just need to move our fifth guy up. That gapbetween 90 and 162 is too big. It’s the different. We have another runner up there in themix and we would have a much better finish as a team.”

Other Gophers competing were Sean Olson, who placed 173rd in 25:59.6, and TravisBurkstrand, who finished 200th in 26:24.7.

The Gophers compiled 341 points in the team standings. Stanford captured the teamwin in the White Race with 47 behind individual titlist Chris Derrick (23:27.1). Oregon wonthe Blue Race team title with 79 points.

Mead Wins Griak Title, Gophers Fourth as a TeamGolden Gopher All-American Hassan Mead set Minnesota history on Saturday (Sept. 26),becoming the first Minnesota men’s cross country runner to capture medalist honors at theRoy Griak Invitational. Mead, running his first meet of the 2009 season, covered the 8-kilo-meter course in a time of 24 minutes, 37.5 seconds.

Despite placing three runners in the top six, Minnesota finished fourth in the team stand-ings with 101 points. Ben Blankenship posted an impressive fourth-place finish running atime of 24:56.9, while Matt Barrett tallied a sixth-place showing in 25:01.0.

Mead pushed the pace of the race early on then ran comfortably from the front andextending his lead. The defending Big Ten champion, Mead won the Griak crown by over12 seconds over runner-up Iowa State’s Guor Majak.

Duwell covered the 6-kilometer course in a time of 20:31.5, a solid time considering softtrack conditions. Duwell finished 4.2 seconds after Illinois’ Angela Bizarri, who won the racein a time of 20:27.8. Washington’s Kendra Schaf was second in 20:29.0.

Minnesota tallied a team score of 214 points. Defending national champion Washingtoncollected three top-five finishes to easily win the team title with 59 points. Florida was theteam runner-up with 89, followed by Princeton (126), Syracuse (191) and Illinois (206).Colorado won the Blue Race team crown with 94 points.

“I was pleased with the way our team was able to focus through adversity on this wholeroad trip,” said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. “I think it’s going to one of thosetype of seasons where we are going to have to work very hard for everything we get. Froma race standpoint, we got out a little too slow as a team. We continued to battle, but againstthis good of competition, any mistakes are magnified.”

The Gophers travel posed a challenge. Delays and finally a rearranged flight schedulegot the squad to Terre Haute but the stage was already set. It was past midnight before theteam settled into their hotel rooms for the night.

Wilson recognized the efforts of the two youngest Gophers on the trip, sophomoreStephanie Price and freshman Kayla Wagner. “These two ran very well today,” he said. “Weneeded them to step up and they have.”

Price notched her highest team finish of her Gopher career running to the team’s No. 2spot. She placed 43rd overall in a time of 21:32.3. Wagner was the Gophers’ fourth finish-er, 57th overall, in 21:41.7.

The other scorers for the Gophers were Elizabeth Yetzer, who finished 53rd in a time of21:40.2 and Nikki Swenson, who placed 58th in 21:42.2. Closing out the Gophers compet-ing were Heather Dorniden in 62nd in 21:43.8 and Amy Laskowske in 80th in 21:51.1.

The Pre-NCAA event holds an open race in addition to the White and Blue Races.Gopher senior Mallory Van Ness captured the open race title with a time of 21:51.2.

“Seeing Mallory win the race was pretty cool,” added Wilson. “We have great depth; wewere able to have a solid finish in the White Race, and also have four runners finish in thetop 13 of the open race.”

Duwell Wins Griak Title, Honored by Big TenMinnesota senior Megan Duwell captured her second Big Ten Runner of the Week acco-lade of the season as the Conference office recognized her accomplishment of winning theindividual title at the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 26. A West Bend, Wis., native, Duwellis the first Golden Gopher to capture two Big Ten Runner of the Week awards in the sameseason. Duwell was also honored by the Big Ten after winning the Oz Memorial Run titleearlier this month.

Duwell WIns Griak Title, Gophers Second as a TeamGolden Gopher senior All-American Megan Duwell wrote her name in the Griak Invitationalrecord books, winning the Jack Johnson Women’s Gold Race title in a time of 21 minutes,0.37 seconds. Duwell is the second Minnesota women’s runner to take Griak gold, joiningRasa (nee Michnoivaite) Troup who won the title in 1998.

Duwell broke free from the pack before the race’s 2-kilometer mark and went on to winby over 12 seconds over runner-up Lisa Koll (Iowa State). Duwell’s time is the fourth-besttime in Minnesota history by a Gopher on their home 6-kilometer course at the Les BolstadGolf Course in Falcon Heights.

Minnesota’s streak of Griak titles was ended at two by Iowa State, who landed five run-ners in the top 10 to tally 31 points and take home their first Griak crown. The Gophers fin-ished second with 48 points, followed by Michigan State in third with 75 points.

The Gophers scored all five runners in the top 20. Nikki Swenson was the Gophers’number-two runner finishing in eighth place in a time of 21:56.87. Elizabeth Yetzer finished11th in 22:01.57 and started a string of five consecutive Minnesota finishes. AmyLaskowske was 12th in 22:03.27, followed by Kayla Wagner (13th, 22:07.32), HeatherDorniden (14th, 22:16.82) and Mallory Van Ness (15th, 22:20.42).

Duwell WIns Griak Title, Gophers Second as a TeamMinnesota senior Megan Duwell was named the Co-Big Ten Cross Country Runner of theWeek after defending her individual title in the Oz Memorial Run on Sept. 11. Duwell ranan impressive 21 minutes 13.24 seconds, beating the 6-kilometer race’s second place fin-isher by 53 seconds and leading her teammates to a first-place team finish. This wasDuwell’s first weekly Big Ten honor of her Gopher career.

Duwell’s award is the first time a Gopher has been Runner of the Week since 2005.Minnesota’s Emily Brown received the honor in September, 2005, and her team went on tofinish ninth at the NCAA Championships. In the time between Brown and Duwell’s awardsMinnesota has won two Big Ten Championships and has placed 12th or higher at theNCAA Championships in three appearances.

“I was surprised to find out that we had not won a Big Ten weekly award for such a longtime, considering the caliber of the teams we’ve had here in recent years. Megan has beentraining very hard and is very deserving of this award,” said head coach Gary Wilson.

2009 | GOLDEN GOPHER CROSS COUNTRY | 2009

Minnesota Men’s and Women’s Cross Country RostersName Year Exp. Hometown (High School)Matt Barrett * Sr. 3V # Monroe, Wis. (Monroe)Ben Blankenship Jr. 1V # Stillwater, Minn. (Stillwater/Mississippi State)Travis Burkstrand RFr. RS Apple Valley, Minn. (Eastview)Pieter Gagnon RFr. RS Minneapolis, Minn. (Washburn)Paul Hilsen So. SQ Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville South)Nick Hutton RFr. RS Burnsville, Minn. (Apple Valley)David Krueger Sr. SQ Perham, Minn. (Perham)Kevin Lachowitzer RFr. RS Perham, Minn. (Perham)Andrew Larson Fr. HS Glen Ellyn, Ill.Joe McFarland So. SQ Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead)Mike McFarland Jr. 2V # Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead)Hassan Mead * Jr. 2V # Minneapolis, Minn. (South)Sean Olson So. 1V # Menomonie, Wis. (Menomonie)Drew Paradis Fr. HS Alexandria, Minn.Andy Richardson RFr. RS New Brighton, Minn. (Irondale)Derek Storkel Fr. HS Tomah, Wis.Steve Sulkin Fr. HS Elmhurst, Ill.Mike Torchia Jr. 2V # Rochester, Minn. (Lourdes)Erik Truedson Fr. HS Bemidji, Minn.Matthew Volz So. HS Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville South)Head Coach: Steve Plasencia (14th Season) Volunteer Assistant Coach: Jason Rengo

Name Year Exp. Hometown (High School)Maggie Bollig Fr. HS Cross Plains, Wis. (Middleton)Heather Brunn RFr. RS Rogers, Minn. (Rogers)Kelli Budd Fr. HS Omaha, Neb. (Omaha Marian)Kendall Cederstrom Fr. HS Woodbury, Minn. (Woodbury)Jamie Cheever Sr. 3V # Minneapolis, Minn. (Southwest)Kayla Dahl So. SQ Chippewa Falls, Wis. (McDonnell Central)Ashley Deisting So. SQ Buffalo, Minn. (Buffalo)Jamie Dittmar So. SQ Wausau, Wis. (Wausau East)Laura Docherty Fr. HS St. Paul, Minn. (Cretin-Derham Hall)Heather Doniden * Sr. 3V # Inver Grove Hts, Minn. (Rosemount)Rachel Drake Fr. HS White Bear Lake, Minn. (White Bear Lake)Chelsey Dunkle So. SQ Brookings, S.D. (Brookings)Megan Duwell * Sr. 3V # West Bend, Wis. (West Bend West)Katelan Dyson Jr. SQ Roseville, Minn. (Roseville Area)Jaclyn Edmonds Jr. SQ Eau Claire, Wis. (Eau Claire Memorial)Christina Engstrom Sr. SQ West Bend, Wis. (West Bend West)Emily Fowler So. SQ Middleton, Wis. (Middleton)Becca Gusmer RFr. RS Green Bay, Wis. (Preble)Tari Helmers Jr. SQ Minot, N.D. (Minot)Celia Hemmerich Sr. SQ Sparta, Wis. (Sparta)Katie Hill Fr. HS Onalaska, Wis. (Onalaska)Laura Koch Jr. RS Waukesha, Wis. (Waukesha West)Mikaya Larson RFr. RS Edina, Minn. (Edina)Amy Laskowske Sr. 3V # Palatine, Ill. (Palatine)Danielle LeBreck So. SQ Cary, Ill. (Prarie Ridge)Jenna Lewein Jr. SQ West Allis, Wis. (Nathan Hale)Taylor Light So. SQ Minnetonka, Minn. (Minnetonka)Amanda Meagher So. SQ Readfield, Wis. (New London)Emma Miller Sr. SQ Menomonie, Wis. (Menomonie/St. Thomas)Kaitlin Mincke Fr. HS Farmington, Minn. (Farmington)Katie Moraczewski Fr. HS White Bear Lake, Minn. (White Bear Lake)Marie Muscala So. SQ Minneapolis, Minn. (Benilde St. Margaret’s)Calla Nelson Jr. SQ Roseville, Minn. (Roseville Area)Cassy Opitz Fr. HS Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie)Paige Orcutt So. SQ Sioux Falls, S.D. (O’Gorman)Stephanie Price So. SQ Mankato, Minn. (Loyola Catholic)Claire Rindo RFr. RS Berlin, Wis. (Berlin)Kathryn Ritter RFr. RS Mukwonago, Wis. (Mukwonago)Kathryn Salvatore Jr. SQ Roseville, Minn. (Roseville Area)Jessica Schmidt Fr. HS DePere, WIs. (West DePere)Alyson Siegrist Sr. SQ Wesley, Iowa (Summit Academy)Megan Smith Jr. RS Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie)Brittni Swanson Jr. SQ Hartford, Wis. (Hartford Union)Nikki Swenson Jr. 2V # Dawson, Minn. (Lac qui Perle)Annie Talajkowski Fr. HS Whitefish Bay, Wis. (Whitefish Bay)Bre Valle Fr. HS Minnetonka, Minn. (Minnetonka)Mallory Van Ness Sr. 2V # Shoreview, Minn. (Mounds View / Missouri)Jamie Vandenberg Fr. HS Niagara, Wis. (Niagara)Melissa Varpress Fr. HS Montevideo, Minn. (Montevideo)Michelle Volz Fr. HS Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville North)Kayla Wagner Fr. HS Baldwin, Wis. (Baldwin-Woodville)Kelly Wilson Sr. SQ Ortonville, Mich. (Brandon)Elizabeth Yetzer * Sr. 3V # Lakeville, Minn. (Lakeville North)Kayla Zander Sr. SQ Waunakee, Wis. (Waunakee)Head Coach: Gary Wilson (25th Season)Volunteer Assistant Head Coach: Sarah Hesser Volunteer Student Administrative Assistant: Gabriele Anderson

Key: V - Varsity Letters Earned; SQ - Squad Member; RS - Redshirt; HS - High School, TR - Transfer, * - Captains, # - 2008 Letterwinner

USTFCCCA NCAAMen's CC Poll

Conducted bythe U.S. Cross Country Coaches AssociationPoll 7 - Nov. 17, 2009

Rank Team Points1. Stanford 3592. Oklahoma State 3493. Alabama 3264. Portland 3175. BYU 3066. Colorado 2967. William & Mary 2878. Oregon 2819. Syracuse 256

10. Wisconsin 24711. Iona 23412. New Mexico 23213. Northern Arizona 21814. Georgetown 20815. Washington 18816. Oklahoma 17017. Villanova 16718. North Carolina State 16219. Arkansas 13620. Florida State 12221. Providence 12022. Arizona State 10323. Louisville 8924. Iowa State 7325. Auburn 6426. Duke 5127. Virginia 5028. Michigan State 4929. Texas 31

Minnesota 31

USTFCCCA NCAAWomen's CC Poll

Conducted by the U.S. Cross Country Coaches AssociationPoll 6 - Nov. 17, 2009

Rank Team Points1. Washington 3582. Villanova 3503. Princeton 3194. Oregon 3175. Florida 3156. Colorado 2997. West Virginia 2908. Florida State 2769. Texas Tech 263

10. Stanford 22511. Penn State 22312. Syracuse 22013. Minnesota 21714. Duke 21115. Georgetown 19816. Illinois 18817. Arizona State 16818. Iowa State 14519. BYU 13520. Virginia 13321. Providence 12822. SMU 11123. UTEP 9624. Notre Dame 8125. New Mexico 7426. Baylor 6327. Ohio State 5128. Arizona 4429. Michigan 4030. Indiana 20

2009 | GOLDEN GOPHER CROSS COUNTRY | 2009

Name (Date) Oz Memorial (9/11) Roy Griak (9/26) Pre-NCAA (10/17) Jim Drews Inv. (10/17) Big Ten (11/1) NCAA Midwest (11/14) NCAA Champ. (11/23)6K Race 8K Race 8K Race 8K Race 5.2-Mile Race 10K Race 10K Race

Location Falcon Heights, Minn. Falcon Heights, Minn. Terre Haute, Ind. West Salem, Wis. State College, Pa. Springfield, Mo. Terre Haute, Ind.Matt Barrett DNC 25:01.0 (6, 3) 24:39.1 (60, 3) DNC 25:35.2 (9, 2) 31:05.0 (15, 2)Ben Blankenship DNC 24:56.9 (4, 2) 24:11.2 (24, 2) DNC 25:53.4 (18, 3) 31:48.3 (28, 3)Travis Burkstrand 19:31.64 (7, 3) 26:27.5 (70, 8) 26:24.7 (200, 7) DNC DNC DNCPieter Gagnon 19:04.58 (2, 1) 25:31.8 (32, 4) 25:00.8 (90, 4) DNC 26:09.4 (27, 4) 32:02.8 (38, 4)Paul Hilsen 19:18.37 (3, 2) 26:08.3 (60, 6) 25:51.3 (162, 5) DNC 27:06.2 (58, 5) 34:27.7 (117, 7)Nick Hutton 20:00.57 (20, 7) DNF DNC 26:32.2 (98, 4) DNC DNCDavid Krueger DNF DNC DNC DNC DNC DNCKevin Lachowitzer DNC 26:06.5 (59, 5) DNC 25:41.0 (27, 1) DNC DNCAndrew Larson DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNCJoe McFarland 19:48.49 (15, 6) 26:55.3 (102, 9) DNC 26:31.3 (95, 3) DNC DNCMike McFarland DNC 26:14.3 (62, 7) DNC DNC 27:42.9 (76, 7) 32:32.9 (51,5)Hassan Mead DNC 24:37.5 (1, 1) 23:49.2 (5, 1) DNC 25:00.2 (1, 1) 30:31.9 (1, 1)Sean Olson DNC DNC 25:59.6 (173, 6) DNC DNC DNCDrew Paradis DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNCAndy Richardson 19:42.79 (12, 5) 27:30.5 (130, 10) DNC 26:18.0 (69, 2) DNC DNCDerek Storkel DNC DNC DNC DNC 26:41.9 (44, 5) 33:01.7 (66, 6)Steve Sulkin DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNCMike Torchia DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNCEric Truedson DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNCMatt Volz 19:37.72 (11, 4) 27:50.9 (135, 11) DNC DNC DNC DNC(Individual Finish)

Meet (Date) Oz Memorial (9/11) Roy Griak (9/26) Pre-NCAA (10/17) Jim Drews Inv. (10/17) Big Ten (11/1) NCAA Midwest (11/14) NCAA Champ. (11/23)6K Race 8K Race 8K Race 8K Race 5.2-Mile Race 10K Race 10K Race

Team Finish 1st of 4 (22) 4th of 18 (101) 11th of 35 (341) No team score 3rd of 10 (97) 4th of 25 (125)1-2-4-7-8- 1-4-6-32-58- 5-24-60-90-162- 1-9-18-27-42- 1-14-26-36-48-(10)-(15) (59)-(61) (173)-(200) (55)-(66) (63)-(112)

Other results: St. Olaf Opener, (9/5, 5K, Northfield, Minn.): Travis Burkstrand, 15:39 (1), Matt Volz, 15:52 (3), Joe McFarland, 16:17 (4), Nick Hutton, 16:20 (5), David Krueger, 16:53 (17)

2009 Golden Gopher Men’s Cross CountryIndividual Results — as of Nov. 14

Hassan MeadJr. • Minneapolis, Minn.

Mead at the NCAA Cross Country Championships2007 – 43rd, 30:37.6 (All-American)

2008 – 31st, 30:06.2 (All-American)

Mead’s AccoladesFive-time All-American (3 in cross country / 2 track)2008 and 2009 Big Ten and NCAA Midwest Region CC championFive-time Big Ten track champion

Coach Steve Plasencia on Hassan

“Hassan has had another great season win-ning Big Ten and Midwest Region titles forthe second consecutive year. We are veryhopefully that he can have a great race atthe NCAA Championship next Monday.”

Matt BarrettSr. • Monroe, Wis.

Barrett at the NCAA Cross Country Championships2008 – 160th, 31:23.6

Barrett’s Accolades2008 and 2009 All-Midwest Region

Coach Steve Plasencia on Matt

“He has had a breakthrough season in his final yearrunning for Minnesota Cross Country. Matt, one ofour captains (along with Hassan), leads by exam-ple and helps show other runners how a guy withsome talent who really dedicates himself consis-tently for a number of years can have success anda rewarding journey in Division I athletics.”

Ben BlankenshipJr. • Stillwater, Minn.

Barrett at the NCAA Cross CountryChampionships

2008 – 100th, 30:55.1

Blankenship’s Accolades

2007 and 2008 All-Midwest RegionNCAA Track Champ. Participant (1,500m)

Coach Plasencia on Ben

“Ben is primarily a mile/1,500 runner forus in track, but he has very good rangeand handles cross country well. He hasbeen seconnd or third man for us all falland has had some breakthrough races.”

Mike McFarlandJr. • Hartland, Wis.

McFarland at the NCAA Cross CountryChampionships

2007 – 161st, 31:36.5

2008 – 171st, 31:27.0

McFarland’s Accolades

2007 and 2008 All-Midwest Region

Coach Plasencia on Mike:

“Mike missed two critical weeks of train-ing due to the flu virus this fall and isjust now showing good fitness. He hadhis best race of the season at the Mid-west Regional.”

Sean OlsonSo. • Menomonie, Wis.

Olson at the NCAA Cross CountryChampionships

2008 – Alternate

Coach Plasencia on Sean:

“For Sean it has been kind of a ‘starcrossed’ fall experiencing both injuryand illness. Only recently has he ap-proached 100 percent health and wethink it is just in time to help our squadon Monday.”

Pieter GagnonR-Fr. • Minneapolis, Minn.

Gagnon at the NCAA Cross CountryChampionships

First Appearance

Coach Plasencia on Pieter:

“As a redshirt freshman, Pieter hasstarted his varsity career here with avery solid season. Pieter has beenfourth runner for us since the Griak In-vitational.”

Paul HilsenR-Fr. • Lakeville, Minn.

Hilsen at the NCAA Cross CountryChampionships

First Appearance

Coach Plasencia on Paul:

“Paul has been a middle distance run-ner for us in track but has shown verygood progress at the longer distancesfor us this fall and captured a spot onour traveling roster.”

Derek StorkelFr. • Tomah, Wis.

Storkel at the NCAA Cross CountryChampionships

First appearance

Coach Plasencia on Derek:

“Several weeks back I approachedDerek about abandoning our redshirtplans and racing for the varsity in hisfirst fall here. Derek did not hesitatewhen asked to step in and race. I amgrateful for his sacrifice and we all knowthat his contribution helped us move upa team place in the Big Ten Cross Coun-try meet.”