University of Minnesota Athletics
Duwell Best-Ever Seventh at NCAAs, Gophers 10th
11/23/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Senior Megan Duwell celebrated her finest race in her Golden Gopher finale recording the highest NCAA individual finish and the fastest time in Golden Gopher women’s cross country history. Duwell placed seventh in a time of 20 minutes, 6.9 seconds, to lead Minnesota to an impressive 10th-place showing in the team standings at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., on Monday.
“I am so proud of these women,” said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. “They are good people and just wonderful representatives of the University of Minnesota.”
Duwell captured her second career All-America accolade, the fifth runner in Gopher history to earn national acclaim twice in a career. The West Bend, Wis., native ran with the front pack throughout the race. Florida State’s Susan Kuijken led much of the race but faltered late. Angela Bizzarri, an Illinois senior, took advantage and won the national title in 19:46.8. Bizzarri was second at the Big Ten Championships earlier this month.
“Megs has run tough all year,” added Wilson. “It was really exciting to see her finish that high in the nation. She’s had quite a season.”
Though Duwell brought home individual honors, the Golden Gophers’ program has always been built on the team as a tight-knit family. As a dozen Minnesota flags were carried proudly around the course, often caught by the television cameras, the Gophers notched their fifth consecutive top-12 NCAA Championships finish. Minnesota and Illinois, who finished 12th, are the only teams in the nation able to boast of that accomplishment.
Villanova landed its entire scoring five in the top 26 places to score 86 points and win the national team title by 47 points over runner-up Florida State (133). Last year’s champion, Washington, was third with 188. Minnesota, the top finisher of a record seven Big Ten teams in the meet, tallied 310. The 10th-place showing matches the second highest in school history (1983). The Gophers’ best finish ever was ninth in 2005.
Senior Heather Dorniden ended her illustrious Gopher running career by finishing as Minnesota’s second runner, placing 84th overall, in a time of 21:11.4. Dorniden is the only Gopher who competed in every NCAA Championships in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track during her Minnesota career. She earned nine All-America honors on the track and was a three-time All-NCAA Midwest Region performer in cross country.
Senior Amy Laskowske finished 88th in a time of 21:12.9 to cross the finish line as the third Gopher. Completing the scoring for the Gophers were two runners competing in their first NCAA Championships. Freshman Kayla Wagner finished 91st overall in a time of 21:15.2, while sophomore Stephanie Price was 112th and clocked a time of 21:23.8.
Also competing for the Gophers was senior Elizabeth Yetzer (121st, 21:26.3) and junior Nikki Swenson (216th, 22:18.3).
The NCAA Championships was an end to very successful cross country careers for six Golden Gophers: Duwell, Dorniden, Laskowske, Yetzer and NCAA alternates Jamie Cheever and Mallory Van Ness. This senior class of 2009 has enjoyed more success than any other in Minnesota cross country history. These six Gophers have left an incredible legacy in the history of the program. Combined they have celebrated:  • Four top-12 NCAA Championships finishes • Three (Duwell twice, Cheever) 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
The 2009 season was also Coach Wilson’s 25th campaign with the Maroon and Gold. Wilson has led Minnesota to 13 NCAA Championships appearance, 10 of the last 13 and five consecutively. He was honored as the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women’s Coach of the Year at the NCAA Championships Banquet on Saturday.
2009 NCAA Cross Country Championships
Monday, Nov. 23, 2009
LaVern Gibson Championship Course – 6K
Terre Haute, Ind.
Team Results
1 Villanova 6-12-20-22-26-(31)-(81) 86
2 Florida State 3-15-33-36-46-(138)-(166) 133
3 Washington 2-21-27-28-109-(136)-(148) 188
4 Texas Tech 17-23-38-47-66-(202)-(205) 191
5 Princeton 18-43-49-57-84-(132)-(140) 251
10 Minnesota 7-67-71-74-91-(98)-(178) 310
12 Illinois 1-35-58-127-144-(169)-(185) 365
14 Penn State 24-69-77-90-115-(163)-(168) 375
26 Michigan State 42-103-121-165-170-(203)-(211) 601
27 Michigan 28-143-153-156-157-(186)-(214) 637
29 Ohio State 107-112-125-146-183-(187)-(197) 673
31 Indiana 55-101-180-188-192-(200)-(213) 716
Top 10 Individuals
1 Angela Bizzarri (Illinois) 19:46.8
2 Kendra Schaaf (Washington) 19:51.6
3 Susan Kuijken (Florida State) 19:57.7
4 Catherine White (Virginia) 19:59.5
5 Allie McLaughlin (Colorado) 20:01.1
6 Amanda Marino (Villanova) 20:02.4
7 Megan Duwell (Minnesota) 20:06.9
8 Emily Infeld (Georgetown) 20:07.9
9 Risper Kimaiyo (UTEP) 20:10.9
10 Cecily Lemmon (BYU) 20:11.9
Golden Gopher Finishers
84 (67) Heather Dorniden 21:11.4
88 (71) Amy Laskowske 21:12.9
91 (74) Kayla Wagner 21:15.2
112 (91) Stephanie Price 21:23.8
121 (98) Elizabeth Yetzer 21:36.3
216 (178) Nikki Swenson 22:18.3
“I am so proud of these women,” said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. “They are good people and just wonderful representatives of the University of Minnesota.”
Duwell captured her second career All-America accolade, the fifth runner in Gopher history to earn national acclaim twice in a career. The West Bend, Wis., native ran with the front pack throughout the race. Florida State’s Susan Kuijken led much of the race but faltered late. Angela Bizzarri, an Illinois senior, took advantage and won the national title in 19:46.8. Bizzarri was second at the Big Ten Championships earlier this month.
“Megs has run tough all year,” added Wilson. “It was really exciting to see her finish that high in the nation. She’s had quite a season.”
Though Duwell brought home individual honors, the Golden Gophers’ program has always been built on the team as a tight-knit family. As a dozen Minnesota flags were carried proudly around the course, often caught by the television cameras, the Gophers notched their fifth consecutive top-12 NCAA Championships finish. Minnesota and Illinois, who finished 12th, are the only teams in the nation able to boast of that accomplishment.
Villanova landed its entire scoring five in the top 26 places to score 86 points and win the national team title by 47 points over runner-up Florida State (133). Last year’s champion, Washington, was third with 188. Minnesota, the top finisher of a record seven Big Ten teams in the meet, tallied 310. The 10th-place showing matches the second highest in school history (1983). The Gophers’ best finish ever was ninth in 2005.
Senior Heather Dorniden ended her illustrious Gopher running career by finishing as Minnesota’s second runner, placing 84th overall, in a time of 21:11.4. Dorniden is the only Gopher who competed in every NCAA Championships in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track during her Minnesota career. She earned nine All-America honors on the track and was a three-time All-NCAA Midwest Region performer in cross country.
Senior Amy Laskowske finished 88th in a time of 21:12.9 to cross the finish line as the third Gopher. Completing the scoring for the Gophers were two runners competing in their first NCAA Championships. Freshman Kayla Wagner finished 91st overall in a time of 21:15.2, while sophomore Stephanie Price was 112th and clocked a time of 21:23.8.
Also competing for the Gophers was senior Elizabeth Yetzer (121st, 21:26.3) and junior Nikki Swenson (216th, 22:18.3).
The NCAA Championships was an end to very successful cross country careers for six Golden Gophers: Duwell, Dorniden, Laskowske, Yetzer and NCAA alternates Jamie Cheever and Mallory Van Ness. This senior class of 2009 has enjoyed more success than any other in Minnesota cross country history. These six Gophers have left an incredible legacy in the history of the program. Combined they have celebrated:  • Four top-12 NCAA Championships finishes • Three (Duwell twice, Cheever) 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
The 2009 season was also Coach Wilson’s 25th campaign with the Maroon and Gold. Wilson has led Minnesota to 13 NCAA Championships appearance, 10 of the last 13 and five consecutively. He was honored as the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Women’s Coach of the Year at the NCAA Championships Banquet on Saturday.
2009 NCAA Cross Country Championships
Monday, Nov. 23, 2009
LaVern Gibson Championship Course – 6K
Terre Haute, Ind.
Team Results
1 Villanova 6-12-20-22-26-(31)-(81) 86
2 Florida State 3-15-33-36-46-(138)-(166) 133
3 Washington 2-21-27-28-109-(136)-(148) 188
4 Texas Tech 17-23-38-47-66-(202)-(205) 191
5 Princeton 18-43-49-57-84-(132)-(140) 251
10 Minnesota 7-67-71-74-91-(98)-(178) 310
12 Illinois 1-35-58-127-144-(169)-(185) 365
14 Penn State 24-69-77-90-115-(163)-(168) 375
26 Michigan State 42-103-121-165-170-(203)-(211) 601
27 Michigan 28-143-153-156-157-(186)-(214) 637
29 Ohio State 107-112-125-146-183-(187)-(197) 673
31 Indiana 55-101-180-188-192-(200)-(213) 716
Top 10 Individuals
1 Angela Bizzarri (Illinois) 19:46.8
2 Kendra Schaaf (Washington) 19:51.6
3 Susan Kuijken (Florida State) 19:57.7
4 Catherine White (Virginia) 19:59.5
5 Allie McLaughlin (Colorado) 20:01.1
6 Amanda Marino (Villanova) 20:02.4
7 Megan Duwell (Minnesota) 20:06.9
8 Emily Infeld (Georgetown) 20:07.9
9 Risper Kimaiyo (UTEP) 20:10.9
10 Cecily Lemmon (BYU) 20:11.9
Golden Gopher Finishers
84 (67) Heather Dorniden 21:11.4
88 (71) Amy Laskowske 21:12.9
91 (74) Kayla Wagner 21:15.2
112 (91) Stephanie Price 21:23.8
121 (98) Elizabeth Yetzer 21:36.3
216 (178) Nikki Swenson 22:18.3
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
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