Both the UW men's and UW women's cross country teams came away with top-five finishes at the NCAA Championships Monday at LaVern Gibson Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Ind.
The men's team barely missed out on a second consecutive national championship, placing second for the fourth time in the past five years with 142 points. Colorado outlasted the Badgers with 94 points for its second national championship in three years. UW was also a runner-up to the Buffaloes in 2004.
Three Badger runners placed in the top 25 individually to earn All-American accolades. Sophomore Stu Eagon placed 11th to lead the Badgers, while senior Tim Nelson and sophomore Matt Withrow placed 18th and 24th, respectively, to receive the honors. BYU's Josh Rohatinsky won the individual championship with a time of 30:44.9, nearly eight seconds ahead of runner-up Neftalem Araia of Stanford.
Senior Chris Solinsky, a tri-captain and three-time All-American, finished 73rd. Freshman Craig Miller, sophomore Christian Wagner and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Brandon Bethke finished 90th, 95th and 198th, respectively, to round out the Badger runners.
The Badgers, ranked No. 1 for most of the season, capped a season in which it took home championships at the Pioneer Harrier Invitational, the Jim Drews Invitational, the Big Ten Championships and the Great Lakes Regional.
Entering the championships with the goal of finishing in the top four to receive a trophy, the women's team accomplished its goal by taking home fourth place, its best finish under head coach Jim Stintzi and since 1999, when it also came in fourth at the NCAA Championships. The Badgers captured 262 points, placing behind NCAA Champion Stanford, who took home its second consecutive championship, runner-up Colorado and Big Ten foe Michigan.
The Badgers were led by All-American performances from freshman Hanna Grinaker and senior Katrina Rundhaug. Grinaker, the 2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, placed 13th, while Rundhaug took 23rd to cap off her career in a season in which she nabbed All-Big Ten honors, all-region honors and All-American accolades.
Senior ‘A Havahla Haynes also ran the last meet of her career and placed 53rd overall. Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech took home the individual title with a time of 20:11.1.
Sophomores Sarah Hurley and Ashley Benson crossed the finish line in 105th and 139th, respectively. Rounding out the UW runners were freshman Maggie Hippman and junior Emily Post. Hippman placed 195th with Post right behind her at 198th.
The Badgers took home runner-up finishes at both the Big Ten Championships and the Great Lakes Regional in 2006.
