University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Oz Memorial
Decker Claims Oz Memorial Title
9/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. - Senior Ashlie Decker claimed the 2014 Oz Memorial individual title, pacing the 6K field in 22:26.2 as the University of Minnesota women's cross country team officially began its 2014 season at Les Bolstad Course Friday night.
Decker led the race from start to finish, building close to a 10-second lead by the one-kilometer mark and extending her lead to over 15 seconds midway through the race. She held on for a six-second win over Bailey Ness, who ran unattached.
"It was fun to see Decker run a race like that today," head coach Sarah Hopkins said. "She has been through a lot over the past year, and to see her go out and assert herself right from the gun and not take a back seat to anybody was a really good step for her mentally. I know she's in great shape, but sometimes you have to prove it to yourself."
Behind Decker, two more attached Gopher runners claimed top-10 finishes in redshirt freshman Madeline Strandemo, who was ninth in 23:18.5, and redshirt junior Megan Bailey, who placed 10th in a career-best 23:27.8.
Redshirt junior Stacey Swatek (23:45.8) and redshirt sophomore Taylor Mikkalson (23:53.6) were the fourth and fifth Gopher runners, taking 18th and 19th, respectively.
"Overall, I thought they fought hard and handled it really well," Hopkins said of the team's execution. "I was really pleased with how some of the younger people stepped up and really performed well."
Minnesota, competing with only 13 runners, came in second in the team standings with 43 points behind Northern Iowa (39 points). South Dakota State (62), Drake (96) and Minnesota State (129) rounded out the five-team field.
Several Gophers ran unattached, including Oz Memorial runner-up Bailey Ness (22:32.7). Fellow rookies Sarah Richardson (sixth, 23:08.7), Emily Castanias (seventh, 23:14.4), Patty O'Brien (11th, 23:29.1), Courtney Alama (21st, 24:00.9), Delaney Sinnen (31st, 24:14.5) and Molly Eastman (42nd, 24:45.1) also raced unattached.
The Gophers competed without Danielle Anderson, Liz Berkholtz, Kate Bucknam, Becca Dyson, Haley Johnson, Jamie Piepenburg and Kaila Urick in preparation for next week's BYU Autumn Classic. Minnesota returns to action in Provo, Utah, next Saturday, Sept. 13.
Oz Memorial Team Standings
1. Northern Iowa, 39
2. Minnesota, 43
3. South Dakota State, 62
4. Drake, 96
5. Minnesota State, 129
Gopher Finishers
1. Ashlie Decker, 22:26.2
9. Madeline Strandemo, 23:18.5
10. Megan Bailey, 23:27.8
18. Stacey Swatek, 23:45.8
19. Taylor Mikkalson, 23:53.6
24. Chelsea Pettit, 24:02.9
25. Anne Ferguson, 24:03.4
26. Melissa Cabak, 24:04.2
28. Tess Wasowicz, 24:06.1
29. Marnie Kinnaird, 24:07.4
34. Andie Zeman, 24:26.9
36. Lauren Domski, 24:29.6
43. Hannah Trasser, 24:47.0
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Players Mentioned
