The University of Wisconsin men's cross country team will head to Chicago this weekend to take part in their second meet of the season, the Sean Earl Loyola Lakefront Invitational.
Ranked No. 6 nationally by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the Badgers will try to continue their successful results from earlier in the season.
At their last meet in Dekalb, Ill., Wisconsin runners swept the top five positions at the Northern Illinois Huskie Open. Ryan Craven, Ryan Gasper, Elliot Krause and Christian Wagner crossed the line as a team, with fellow Badger Tim Pierie completing the top five. That finish earned Wisconsin a No. 2 ranking in the Great Lakes Region by the coaches association.
Despite their success two weeks ago, head coach Mick Byrne says he does not see the team doing as well this weekend. Byrne, who replaced former head coach Jerry Schumacher this year, will release the names of Wisconsin's team at the Loyola meet on Wednesday, but says it will mostly be freshman and walk-on runners.
Every meet has a purpose,"" Byrne said. ""This weekend we're going to try real hard ... [and] give the young guys an opportunity to wear the uniform.""
For Byrne, a successful weekend in Chicago would mean giving young team members a chance to compete at a major meet, while keeping the team's more experienced athletes - including its three seniors - healthy and ready for tough competitions later in the year.
""They're the guys that will carry the weight of the team on their shoulders,"" Byrne said. ""We need to protect them and make sure they don't get banged up.""
Freshman Danny Buechel is one of the young runners getting at shot in Chicago this weekend. Although the team will not expect the same success it had at the Huskie Open two weeks ago, Buechel said the Loyola meet is important for the team's long-term benefit.
""I think it's a great strategy,"" Buechel said. ""It gives hope for the future by giving younger runners a chance to run in a big meet.""
Buechel said the Badgers' goal for this weekend's competition is to ""work together and work off each other to finish the best we can as a team.""
Saturday will mark the 36th running of the Loyola Lakefront Invitational, which will host 35 colleges, as well as high school and elementary school teams. The Wisconsin men's team event will start at 11 a.m. Saturday at Montrose Beach in Chicago's north side.
Although the Loyola meet will be more about giving younger runners a shot at competing than going for a dominant win, Byrne said that his objective for the season and national finals is the same.
""The big goal for our year will be to defend our Big Ten title,"" Byrne said. ""Last year we were fifth at Nationals, it would be nice to get a podium.""
