University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Gain Experience at BYU
9/17/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
MINNEAPOLIS - Several young Gophers got their first experience on the road as Minnesota's top 12 runners traveled to Provo, Utah, for the BYU Autumn Classic last weekend.
Underclassmen made up half of the Gophers' travel party, as the group included one true freshman, two redshirt freshmen and three redshirt sophomores. The veterans and rookies alike were up to the challenge as Minnesota secured the team title with five top-10 finishers.
Head coach Sarah Hopkins was especially encouraged by the poise and focus shown by the Gophers' young runners.
"They handled it really well," Hopkins said. "To be on the road for the first time in a unique situation in kind of a different role, competing farther away from home and traveling on an airplane, it's a lot to handle."
Redshirt freshman Danielle Anderson and true freshman Bailey Ness were among Minnesota's top seven finishers as Anderson placed ninth overall in 18:21.1 and Ness came in 16th in 18:43.6. Fellow redshirt freshman Madeline Strandemo clocked a time of 19:03.4 over the three-mile course for 27th place.
"They performed very admirably," Hopkins said. "Danielle was our fourth runner, and Bailey was our seventh. Obviously, they stepped up to the challenge. Sometimes, being young, you don't think too much, you just go in there and run, and that is a huge asset when you use it that way."
Ness overcame an extra challenge in her first official race in Maroon & Gold as well.
"Bailey actually lost her shoe 50 meters into the race and ran 4,950 meters with one shoe, so it's even more impressive what she was able to do," Hopkins said, with a trace of astonishment in her voice. "I didn't even notice until she was on the last loop, which means that she really showed no signs of it.
"Other than that, it was a really solid first experience for them, and I think they learned a lot from the meet and took some confidence away from it."
The Gophers' more veteran runners led Minnesota's charge as redshirt juniors Becca Dyson, Kaila Urick and Liz Berkholtz were the team's top three finishers. Hopkins was pleased with the progress made by the entire squad at BYU, noting the steps taken by the Gopher veterans as well.
"Even the upperclassmen, who have been trying to have break-throughs or trying to make moves, had a good experience," Hopkins said. "Jamie Piepenburg had a great race, and obviously, Becca Dyson had a wonderful race."
Dyson's team-leading performance marked the first time in her career that she finished as the Gophers' top runner. Her runner-up showing was also the highest individual finish of her collegiate career. Hopkins was also encouraged by the continued progress of redshirt senior Ashlie Decker, by far one of Minnesota's most experienced runners on this year's team.
"Ashlie Decker had a really solid follow-up to her individual win at the Oz Memorial in terms of being 10th at the Intrasquad and then being fifth for us at BYU," Hopkins said. "That upper group is doing what they're supposed to do, which is lead, be up front and kind of take the reins."
The Gophers do not compete this week in preparation for next weekend's Roy Griak Invitational, when they'll return to their home course at Les Bolstad Golf Course to host some of the top teams in the nation.
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Players Mentioned
