University of Minnesota Athletics
WCC: Lauren Williams Named Gophers' Most Valuable Runner
12/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Williams was selected to the team's top honor by a vote of her teammates. The Edina, Minn., native was the Gophers' number-one runner in six meets this season and ran to second-team All-Big Ten and All-Midwest Region honors. Her time of 21 minutes, 14.95 seconds in placing 19th at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships, is the seventh fastest in Minnesota history.
Freshman Ladia Albertson-Junkans was named the team's Rookie of the Year. Albertson-Junkans finished one place out of individual honors at both the Big Ten and NCAA Midwest Region Championships. Her time of 21:28.97 at the Midwest Region meet was the 11th best in school history and the third-fastest time run by a freshman.
Other team awards announced were: Most Improved Runner - Stefanie Zeihen; Comeback Runner of the Year - Emily Brown; Tough as Nails Award - Jen Hess and the Blue Collar Award - Katie Howery. The entire 2004 squad shared the Coaches' Award.
Varsity letters for the 2004 season were awarded to Albertson-Junkans, Gabriele Anderson, Brown, Carly Emil, Tracy Fleischhacker, Hess, Sarah Hesser, Howery, Harper McConnell, Zoe Nagell, Jessica Syfko, Annie Wells, Williams, Annie Yetzer and Zeihen.
The 2004 team captains, Fleishhacker, McConnell, Hesser, Lisa Remark and Darja Vasiljeva were recognized for their leadership of the squad. The banquet was concluded with the announcement of the captains for the 2005 Golden Gophers: Remark, McConnell and Williams.
Players Mentioned
