University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers to Host Oz Memorial
9/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
| Oz Memorial Run | |||||||||||
| Date | Friday, Sept. 9, 2016 | ||||||||||
| Location | Les Bolstad Course | Falcon Heights, Minn. | ||||||||||
| Women's Teams | Minnesota, Drake, South Dakota State, Wisconsin | ||||||||||
| Time | 6:30 p.m. Women's 6K Race | 7 p.m. Men's 4 Mile Race | ||||||||||
| Coverage | @GopherWCCTF | Meet Entries  | Results | ||||||||||
Sept. 6, 2016
MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 26 Golden Gopher women's cross country team is set to host the Oz Memorial Run to kick off the 2016 season this Friday. The women's 6K race will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the men's four-mile race at 7 p.m. The Gophers host Drake, Wisconsin, and South Dakota State at Les Bolstad Course.
Last Time Out: Intrasquad Meet
Madeline Strandemo paced the field in 18:27.11, followed by true freshmen Megan Hasz (18:32.59) and Bethany Hasz (18:36.01), and Bailey Ness (18:36.26) to round out the top four finishers at the team's Intrasquad 5K, which unofficially began the 2016 campaign at Les Bolstad Course last Friday.
Minnesota's top seven runners all posted faster times than last year's Intrasquad runner-up time of 18:55.69 as Danielle Anderson (18:50.37), Courtney Alama (18:52.51), and Elyse Prescott (18:54.79) completed the top seven. The Gophers' showed their depth with top 11 finishers all within one minute of one another; last year only the top four were within one minute of individual champion Liz Berkholtz (18:28.79).
2015 Oz Memorial Rewind
The Gophers took home both the individual title and the team title at the Oz Memorial Run last season. Fifth-year senior Liz Berkholtz cruised to the individual crown, leading the entire race and finishing the 6K race in 21:48.3, nearly 10 seconds ahead of runner-up Emma Huston of Drake (21:56.6). Behind Berkholtz, Haley Johnson (fifth, 22:21.0), Tamara Gorman (seventh, 22:34.5), Madeline Strandemo (eighth, 22:42.2), and Courtney Alama (12th, 22:51.7) rounded out Minnesota's top five runners. Minnesota edged Iowa State by a score of 33-37 for the team title. South Dakota State (72) and Drake (87) finished third and fourth, respectively.
The Gophers have won 13-straight individual titles at the Oz Memorial Run dating back to 2003: Berkholtz (2015), Ashlie Decker (2014), Laura Docherty (2013, 2012), Stephanie Price (2011, 2010), Megan Duwell (2009, 2008), Jamie Cheever (2007), Emily Brown (2006, 2003), and Lauren Williamson (2005, 2004). A new champion will be crowned this season following Berkholtz's graduation.
Gophers Rank No. 26 in USTFCCCA Preseason Poll
Minnesota ranks No. 26 in the nation and fourth in the Midwest region for the start of the 2016 season, according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason National Poll and Preseason Regional Team Rankings.
Gophers Name Captain Quartet
Redshirt juniors Danielle Anderson, Anne Haakenstad, Madeline Strandemo, and Tess Wasowicz are serving as captains as Minnesota looks to continue its 11-year streak of NCAA Championship berths.
Newcomers Galore
Minnesota's roster includes 11 true freshmen and seven redshirt freshmen. The newest Gophers include Jane Baude, Carissa Dock, Delaney Eigenberger, Lindsey Greenlund, Bethany Hasz, Megan Hasz, Abby Kohut-Jackson, Zetta Mason, Elyse Prescott, Kelli Schmidt, and Sarah Werking.
2016 Track & Field Success
The Gophers look forward to a strong cross country seasons after taking home a share of the 2016 B1G team title, scoring 106 points to tie with Michigan for top honors at the Big Ten Outdoor Track & Field Championship. Madeline Strandemo led the team by scoring 14 points with a runner-up finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and a third-place showing in the 1,500-meter run, and Jess Lehman (heptathlon) and Nicolle Murphy (javelin) won individual titles.
About the Oz Memorial Run
The Oz Memorial Run is named in memory of former Drake coach Gary Osborn, who passed away on May 21, 2000. Osborn was a longtime friend of former Minnesota coach Gary Wilson. Osborn served as the head coach of the Drake women's cross country program from 1989-99 and also assumed the head coaching duties of the women's track & field program during the 1993-94 season. Under Osborn's guidance, Drake won consecutive Missouri Valley Conference cross country titles in 1994 and 1995, as well as 1998. In all, Osborn spent 32 years involved in coaching at Drake.
Osborn was named the MVC Cross Country Coach of the Year in 1983, when he guided Drake to within one point of the league title. Osborn was also honored by the league in 1994 and 1995. In 1989, he was named the Gateway Conference Cross Country Coach of the Year. A native of Winterset, Iowa, Osborn was a seven-time winner in the MVC, competing for Drake in the high and intermediate hurdles and the 100 and 220-yard dashes.
Up Next: Roy Griak Invitational
The Gophers have a week off from competition before returning to action on Saturday, Sept. 24 when the University of Minnesota hosts the 31st annual Roy Griak Invitational at Les Bolstad Course in Falcon Heights, Minn.
Along with the Griak's six collegiate races and four high school races, the second Roy Griak Invitational Hall of Fame class will be honored during the meet.
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Players Mentioned
