Nov. 2, 2008
ANN ARBOR, MI – The Hawkeyes, riding on the success of their usual star performers, earned the women’s team a sixth place finish (151 pts.) and the men’s team a seventh place finish (169th pts.) in sunday’s Big Ten Championships. The women ran a 6,000 meter race and the men ran an 8,000 meter race. Minnesota was the top women’s team and Wisconsin was the top men’s team.
Senior Racheal Marchand (3rd, 20:28.5) was again the Hawks’ top finisher and earned a new personal best. Her performance also earned her first team all-Big Ten honors. Three other Harriers finished in the top 50: graduate student Sarah Spencer Perry (21st, 21:33.9), freshman Brooke Eilers (38th, 22:03.4), and freshman Betsy Flood (39th, 22:03.5). Head Coach Layne Anderson admitted that this was not the day they hoped for, but was pleased by some good individual performances. The top individual performer was Michigan State’s Nicole Bush (20:15.8).
Junior Jesse Luciano (9th, 24:52.2) led the Hawkeyes yet again and was named second team all-Big Ten. Head Coach Larry Wieczorek said that the team’s finish was definitely not due to a lack of effort, citing strong performances by sophomores Mark Battista (39th, 25:31.6) and Sam Bailin (50th, 25:40.4). However, it might be senior Andy Napier (48th, 25:38.6) who epitomized the team’s heart by earning a top 50 finish despite losing a shoe early on in the race. The top individual performer was Hassan Mead (24:26.4) of Minnesota.
Both teams will compete in the NCAA Regional meet in Stillwater, OK, on Nov 15.