University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, October 12
Peoria, Ill.
3:15 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Bradley Classic
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Three-Meet Week Ahead for No. 21 Gophers
10/9/2018 1:15:00 PM | Women's Cross Country
Minnesota is set to race at NCAA Pre-Nationals, Bradley Classic, and Tori Neubauer Invite this week.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 21 University of Minnesota women's cross country team returns to action by splitting up for three meets this week, the Bradley Classic in Peoria, Ill., on Friday followed by NCAA Pre-Nationals in Madison, Wis., and the Tori Neubauer Invitational in La Crosse, Wis., on Saturday.
About the Bradley Classic
The 2018 Bradley Pink Classic will take place on Friday at Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Ill. The meet consists of two races per gender with an additional mixed-gender Open race. Teams may run up to nine in the gender specific Red and White races. Entries are unlimited for the mixed-gender Open race. The women will run 6K, while the men will compete over 8K. The mixed-gender Open race shall see the women run 6K and the men 8K off one single start time. The Women's White Race (B Race) will take place at 1 p.m., followed by the Men's White Race (B Race) at 1:45 p.m. The mixed-gender Open race will start at 2:30 p.m. The Women's Red Race (A Race) will begin at 3:15 p.m. followed by the Men's Red Race (A Race) at 4 p.m.
As of August 27, the participating teams included Bradley, Belmont, Bowling Green, Butler, Cincinnati, Creighton, DePaul, Drake, Eastern Illinois, Green Bay, Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Indiana, Iowa, IUPUI, Kansas State, Kent State, Loyola, Marquette, Minnesota, Missouri State, Nebraska, Nebraska-Omaha, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Oakland, Purdue Fort Wayne, Saint Louis, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Illinois, SIU Edwardsville, Toledo, UMKC, Utah, Valparaiso, Western Illinois, Wright State, and Xavier.
About NCAA Pre-Nationals
The 2018 Wisconsin Pre-Nationals is set for this Saturday and serves as a pre-cursor for the national championships. This year's Pre-Nationals will consist of two evenly-seeded races per gender, the "Cardinal" and "White" races. In addition, teams not selected to compete in the seeded races will be placed in the "Grey" race. A maximum of 35 teams will run in each of the seeded races for a total of 70 teams. Each team that is selected to compete in a seeded race can run seven athletes. Teams can run an additional five athletes in the "Grey" race. Teams that are not selected to compete in the "Cardinal" or "White' race can run up to 12 athletes in the "Grey" race. All races will be held on the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course, which opened in 2009 and is located adjacent to University Ridge Golf Course in Madison, Wis.
No. 21 Minnesota is set to race in the "Cardinal" race at 10 a.m. CT Saturday. The Gophers will race head-to-head against Arizona State, No. 7 Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Boston University, No. 9 BYU, California, Charlotte, No. 1 Colorado, Dayton, Duke, No. 25 Florida State, Illinois State, No. 11 Indiana, Liberty, Miami (Ohio), Montana State, No. 13 NC State, Nevada, Northern Arizona, Northwestern, Ohio State, No. 18 Ole Miss, No. 4 Oregon, No. 23 Portland, Portland State, Richmond, San Jose State, Syracuse, Tulane, UCLA, Utah Valley, Western Michigan, and Wichita State.
About the Tori Neubauer Invitational
UW-La Crosse will host its annual Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational at Ettrick Golf Club this Saturday. The women's 6K race is set for 11 a.m. with the men's 8K race to follow at 11:40 a.m. The first 30 finishers in the Drews (men's) and Neubauer (women's) races will receive a pair of sunglasses. There will not be an awards ceremony. Spectator parking is $10.00/vehicle.
Last Time Out: Minnesota Wins Roy Griak Invitational
Bethany Hasz and Megan Hasz paced a field of 151 finishers to lead Minnesota to the team title in the Jack Johnson Women's Gold Division I Race at the 33rd annual Roy Griak Invitational. Bethany Hasz won the Griak individual crown after placing 11th a year ago, clocking a season-best 6K time of 20:47.9 with sister Megan Hasz on her heels in a season-best 20:54.3. Patty O'Brien (14th) and Jaycie Thomsen (17th) earned top-20 finishes as Minnesota's third and fourth runners, respectively, and Molly Eastman rounded out the Gophers' scoring positions in 21st overall. The Maroon & Gold scored 52 points to run away with the team title, defeating runner-up Cal Baptist (82 points) by 30 points. South Dakota (106 points), Harvard (115 points), and Montana State (133 points) made up the top five teams in the 14-team competition.
Gophers Climb to No. 21 in USTFCCCA Poll
The Gophers climbed to No. 21 in the nation according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country Week Four National Coaches' Poll after opening the season at No. 24. The Big Ten Conference has six teams ranked among the nation's top 30 in No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 10 Michigan, No. 11 Indiana, No. 14 Michigan State, No. 19 Penn State, and No. 21 Minnesota. Ohio State received three votes this week as well. Iowa State remains the top team in the Midwest Region, followed by Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Northwestern, and South Dakota. The week five national poll is set to be released Tuesday, Oct. 16.
Gophers Make Debuts
Gophers Maria Eastman and Olivia Hummel made their debuts for the Maroon & Gold this season, and redshirt freshmen Bit Klecker, Anastasia Korzenowski, Molly Roach, Sophie Schmitz, Tate Sweeney, and Jaycie Thomsen all competed in uniform for the first time in their careers at the Oz Memorial. Gopher rookies Libby Halbmaier, Elena Hayday, Taylor Krone, Becca Langer, and Courtney West have all raced unattached as well.
Gophers Celebrate Track & Field Stadium Grand Opening
The University of Minnesota and Gopher Athletics celebrated a new era of track and field with the grand opening of the University of Minnesota Track and Field Stadium on Monday, Sept. 17. Located in the heart of the new Athletes Village area, this facility will become synonymous with track & field excellence in the Midwest. It will not only provide a first-class experience for the Gophers, but it will also provide a wonderful venue for the state's largest amateur meets and a Minnesota option for USA Track & Field to place its marquee events in the Upper Midwest.
The University of Minnesota Track and Field Stadium gives Minnesota its first opportunity in more than 15 years to host home outdoor meets, including Big Ten and NCAA competition. The facility features a nine-lane track with the Beynon 2000 surface, full-field event hosting capabilities, versatile configuration, fully enclosed, heated warm-up and cool down areas, and grandstands with the capacity to host major competitions.
Who is Back?
The Gophers return four of their seven runners from the 2017 NCAA Championship in Megan Hasz, Abby Kohut-Jackson, Bethany Hasz, and Elyse Prescott along with alternates Patty O'Brien and Zetta Mason. Bethany Hasz and Megan Hasz return after earning NCAA all-region and All-Big Ten honors last season.
Who is New?
Five rookies joined the Gophers this season in Libby Halbmaier (Minnetonka, Minn.), Elena Hayday (Bloomington, Minn.), Taylor Krone (Anoka, Minn.), Becca Langer (Waukesha, Wis.), and Courtney West (Dodge Center, Minn.). Junior Maria Berg (New Prague, Minn.) is another newcomer for the Maroon & Gold after she transferred to the University of Minnesota after competing for Minnesota Duluth in both cross country and track & field as a freshman during the 2016-17 season and competing in cross country during the 2017 season.
Seven redshirt freshmen are making their debuts racing in uniform for the Gophers after competing unattached last fall: Sam Baer (St. Louis Park, Minn.), Bit Klecker (Hopkins, Minn.), Anastasia Korzenowski (Chanhassen, Minn.), Molly Roach (Bloomington, Minn.), Sophie Schmitz (Willmar, Minn.), Tate Sweeney (Edina, Minn.), and Jaycie Thomsen (Maple Grove, Minn.). Redshirt sophomores Kayla Baker (Cloquet, Minn.), Maria Eastman (Victoria Minn.), and Olivia Hummel (Woodbury, Minn.) are also making their debuts for the Maroon & Gold this fall.
Six Gophers Serving as Captains
Molly Eastman, Abby Lange, Patty O'Brien, Paige Peschel, Elyse Prescott, and Kelsey Sather are leading the Gophers as captains this fall. O'Brien and Peschel return to Minnesota's leadership group as fifth-year seniors and second-year captains joined by fellow fifth-year senior Eastman. Lange and Sather are both redshirt juniors for the Gophers, and Prescott rounds out Minnesota's six captains as she enters her junior season.
Home Meets
Minnesota hosts six home meets at Les Bolstad Course this fall: Intrasquad 5K (Aug. 31), Oz Memorial Run (Sept. 7), 33rd annual Roy Griak Invitational (Sept. 29), Jack's Twilight Run (Oct. 19), and Rocky's Run (Nov. 4).
Up Next: Jack's Twilight Run
Minnesota returns to action at Les Bolstad Course at 5:30 p.m. CT next Friday, Oct. 19 when the Gophers host Jack's Twilight Run. The open 6K race is open to the public, and online registration is available now.
Jack's Twilight Run features a spectator-friendly looped route through Les Bolstad Course. Local runners and cross country fans alike are invited to experience cross country running firsthand at the home of the Gophers. Participation in the race is $10; all proceeds from the race go toward the Jack Johnson Scholarship.
Jack's Run honors the late Minnesota equipment manager Jack Johnson. Johnson will always be a part of the Minnesota women's cross country and track programs. After serving as the Golden Gophers' equipment manager for over three decades, Johnson passed away in February 2006 after a battle with cancer.
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About the Bradley Classic
The 2018 Bradley Pink Classic will take place on Friday at Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Ill. The meet consists of two races per gender with an additional mixed-gender Open race. Teams may run up to nine in the gender specific Red and White races. Entries are unlimited for the mixed-gender Open race. The women will run 6K, while the men will compete over 8K. The mixed-gender Open race shall see the women run 6K and the men 8K off one single start time. The Women's White Race (B Race) will take place at 1 p.m., followed by the Men's White Race (B Race) at 1:45 p.m. The mixed-gender Open race will start at 2:30 p.m. The Women's Red Race (A Race) will begin at 3:15 p.m. followed by the Men's Red Race (A Race) at 4 p.m.
As of August 27, the participating teams included Bradley, Belmont, Bowling Green, Butler, Cincinnati, Creighton, DePaul, Drake, Eastern Illinois, Green Bay, Illinois, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Indiana, Iowa, IUPUI, Kansas State, Kent State, Loyola, Marquette, Minnesota, Missouri State, Nebraska, Nebraska-Omaha, Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Oakland, Purdue Fort Wayne, Saint Louis, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Illinois, SIU Edwardsville, Toledo, UMKC, Utah, Valparaiso, Western Illinois, Wright State, and Xavier.
About NCAA Pre-Nationals
The 2018 Wisconsin Pre-Nationals is set for this Saturday and serves as a pre-cursor for the national championships. This year's Pre-Nationals will consist of two evenly-seeded races per gender, the "Cardinal" and "White" races. In addition, teams not selected to compete in the seeded races will be placed in the "Grey" race. A maximum of 35 teams will run in each of the seeded races for a total of 70 teams. Each team that is selected to compete in a seeded race can run seven athletes. Teams can run an additional five athletes in the "Grey" race. Teams that are not selected to compete in the "Cardinal" or "White' race can run up to 12 athletes in the "Grey" race. All races will be held on the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course, which opened in 2009 and is located adjacent to University Ridge Golf Course in Madison, Wis.
No. 21 Minnesota is set to race in the "Cardinal" race at 10 a.m. CT Saturday. The Gophers will race head-to-head against Arizona State, No. 7 Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Boston University, No. 9 BYU, California, Charlotte, No. 1 Colorado, Dayton, Duke, No. 25 Florida State, Illinois State, No. 11 Indiana, Liberty, Miami (Ohio), Montana State, No. 13 NC State, Nevada, Northern Arizona, Northwestern, Ohio State, No. 18 Ole Miss, No. 4 Oregon, No. 23 Portland, Portland State, Richmond, San Jose State, Syracuse, Tulane, UCLA, Utah Valley, Western Michigan, and Wichita State.
About the Tori Neubauer Invitational
UW-La Crosse will host its annual Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational at Ettrick Golf Club this Saturday. The women's 6K race is set for 11 a.m. with the men's 8K race to follow at 11:40 a.m. The first 30 finishers in the Drews (men's) and Neubauer (women's) races will receive a pair of sunglasses. There will not be an awards ceremony. Spectator parking is $10.00/vehicle.
Last Time Out: Minnesota Wins Roy Griak Invitational
Bethany Hasz and Megan Hasz paced a field of 151 finishers to lead Minnesota to the team title in the Jack Johnson Women's Gold Division I Race at the 33rd annual Roy Griak Invitational. Bethany Hasz won the Griak individual crown after placing 11th a year ago, clocking a season-best 6K time of 20:47.9 with sister Megan Hasz on her heels in a season-best 20:54.3. Patty O'Brien (14th) and Jaycie Thomsen (17th) earned top-20 finishes as Minnesota's third and fourth runners, respectively, and Molly Eastman rounded out the Gophers' scoring positions in 21st overall. The Maroon & Gold scored 52 points to run away with the team title, defeating runner-up Cal Baptist (82 points) by 30 points. South Dakota (106 points), Harvard (115 points), and Montana State (133 points) made up the top five teams in the 14-team competition.
Gophers Climb to No. 21 in USTFCCCA Poll
The Gophers climbed to No. 21 in the nation according to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division I Women's Cross Country Week Four National Coaches' Poll after opening the season at No. 24. The Big Ten Conference has six teams ranked among the nation's top 30 in No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 10 Michigan, No. 11 Indiana, No. 14 Michigan State, No. 19 Penn State, and No. 21 Minnesota. Ohio State received three votes this week as well. Iowa State remains the top team in the Midwest Region, followed by Minnesota, Oklahoma State, Northwestern, and South Dakota. The week five national poll is set to be released Tuesday, Oct. 16.
Gophers Make Debuts
Gophers Maria Eastman and Olivia Hummel made their debuts for the Maroon & Gold this season, and redshirt freshmen Bit Klecker, Anastasia Korzenowski, Molly Roach, Sophie Schmitz, Tate Sweeney, and Jaycie Thomsen all competed in uniform for the first time in their careers at the Oz Memorial. Gopher rookies Libby Halbmaier, Elena Hayday, Taylor Krone, Becca Langer, and Courtney West have all raced unattached as well.
Gophers Celebrate Track & Field Stadium Grand Opening
The University of Minnesota and Gopher Athletics celebrated a new era of track and field with the grand opening of the University of Minnesota Track and Field Stadium on Monday, Sept. 17. Located in the heart of the new Athletes Village area, this facility will become synonymous with track & field excellence in the Midwest. It will not only provide a first-class experience for the Gophers, but it will also provide a wonderful venue for the state's largest amateur meets and a Minnesota option for USA Track & Field to place its marquee events in the Upper Midwest.
The University of Minnesota Track and Field Stadium gives Minnesota its first opportunity in more than 15 years to host home outdoor meets, including Big Ten and NCAA competition. The facility features a nine-lane track with the Beynon 2000 surface, full-field event hosting capabilities, versatile configuration, fully enclosed, heated warm-up and cool down areas, and grandstands with the capacity to host major competitions.
Who is Back?
The Gophers return four of their seven runners from the 2017 NCAA Championship in Megan Hasz, Abby Kohut-Jackson, Bethany Hasz, and Elyse Prescott along with alternates Patty O'Brien and Zetta Mason. Bethany Hasz and Megan Hasz return after earning NCAA all-region and All-Big Ten honors last season.
Who is New?
Five rookies joined the Gophers this season in Libby Halbmaier (Minnetonka, Minn.), Elena Hayday (Bloomington, Minn.), Taylor Krone (Anoka, Minn.), Becca Langer (Waukesha, Wis.), and Courtney West (Dodge Center, Minn.). Junior Maria Berg (New Prague, Minn.) is another newcomer for the Maroon & Gold after she transferred to the University of Minnesota after competing for Minnesota Duluth in both cross country and track & field as a freshman during the 2016-17 season and competing in cross country during the 2017 season.
Seven redshirt freshmen are making their debuts racing in uniform for the Gophers after competing unattached last fall: Sam Baer (St. Louis Park, Minn.), Bit Klecker (Hopkins, Minn.), Anastasia Korzenowski (Chanhassen, Minn.), Molly Roach (Bloomington, Minn.), Sophie Schmitz (Willmar, Minn.), Tate Sweeney (Edina, Minn.), and Jaycie Thomsen (Maple Grove, Minn.). Redshirt sophomores Kayla Baker (Cloquet, Minn.), Maria Eastman (Victoria Minn.), and Olivia Hummel (Woodbury, Minn.) are also making their debuts for the Maroon & Gold this fall.
Six Gophers Serving as Captains
Molly Eastman, Abby Lange, Patty O'Brien, Paige Peschel, Elyse Prescott, and Kelsey Sather are leading the Gophers as captains this fall. O'Brien and Peschel return to Minnesota's leadership group as fifth-year seniors and second-year captains joined by fellow fifth-year senior Eastman. Lange and Sather are both redshirt juniors for the Gophers, and Prescott rounds out Minnesota's six captains as she enters her junior season.
Home Meets
Minnesota hosts six home meets at Les Bolstad Course this fall: Intrasquad 5K (Aug. 31), Oz Memorial Run (Sept. 7), 33rd annual Roy Griak Invitational (Sept. 29), Jack's Twilight Run (Oct. 19), and Rocky's Run (Nov. 4).
Up Next: Jack's Twilight Run
Minnesota returns to action at Les Bolstad Course at 5:30 p.m. CT next Friday, Oct. 19 when the Gophers host Jack's Twilight Run. The open 6K race is open to the public, and online registration is available now.
Jack's Twilight Run features a spectator-friendly looped route through Les Bolstad Course. Local runners and cross country fans alike are invited to experience cross country running firsthand at the home of the Gophers. Participation in the race is $10; all proceeds from the race go toward the Jack Johnson Scholarship.
Jack's Run honors the late Minnesota equipment manager Jack Johnson. Johnson will always be a part of the Minnesota women's cross country and track programs. After serving as the Golden Gophers' equipment manager for over three decades, Johnson passed away in February 2006 after a battle with cancer.
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