University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Chase Fifth Straight Top-12 Finish at NCAAs
11/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Golden Gopher Cross Country This Week:
2009 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships
Monday, Nov. 23
Men — 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 Network
Webcast - 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 11:58 a.m. (CT).
• Golden Gopher Women Consistent - The Minnesota women’s cross country team is coming off their third consecutive title at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships. The Golden Gophers are among an elite trio of teams to 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 defended both 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.
NCAA Cross Country Championships
The Minnesota women’s cross country team will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., to compete in the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Monday, Nov. 23. The Golden Gophers are making their fifth consecutive trip to the national meet. The women’s 6-kilometer begins at 11:58 a.m. (CT). Indiana State plays host to the meet at the LaVern Gibson Championships Course.
Watch It Live
The NCAA Cross Country Championships will be broadcast live on Versus TV Network and streamed online via NCAA.com. Check out Flotrack.com for additional coverage and interviews from the national meet.
Consistency at the Highest Level
Minnesota has finished in the top 12 in each of the last four NCAA Championships placing the Golden Gophers among an elite group of teams to consistently 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 Field
Thirty-one (31) teams will compete in the NCAA Championships, 18 of them, including Minnesota, having earned automatic berths in the NCAA field by placing in the top two of last weekend’s region championships. The NCAA field is completed by 13 at-large teams and 38 individual student-athletes who advanced with top regional finishes.
Big Ten Set Record With Seven Teams to NCAAs
The Big Ten Conference will be represented by a record seven teams at the NCAA Championships, three of them (Illinois, Minnesota and Ohio State) who earned automatic berths. Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State were at-large selections. The Big Ten had six teams compete in the NCAA meets the last two years.
Golden Gophers Ranked No. 13 Heading into the NCAAs
Minnesota is ranked No. 13 in this week’s the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches 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 Preview
Defending champion Washington is the favorite to repeat in the team competition. The Huskies have held the No. 1 rank in the national poll all season. Other teams in the top five are Villanova, Princeton, Oregon and Florida. Texas Tech’s Sally Kipyego the NCAA individual champion the last three years has graduated.
Minnesota at the NCAA Championships
Minnesota will make its 13th appearance in the NCAA Cross Country Championships and fifth consecutively. The Golden Gophers posted their highest finish in school history in 2005, placing ninth, then 11th in 2006 and 12th in 2007 and 11th in 2008. Megan Duwell ran to All-America honors in 2008.
A Senior Class Like No Other
The Golden Gophers’ senior class of 2009 has enjoyed more success than any other in Minnesota cross country history. Among this senior class are six runners who will represent 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 six Gophers have left an incredible legacy in the history of the program. Combined they have celebrated:
 • 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 Career
Heather Dorniden will run her final competition at the NCAA Championships writing the final chapter of a brilliant Golden Gopher collegiate career. Dorniden has competed in 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 NCAA All-America honors, including a national title in the indoor 800 meters in 2006.
The Golden Gopher Lineup
Seven Golden Gophers will compete at the NCAA Championships. A team’s final lineup does not have to be declared until the day of the competition. Following is a list of possible participants and a listing of any previous experience at the national meet.
Jamie Cheever (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest) - alternate
2006 - 150th, 22:31.4
2007 - 33rd, 20:58.3 (All-American)
2008 - 164th, 21:41.5
Heather Dorniden (Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Rosemount)
2006 - 185th, 22:50.6
2007, 186th, 22:15.2
2008, 135th, 21:28.8
Megan Duwell (Sr., West Bend, Wis./West Bend West HS)
2007 - 147th, 21:52.5
2008 - 32nd, 20:36.5 (All-American)
Amy Laskowske (Sr., Palatine, Ill./Palatine HS)
2006 - 157th, 22:33.4
2008 - 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, 21:19.4
Kayla Wagner (Fr., Baldwin, Wis./Baldwin-Woodville HS)
Elizabeth Yetzer (Sr., Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS)
2006 - 22:11.8, 108th
2007 - 105th, 21:34.5
Golden Gopher Coaching Staff
Gary Wilson, the dean of the Big Ten women’s cross country coaches, is in his 25th season heading the Minnesota program. He is assisted by volunteer assistant head coach, Sarah Hesser, who is in her fifth season on the coaching staff after competing for the Golden Gophers.
Gary Wilson Honored as USTFCCCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year
Minnesota head coach Gary Wilson was honored as the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season. Wilson directed the Golden Gophers to NCAA Midwest Region in each of the last three years..
Minnesota Wins Third Consecutive Midwest Region Crown
The Minnesota women’s cross country captured the team title, and an automatic berth to the national meet, at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships in Springfield, Mo., on Saturday, Nov. 14. The Golden Gophers landed all seven runners in the top 25 to earn all-region honors.
“We ran like a team on a mission,” said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. “After the Big Ten meet we felt we had a little something to prove today. This was by far our best team race of the season.”
Senior Megan Duwell paced the Gophers’ effort covering the 5-kilometer Missouri State course in a school-record time of 20 minutes, 14.5 seconds and capturing runner-up honors. Duwell’s time was almost five seconds faster than the previous Minnesota record mark of 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 ahead in the race’s final 500 meters to win in 20:07.5. Illinois finished second in the Midwest Region to earn the region’s other NCAA automatic qualifier.
The Gophers captured their third consecutive Midwest Region title compiling 60 team points. For the first time in Minnesota history, every Gopher competitor earned all-region accord.
Senior Amy Laskowske ran her finest race of the season finishing as the Gophers’ number-two runner and placing ninth overall. Laskowske was clocked in a career-best time of 21:04.5.
“Amy ran great today,” said Wilson. “She rebounded very well from a race (the Big Ten meet) where she was our ninth finisher.”
Senior Heather Dorniden posted her highest finish at a regional meet, placing 14th in a time of 21:15.4.
The three non-seniors of the Gopher lineup teamed to grab consecutive finishes at 19th, 20th and 21st. Sophomore Stephanie Price led the trio with a time of 21:26.9, followed 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 time of 21:34.7. All four Gopher seniors – Duwell, Laskowske, Dorniden and Yetzer – are now three-time career all-region honorees.
2009 NCAA Midwest Region Cross Country Championships
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009
Missouri State Cross Country Course – 6K
Springfield, Mo.
Team Results
1. Minnesota 2-8-13-18-19-(20)-(24) 60
2. Illinois 1-4-11-22-48-(64)-(65) 86
3. Iowa State 3-9-15-34-45-(47) 106
4. Nebraska 10-28-30-35-44-(60)-(68) 147
5. Iowa 12-32-33-41-42-(43)-(52) 160
* 22 teams competed
Top Individuals
1. Angela Bizarri (Illinois) 20:07.5
2. Megan Duwell (Minnesota) 20:14.5
3. Lisa Koll (Iowa State) 20:19.2
4. Kristin Sutherland (Illinois) 20:44.1
5. Lauren Bonds (Kansas) 20:49.1
6. Beverly Ramos (Kansas State) 20:55.9
7. Mihaela Susa (Oklahoma State) 20:59.6
8. Kaitie Vanatta (Missouri) 21:01.8
9. Amy Laskowske (Minnesota) 21:04.5
10. Aliphine Tuliamuk (Iowa State) 21:04.6
Other Golden Gopher Finishes
14. Heather Dorniden 21:15.4
19. Stephanie Price 21:26.9
20. Kayla Wagner 21:28.5
21. Nikki Swenson 21:32.3
25. Elizabeth Yetzer 21:34.7
Gophers, Duwell Third at Big Ten Championships
Minnesota had won the previous two Big Ten Cross Country Championships by single digits. This season, the result was once again decided by single digits with a margin of just nine points separating the top three teams. The Golden Gophers were on the short end this time around placing third.
Penn State captured its first Big Ten cross country title with 71 points, hosting the Championships on their home course. Senior Bridget Franek won the individual title with a time 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-best time of 20 minutes, 23 seconds to match the third-fastest (Jamie Cheever, 2007) 6-kilometer 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 and earning All-Big Ten Second Team honors.
Completing the Gophers’ scoring was Stephanie Price, Heather Dorniden and Elizabeth Yetzer. Price, a sophomore, finished 18th in the Big Ten Cross Country Championships crossing the finish line in a time of 21:19. Dorniden was 20th in a time of 21:21, while Yetzer finished 25th in 21:29. Other Gophers competing were Mallory Van Ness, who placed 29th in 21:31; and Amy Laskowske, who placed 34th in 21:38.
Duwell Finishes Third in Pre-NCAA White Race
Minnesota 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-NCAA Meet is held on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course, the site of the NCAA Cross Country Championships each fall.
Duwell covered the 6-kilometer course in a time of 20:31.5, a solid time considering soft track conditions. Duwell finished 4.2 seconds after Illinois’ Angela Bizarri, who won the race in 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 Washington collected three top-five finishes to easily win the team title with 59 points. Florida was the team 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 whole road trip,” said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. “I think it’s going to one of those type of seasons where we are going to have to work very hard for everything we get. From a race standpoint, we got out a little too slow as a team. We continued to battle, but against this good of competition, any mistakes are magnified.”
The Gophers travel posed a challenge. Delays and finally a rearranged flight schedule got the squad to Terre Haute but the stage was already set. It was past midnight before the team settled into their hotel rooms for the night.
Wilson recognized the efforts of the two youngest Gophers on the trip, sophomore Stephanie Price and freshman Kayla Wagner. “These two ran very well today,” he said. “We needed them to step up and they have.”
Price notched her highest team finish of her Gopher career running to the team’s No. 2 spot. She placed 43rd overall in a time of 21:32.3. Wagner was the Gophers’ fourth finisher, 57th overall, in 21:41.7.
The other scorers for the Gophers were Elizabeth Yetzer, who finished 53rd in a time of 21:40.2 and Nikki Swenson, who placed 58th in 21:42.2. Closing out the Gophers competing 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; we were able to have a solid finish in the White Race, and also have four runners finish in the top 13 of the open race.”
Duwell Wins Griak Title, Honored by Big Ten
Minnesota senior Megan Duwell captured her second Big Ten Runner of the Week accolade of the season as the Conference office recognized her accomplishment of winning the individual title at the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 26. A West Bend, Wis., native, Duwell is the first Golden Gopher to capture two Big Ten Runner of the Week awards in the same season. Duwell was also honored by the Big Ten after winning the Oz Memorial Run title earlier this month.
Duwell WIns Griak Title, Gophers Second as a Team
Golden Gopher senior All-American Megan Duwell wrote her name in the Griak Invitational record 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, joining Rasa (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 win by over 12 seconds over runner-up Lisa Koll (Iowa State). Duwell’s time is the fourth-best time in Minnesota history by a Gopher on their home 6-kilometer course at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights.
Minnesota’s streak of Griak titles was ended at two by Iowa State, who landed five runners in the top 10 to tally 31 points and take home their first Griak crown. The Gophers finished 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 finished 11th in 22:01.57 and started a string of five consecutive Minnesota finishes. Amy Laskowske was 12th in 22:03.27, followed by Kayla Wagner (13th, 22:07.32), Heather Dorniden (14th, 22:16.82) and Mallory Van Ness (15th, 22:20.42).
Duwell WIns Griak Title, Honored by Big Ten
Minnesota senior Megan Duwell was named the Co-Big Ten Cross Country Runner of the Week after defending her individual title in the Oz Memorial Run on Sept. 11. Duwell ran an impressive 21 minutes 13.24 seconds, beating the 6-kilometer race’s second place finisher by 53 seconds and leading her teammates to a first-place team finish. This was Duwell’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 to finish ninth at the NCAA Championships. In the time between Brown and Duwell’s awards Minnesota has won two Big Ten Championships and has placed 12th or higher at the NCAA Championships in three appearances.
“I was surprised to find out that we had not won a Big Ten weekly award for such a long time, considering the caliber of the teams we’ve had here in recent years. Megan has been training very hard and is very deserving of this award,” said head coach Gary Wilson.
2009 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships
Monday, Nov. 23
Men — 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 Network
Webcast - 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 11:58 a.m. (CT).
• Golden Gopher Women Consistent - The Minnesota women’s cross country team is coming off their third consecutive title at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships. The Golden Gophers are among an elite trio of teams to 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 defended both 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.
NCAA Cross Country Championships
The Minnesota women’s cross country team will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., to compete in the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Monday, Nov. 23. The Golden Gophers are making their fifth consecutive trip to the national meet. The women’s 6-kilometer begins at 11:58 a.m. (CT). Indiana State plays host to the meet at the LaVern Gibson Championships Course.
Watch It Live
The NCAA Cross Country Championships will be broadcast live on Versus TV Network and streamed online via NCAA.com. Check out Flotrack.com for additional coverage and interviews from the national meet.
Consistency at the Highest Level
Minnesota has finished in the top 12 in each of the last four NCAA Championships placing the Golden Gophers among an elite group of teams to consistently 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 Field
Thirty-one (31) teams will compete in the NCAA Championships, 18 of them, including Minnesota, having earned automatic berths in the NCAA field by placing in the top two of last weekend’s region championships. The NCAA field is completed by 13 at-large teams and 38 individual student-athletes who advanced with top regional finishes.
Big Ten Set Record With Seven Teams to NCAAs
The Big Ten Conference will be represented by a record seven teams at the NCAA Championships, three of them (Illinois, Minnesota and Ohio State) who earned automatic berths. Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State were at-large selections. The Big Ten had six teams compete in the NCAA meets the last two years.
Golden Gophers Ranked No. 13 Heading into the NCAAs
Minnesota is ranked No. 13 in this week’s the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches 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 Preview
Defending champion Washington is the favorite to repeat in the team competition. The Huskies have held the No. 1 rank in the national poll all season. Other teams in the top five are Villanova, Princeton, Oregon and Florida. Texas Tech’s Sally Kipyego the NCAA individual champion the last three years has graduated.
Minnesota at the NCAA Championships
Minnesota will make its 13th appearance in the NCAA Cross Country Championships and fifth consecutively. The Golden Gophers posted their highest finish in school history in 2005, placing ninth, then 11th in 2006 and 12th in 2007 and 11th in 2008. Megan Duwell ran to All-America honors in 2008.
A Senior Class Like No Other
The Golden Gophers’ senior class of 2009 has enjoyed more success than any other in Minnesota cross country history. Among this senior class are six runners who will represent 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 six Gophers have left an incredible legacy in the history of the program. Combined they have celebrated:
 • 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 Career
Heather Dorniden will run her final competition at the NCAA Championships writing the final chapter of a brilliant Golden Gopher collegiate career. Dorniden has competed in 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 NCAA All-America honors, including a national title in the indoor 800 meters in 2006.
The Golden Gopher Lineup
Seven Golden Gophers will compete at the NCAA Championships. A team’s final lineup does not have to be declared until the day of the competition. Following is a list of possible participants and a listing of any previous experience at the national meet.
Jamie Cheever (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn./Southwest) - alternate
2006 - 150th, 22:31.4
2007 - 33rd, 20:58.3 (All-American)
2008 - 164th, 21:41.5
Heather Dorniden (Sr., Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Rosemount)
2006 - 185th, 22:50.6
2007, 186th, 22:15.2
2008, 135th, 21:28.8
Megan Duwell (Sr., West Bend, Wis./West Bend West HS)
2007 - 147th, 21:52.5
2008 - 32nd, 20:36.5 (All-American)
Amy Laskowske (Sr., Palatine, Ill./Palatine HS)
2006 - 157th, 22:33.4
2008 - 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, 21:19.4
Kayla Wagner (Fr., Baldwin, Wis./Baldwin-Woodville HS)
Elizabeth Yetzer (Sr., Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North HS)
2006 - 22:11.8, 108th
2007 - 105th, 21:34.5
Golden Gopher Coaching Staff
Gary Wilson, the dean of the Big Ten women’s cross country coaches, is in his 25th season heading the Minnesota program. He is assisted by volunteer assistant head coach, Sarah Hesser, who is in her fifth season on the coaching staff after competing for the Golden Gophers.
Gary Wilson Honored as USTFCCCA Midwest Region Coach of the Year
Minnesota head coach Gary Wilson was honored as the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season. Wilson directed the Golden Gophers to NCAA Midwest Region in each of the last three years..
Minnesota Wins Third Consecutive Midwest Region Crown
The Minnesota women’s cross country captured the team title, and an automatic berth to the national meet, at the NCAA Midwest Region Championships in Springfield, Mo., on Saturday, Nov. 14. The Golden Gophers landed all seven runners in the top 25 to earn all-region honors.
“We ran like a team on a mission,” said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. “After the Big Ten meet we felt we had a little something to prove today. This was by far our best team race of the season.”
Senior Megan Duwell paced the Gophers’ effort covering the 5-kilometer Missouri State course in a school-record time of 20 minutes, 14.5 seconds and capturing runner-up honors. Duwell’s time was almost five seconds faster than the previous Minnesota record mark of 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 ahead in the race’s final 500 meters to win in 20:07.5. Illinois finished second in the Midwest Region to earn the region’s other NCAA automatic qualifier.
The Gophers captured their third consecutive Midwest Region title compiling 60 team points. For the first time in Minnesota history, every Gopher competitor earned all-region accord.
Senior Amy Laskowske ran her finest race of the season finishing as the Gophers’ number-two runner and placing ninth overall. Laskowske was clocked in a career-best time of 21:04.5.
“Amy ran great today,” said Wilson. “She rebounded very well from a race (the Big Ten meet) where she was our ninth finisher.”
Senior Heather Dorniden posted her highest finish at a regional meet, placing 14th in a time of 21:15.4.
The three non-seniors of the Gopher lineup teamed to grab consecutive finishes at 19th, 20th and 21st. Sophomore Stephanie Price led the trio with a time of 21:26.9, followed 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 time of 21:34.7. All four Gopher seniors – Duwell, Laskowske, Dorniden and Yetzer – are now three-time career all-region honorees.
2009 NCAA Midwest Region Cross Country Championships
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009
Missouri State Cross Country Course – 6K
Springfield, Mo.
Team Results
1. Minnesota 2-8-13-18-19-(20)-(24) 60
2. Illinois 1-4-11-22-48-(64)-(65) 86
3. Iowa State 3-9-15-34-45-(47) 106
4. Nebraska 10-28-30-35-44-(60)-(68) 147
5. Iowa 12-32-33-41-42-(43)-(52) 160
* 22 teams competed
Top Individuals
1. Angela Bizarri (Illinois) 20:07.5
2. Megan Duwell (Minnesota) 20:14.5
3. Lisa Koll (Iowa State) 20:19.2
4. Kristin Sutherland (Illinois) 20:44.1
5. Lauren Bonds (Kansas) 20:49.1
6. Beverly Ramos (Kansas State) 20:55.9
7. Mihaela Susa (Oklahoma State) 20:59.6
8. Kaitie Vanatta (Missouri) 21:01.8
9. Amy Laskowske (Minnesota) 21:04.5
10. Aliphine Tuliamuk (Iowa State) 21:04.6
Other Golden Gopher Finishes
14. Heather Dorniden 21:15.4
19. Stephanie Price 21:26.9
20. Kayla Wagner 21:28.5
21. Nikki Swenson 21:32.3
25. Elizabeth Yetzer 21:34.7
Gophers, Duwell Third at Big Ten Championships
Minnesota had won the previous two Big Ten Cross Country Championships by single digits. This season, the result was once again decided by single digits with a margin of just nine points separating the top three teams. The Golden Gophers were on the short end this time around placing third.
Penn State captured its first Big Ten cross country title with 71 points, hosting the Championships on their home course. Senior Bridget Franek won the individual title with a time 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-best time of 20 minutes, 23 seconds to match the third-fastest (Jamie Cheever, 2007) 6-kilometer 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 and earning All-Big Ten Second Team honors.
Completing the Gophers’ scoring was Stephanie Price, Heather Dorniden and Elizabeth Yetzer. Price, a sophomore, finished 18th in the Big Ten Cross Country Championships crossing the finish line in a time of 21:19. Dorniden was 20th in a time of 21:21, while Yetzer finished 25th in 21:29. Other Gophers competing were Mallory Van Ness, who placed 29th in 21:31; and Amy Laskowske, who placed 34th in 21:38.
Duwell Finishes Third in Pre-NCAA White Race
Minnesota 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-NCAA Meet is held on the LaVern Gibson Championship Course, the site of the NCAA Cross Country Championships each fall.
Duwell covered the 6-kilometer course in a time of 20:31.5, a solid time considering soft track conditions. Duwell finished 4.2 seconds after Illinois’ Angela Bizarri, who won the race in 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 Washington collected three top-five finishes to easily win the team title with 59 points. Florida was the team 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 whole road trip,” said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. “I think it’s going to one of those type of seasons where we are going to have to work very hard for everything we get. From a race standpoint, we got out a little too slow as a team. We continued to battle, but against this good of competition, any mistakes are magnified.”
The Gophers travel posed a challenge. Delays and finally a rearranged flight schedule got the squad to Terre Haute but the stage was already set. It was past midnight before the team settled into their hotel rooms for the night.
Wilson recognized the efforts of the two youngest Gophers on the trip, sophomore Stephanie Price and freshman Kayla Wagner. “These two ran very well today,” he said. “We needed them to step up and they have.”
Price notched her highest team finish of her Gopher career running to the team’s No. 2 spot. She placed 43rd overall in a time of 21:32.3. Wagner was the Gophers’ fourth finisher, 57th overall, in 21:41.7.
The other scorers for the Gophers were Elizabeth Yetzer, who finished 53rd in a time of 21:40.2 and Nikki Swenson, who placed 58th in 21:42.2. Closing out the Gophers competing 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; we were able to have a solid finish in the White Race, and also have four runners finish in the top 13 of the open race.”
Duwell Wins Griak Title, Honored by Big Ten
Minnesota senior Megan Duwell captured her second Big Ten Runner of the Week accolade of the season as the Conference office recognized her accomplishment of winning the individual title at the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 26. A West Bend, Wis., native, Duwell is the first Golden Gopher to capture two Big Ten Runner of the Week awards in the same season. Duwell was also honored by the Big Ten after winning the Oz Memorial Run title earlier this month.
Duwell WIns Griak Title, Gophers Second as a Team
Golden Gopher senior All-American Megan Duwell wrote her name in the Griak Invitational record 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, joining Rasa (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 win by over 12 seconds over runner-up Lisa Koll (Iowa State). Duwell’s time is the fourth-best time in Minnesota history by a Gopher on their home 6-kilometer course at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights.
Minnesota’s streak of Griak titles was ended at two by Iowa State, who landed five runners in the top 10 to tally 31 points and take home their first Griak crown. The Gophers finished 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 finished 11th in 22:01.57 and started a string of five consecutive Minnesota finishes. Amy Laskowske was 12th in 22:03.27, followed by Kayla Wagner (13th, 22:07.32), Heather Dorniden (14th, 22:16.82) and Mallory Van Ness (15th, 22:20.42).
Duwell WIns Griak Title, Honored by Big Ten
Minnesota senior Megan Duwell was named the Co-Big Ten Cross Country Runner of the Week after defending her individual title in the Oz Memorial Run on Sept. 11. Duwell ran an impressive 21 minutes 13.24 seconds, beating the 6-kilometer race’s second place finisher by 53 seconds and leading her teammates to a first-place team finish. This was Duwell’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 to finish ninth at the NCAA Championships. In the time between Brown and Duwell’s awards Minnesota has won two Big Ten Championships and has placed 12th or higher at the NCAA Championships in three appearances.
“I was surprised to find out that we had not won a Big Ten weekly award for such a long time, considering the caliber of the teams we’ve had here in recent years. Megan has been training very hard and is very deserving of this award,” said head coach Gary Wilson.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
2025 Griak Invitational Hype
Friday, September 19
Cinematic Recap: 2025 Oz Memorial
Tuesday, September 02
Cinematic Recap: 2024 NCAA Championships
Monday, November 25
NCAA Championship Send Off
Thursday, November 21