University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
NCAA Championships
Gophers Earn Top-20 NCAA Finish
11/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Nov. 21, 2015
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Golden Gopher women's cross country team placed 18th at the 2015 NCAA Cross Country Championships, securing its highest NCAA finish since placing 10th in 2009. Minnesota made its 11th-straight NCAA appearance at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky.
Behind top-80 finishes from Liz Berkholtz, who led the Gophers in 44th place, and Haley Johnson in 72nd, Minnesota scored 471 points in the team race. Berkholtz earned her highest NCAA place of her career, narrowly missing All-American honors (top 40) and finishing in 20:29.1. Her 44th-place finish was the highest by a Gopher since Stephanie Price placed 31st in 2010. Meanwhile, Johnson (20:40.1) also secured the best NCAA finish of her career after placing 219th a year ago.
Madeline Strandemo (147th), Kaila Urick (153rd), and Jamie Piepenburg (200th) rounded out Minnesota's scoring finishes. Strandemo took 144th overall in 21:11.5 in her NCAA debut after serving as an alternate in 2014. Urick, racing in her second national championship meet, improved on her 192nd-place finish a year ago in placing 153rd in 21:13.6. Piepenburg made her NCAA debut in 21:37.9 for 200th place after serving as an alternate in both 2012 and 2014.
Emily Betz (219th) and Tamara Gorman (224th) also represented the Maroon & Gold in the first NCAA Championship appearances of their careers. Betz finished in 21:55.8 while Gorman was close behind in 22:02.9.
New Mexico took the team title with 49 points while Notre Dame's Molly Seidel won the individual crown in 19:28.6. Colorado (129 points) and Oregon (214) completed the top three teams.
Gopher NCAA Finishes
44. Liz Berkholtz, 20:29.1
72. Haley Johnson, 20:40.1
147. Madeline Strandemo, 21:11.5
153. Kaila Urick, 21:13.6
200. Jamie Piepenburg, 21:37.9
219. Emily Betz, 21:55.8
224. Tamara Gorman, 22:02.9
Top 10 NCAA Team Finishes
1. New Mexico, 49
2. Colorado, 129
3. Oregon, 214
4. Providence, 231
5. NC State, 264
6. Michigan, 264
7. Oklahoma State, 274
8. Notre Dame, 276
9. Arkansas, 276
10. Washington, 297
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Players Mentioned
