University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Hand Out Team Awards
12/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
MINNEAPOLIS - The Golden Gophers celebrated the 2016 cross country season with their annual team banquet on Sunday. Minnesota handed out its end-of-season awards as well. The coaching staff awarded nine annual honors to 13 different Gophers.
In addition to the team awards, the Gophers honored their captains, Danielle Anderson, Anne Haakenstad, Madeline Strandemo, and Tess Wasowicz, and the team's letterwinners. Strandemo earned her third letter while Courtney Alama, Emily Betz, Molly Eastman, Bailey Ness, Patty O'Brien, and Wasowicz all picked up their second letter awards.
First-time letterwinners Megan Flanagan, Haakenstad, Bethany Hasz; Megan Hasz, Abby Kargol, Sarah Klecker, Naomi Ollila, Elyse Prescott, Carlin Schulz, Violet Weibel, and Laura Werking received their University of Minnesota letter jackets as well.
MVP - Madeline Strandemo
Madeline Strandemo was named team MVP after leading Minnesota in four of six team races. She earned All-Midwest Region and All-Big Ten Second Team honors. Strandemo competed in seven meets this season, advancing to the NCAA Championship as an individual at-large qualifier and placing 51st out of 250 runners with a time of 20:31.5. She recorded a personal best time of 20:23.7 at the NCAA Midwest Regional to lead the Gophers and place seventh overall. Strandemo placed eighth as the top Gopher at the B1G Championship and ended the season ranked seventh on Minnesota's all-time top-50 6K performers list (20:23.7).
Freshmen of the Year - Bethany Hasz and Megan Hasz
Alexandria, Minn., natives Bethany Hasz and Megan Hasz were named the team's Freshmen of the Year. In handing out the award, head coach Sarah Hopkins explained the team's fortunate position in that on any given day, Strandemo or either of the Haszs could all have been the team's top runner; there was not pressure on one individual to lead.
Bethany Hasz earned All-Midwest Region honors as a true freshman in 2016. She competed in six meets this season, finishing among the top four Gopher in all six races. Bethany recorded a career-best 6K time of 20:32.6 at the NCAA Midwest Regional, placing 12th overall and third on the team. She led the Gophers at the Roy Griak Invitational in 21st place overall (22:21.4). Bethany took 20th overall and third on the team in 21:41.5 at the Big Ten Championship. She finished the season with the second-fastest 6K time ever by a Gophers freshman (20:32.6) and ended the season tied for 12th on Minnesota's all-time top-50 6K performers list (20:32.6).
Megan Hasz earned All-Midwest Region and All-Big Ten Second Team honors as a true freshman in 2016. She ran in six meets this season, finishing among the top three Gophers at all six meets. Megan recorded a career-best 6K time of 20:27.7 at the NCAA Midwest Regional, finishing ninth overall and second on the team. She earned All-Big Ten Second Team honors after placing 11th overall as the second Gopher in 21:24.9 at the B1G Championship. Megan led the Gophers in 28th place overall at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational (20:44.0). She finished the season with the fastest 6K time ever by a Gophers freshman (20:27.7) and ranks 10th on Minnesota's all-time top-50 6K performers list (20:27.7).
Tough as Nails Award - Emily Betz
This award is given annually to the runners who "even on a bad day, are going to give you everything they've got," according to Hopkins. This year, the award went to sophomore Emily Betz.
Betz ran in six meets this year, finishing among Minnesota's top seven in all six races. She recorded a personal-best 6K time of 21:20.9 at the NCAA Midwest Regional, placing 53rd overall at the fifth Gopher. Betz ran a career-best 5K time of 17:49.3 at the Notre Dame Invitational. She led Minnesota in the open race at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational in 11th place overall (21:45.1) and finished 48th overall as the sixth Gopher at the B1G Championship. Betz ended the season ranked 37th on Minnesota's all-time top-50 6K performers list (21:20.9).
Most Improved - Abby Kargol, Molly Eastman, and Paige Peschel
The team's Most Improved Award was given to three Gopher student-athletes this season: Abby Kargol, Molly Eastman, and Paige Peschel.
In her first season competing in uniform for the Maroon & Gold, Kargol came in with big goals. She delivered on almost all of them, running in six meets this season and earning four finishes among the top-five Gophers. She recorded a career-best 6K time of 21:42.1 at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invite as the fourth Gopher and ran a career-best 5K time of 17:43.0 as the fifth Gopher at the Notre Dame Invitational. Kargol made her Big Ten Championships debut as the fourth Gopher in 41st place overall (22:19.3). She earned a place on Minnesota's NCAA postseason team and finished 105th overall as the seventh Gopher at the NCAA Midwest Regional (21:57.8). Her career-best time of 21:42.1 landed her just outside of the top-50 Gopher performers in program history at 51st all-time.
Eastman also had a breakthrough season as a redshirt sophomore this year. She competed in six meets and finished among Minnesota's top 12 in each competition. Eastman was named Big Ten Conference Athlete of the Week after winning Jack's Twilight Run in a 6K personal-best time of 21:32.6. She also ran a career-best 5K of 18:06.1 at the Notre Dame Invitational, placing 13th in the open race. Eastman made her B1G Championships debut, placing 72nd as the eighth Gopher in 22:58.4 and served as an alternate for the NCAA Midwest Regional. Eastman ended the season ranked 43rd on Minnesota's all-time top-50 6K performers list (21:32.6).
Primarily an 800-meter runner, Peschel had a strong cross country season for the Gophers. She ran in six meets this season, recording a career-best 6K time of 22:49.7 at Jack's Run. Peschel cut nearly 1:20 off her previous personal best (24:05.57). Peschel's progress this fall will only help her make further strides when she returns to her element on the track this winter and spring.
Blue Collar Award - Sarah Klecker and Carlin Schulz
Hopkins describes the Blue Collar award as going to the team's "worker bees," the consistent runners who show up ready to work hard every day. This year's award went to Sarah Klecker and Carlin Schulz.
Klecker ran in six meets this season. She recorded a personal-best 6K time of 22:55.6 at Jack's Run, cutting well over a minute off her previous career-best of 24:14.04. Hopkins explained that Klecker's love of running is contagious, and the team benefits from her positive attitude and joy over the sport.
Schulz made her collegiate cross country debut as a graduate student completing a Master's of Public Health in Public Health Administration and Policy at Minnesota. She ran in six meets this season, running a career-best 6K time of 21:54.0 at Jack's Run to finish third overall. Schulz was the top female finisher at Rocky's Run in 23:12.5. At the Blugold Invitational, she finished third overall and second on the team as well. Schulz came to Minnesota after completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin Madison where she competed in both cross country and track & field as a member of the Wisconsin Track Club from 2012-2015.
Carl Barylak Inspiration Award - Tamara Gorman
The Carl Barylak Inspiration Award, named after the devoted and loving father of former Gopher captain Katelyn Barylak, is given annually to an athlete who inspires other people.
Redshirt sophomore Tamara Gorman was given the award after suffering a season-ending injury. Hopkins was impressed with Gorman's selflessness in supporting the team during the postseason when she easily could have been frustrated about the unfairness of her injury. Gorman even bounced back fast enough to warm up with the team at the NCAA Midwest Regional, showing her resiliency as an athlete. Gorman ran in two meets this season, finishing fifth for the Gophers at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invite with a 6K time of 21:48.9 and running a career-best 5K time of 17:45.1 as the sixth Gopher at the Notre Dame Invitational.
Coaches Award - Liz Miller
The Coaches Award is given to a student-athlete who goes above and beyond to help the program, Hopkins explained. Liz Miller, this year's award recipient, brings a positive attitude to all aspects of the program and is quick to volunteer for any opportunities to help the team. Miller ran in six meets this season and recorded a career-best 6K time of 23:18.2 at Jack's Run.
Academic Commitment Award - Rachel Wians
This year's Academic Commitment Award was given to redshirt freshman Rachel Wians. She made her official collegiate debut after not competing while redshirting the 2015 season. Wians ran in five meets this season and recorded a season-best 6K time of 23:01.2 to place 19th overall at Jack's Run. Wians intends to major in biomedical engineering, and the Gophers academic counselor Laura Schnell commended Wians for always working hard and embracing the challenge of tough academic courses.
Iron Gopher - Patty O'Brien
The winner of the Iron Gopher Award is selected by the team's strength and conditioning coach Kristin Zdanczewicz. Patty O'Brien was chosen as this year's award recipient for not only work ethic and progress in the weight room but also her positive attitude and eagerness for knowledge on strength training. O'Brien competed in six meets and finished among Minnesota's top seven runners at all six competitions this year. She ran a career-best 5k time of 17:37.8 to finish fourth on the team and 90th overall at the Notre Dame Invitational. Her season-best 6K race saw her place 97th as the sixth Gopher at the NCAA Midwest Regional in 21:53.5. O'Brien made her Big Ten Cross Country Championship debut, placing 61st as the seventh Gopher in 22:45.3, as well. She also was honored as Minnesota's Big Ten Women's Cross Country Sportsmanship Award recipient.
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