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Photo by: Chad Williams
Hasz Wins Big Ten Title
1/30/2021 12:31:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field, Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
Bethany Hasz became the second Gopher in program history to win an individual Big Ten title on the women's side.
SHELBYVILLE, Ind. -- Bethany Hasz won the 2020-21 Big Ten Women's Cross Country Championships individual crown to lead the Golden Gopher women to a runner-up team finish at Blue River Cross Country Course on Saturday morning.
B. Hasz led the field over the entire six-kilometer race, and it came down to two-woman race between B. Hasz and runner-up Bailey Hertenstein of Indiana. Hertenstein surged with about 200 meters to go, but B. Hasz went with her and edged her for the B1G crown, running a career-best 6K time of 20:13.2 ahead of Hertenstein in 20:15.2.
With the win, B. Hasz became just the second Gopher in program history to win a B1G women's cross country title, joining Eileen Donaghy, who won in 1987. B. Hasz's time of 20:13.2 was the second fastest time ever by a Gopher at the Big Ten Championships, and her PR moved her up one place on Minnesota's all-time list where she now ranks third among all-time Gophers, behind only Stephanie Price (19:55.50) and Megan Duwell (20:06.90) for 6K.
Women's 6K Race
The Gopher women finished second in the team standings with 76 points behind B1G team champion Michigan State with 48 points. It marked the second time the Gopher women have finished as B1G runner-up in the past four seasons.
Abby Kohut-Jackson joined B. Hasz among the top-10 individual finishers, posting a career-best eighth-place showing for All-Big Ten Second Team honors in 20:45.2. Jaycie Thomsen was Minnesota's third runner in 17th place overall (21:03.3), followed by Anastasia Korzenowski in 20th (21:11.6) and Megan Hasz in 30th (21:26.2).
Four women made their Big Ten debuts for the Gophers in Bit Klecker, Emma Atkinson, Brianne Brewster, and Liesl Paulsen. For true freshmen Atkinson, Brewster, and Paulsen, the race marked their first collegiate cross country competition overall.
Men's 8K Race
The Gopher men finished seventh in the team standings led by top-20 individual finishes from Alec Basten and Jordan MacIntosh. Basten finished 17th, covering the eight-kilometer course in 24:29.2 while MacIntosh earned a career-best B1G finish in 20th overall with a time of 24:37.6. Owen Hoeft also earned a career-best B1G cross country finish, taking 32nd in 24:51.5. Alex Plasencia (25:39.8) and Khalid Hussein (25:44.0) rounded out the Gophers' top five scoring runners in 51st and 57th, respectively.
Eli Hoeft, Hunter Lucas, Declan Dahlberg, and Austin Streit all raced in their first B1G cross country meet for the Maroon & Gold.
Wisconsin won the team title on the men's side with 40 points and Indiana came in second; the Badgers and Hoosiers each placed all five scoring runners among the top 15 overall finishers.
Quotable
"Going in, I knew Bethany had a good shot, but it's just so competitive," women's cross country head coach Sarah Hopkins said. "She's been one of those athletes who everybody knows is so good. She's always up at the front. She's so consistent, and she's always going to be in the mix. To get to this point and never having won one, it just seems like it's just not right for her. To get the first one and get that monkey off her back a little bit, of not just being the consistent really good runner, but to now be able to call herself a Big Ten champion -- I'm so thrilled for her. She just does everything right, and she's such a joy to coach."
"I'm really happy for the team," Hopkins said. "I know we all went in knowing we had a shot to win. I think we have a team that, on a great day, could do it, but hats off to Michigan State because they ran a wonderful race. I think, on the day, they were just a better team... It was no knock on the way we competed, it was just a great day for them, and they deserved it. That's why you compete. I know we all would have loved to come away winning a team title, and I certainly think we have a team that's capable of that, but for the day, that was the race that we had and I was proud of them for holding off Illinois. Illinois made a really strong charge to try to be second. It's hard to be in the top two or three in this conference."
"We fell short in some areas today, and that made it what it was," men's cross country head coach Steve Plasencia said. "When you have goals and you don't meet them, if the pain goes away too quickly, you weren't committed enough. We'll have to lick some wounds for a little while and, at the same time, be getting back at it for what comes next."
"I think the folks here in Shelbyville did a very nice job hosting the event, especially under conditions that were rather unusual," Plasencia said. ""I think the biggest thing was the racing or non-racing for cross country going into it. Some teams got out in the fall and ran unattached. We didn't really avail ourselves to leaving campus at all in the fall. This really was their first shot at the cross country season."
Minnesota Women's Complete Results
1. Bethany Hasz, 20:13.2 (All-Big Ten First Team)
8. Abby Kohut-Jackson, 20:45.2 (All-Big Ten Second Team)
17. Jaycie Thomsen, 21:03.3
20. Anastasia Korzenowski, 21:11.6
30. Megan Hasz, 21:26.2
31. Tate Sweeney, 21:27.3
52. Bit Klecker, 21:54.4
62. Emma Atkinson, 22:08.7
66. Brianne Brewster, 22:14.7
74. Liesl Paulsen, 22:27.2
81. Carissa Dock, 22:44.8
Minnesota Men's Complete Results
17. Alec Basten, 24:29.2
20. Jordan MacIntosh, 24:37.6
32. Owen Hoeft, 24:51.5
51. Alex Plasencia, 25:39.8
57. Khalid Hussein, 25:44.0
64. Eli Hoeft, 25:55.3
79. Hunter Lucas, 26:20.0
84. Declan Dahlberg, 26:57.3
85. Austin Streit, 27:55.5
Robert Wagner, DNF
###
B. Hasz led the field over the entire six-kilometer race, and it came down to two-woman race between B. Hasz and runner-up Bailey Hertenstein of Indiana. Hertenstein surged with about 200 meters to go, but B. Hasz went with her and edged her for the B1G crown, running a career-best 6K time of 20:13.2 ahead of Hertenstein in 20:15.2.
With the win, B. Hasz became just the second Gopher in program history to win a B1G women's cross country title, joining Eileen Donaghy, who won in 1987. B. Hasz's time of 20:13.2 was the second fastest time ever by a Gopher at the Big Ten Championships, and her PR moved her up one place on Minnesota's all-time list where she now ranks third among all-time Gophers, behind only Stephanie Price (19:55.50) and Megan Duwell (20:06.90) for 6K.
〽️ Just the 2nd @GopherCCTF in program history to win a women's #B1GXC title, Bethany Hasz's PR earned her the crown. 〽️ pic.twitter.com/oNU7oFsZzn
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) February 2, 2021
Women's 6K Race
The Gopher women finished second in the team standings with 76 points behind B1G team champion Michigan State with 48 points. It marked the second time the Gopher women have finished as B1G runner-up in the past four seasons.
Abby Kohut-Jackson joined B. Hasz among the top-10 individual finishers, posting a career-best eighth-place showing for All-Big Ten Second Team honors in 20:45.2. Jaycie Thomsen was Minnesota's third runner in 17th place overall (21:03.3), followed by Anastasia Korzenowski in 20th (21:11.6) and Megan Hasz in 30th (21:26.2).
Four women made their Big Ten debuts for the Gophers in Bit Klecker, Emma Atkinson, Brianne Brewster, and Liesl Paulsen. For true freshmen Atkinson, Brewster, and Paulsen, the race marked their first collegiate cross country competition overall.
Men's 8K Race
The Gopher men finished seventh in the team standings led by top-20 individual finishes from Alec Basten and Jordan MacIntosh. Basten finished 17th, covering the eight-kilometer course in 24:29.2 while MacIntosh earned a career-best B1G finish in 20th overall with a time of 24:37.6. Owen Hoeft also earned a career-best B1G cross country finish, taking 32nd in 24:51.5. Alex Plasencia (25:39.8) and Khalid Hussein (25:44.0) rounded out the Gophers' top five scoring runners in 51st and 57th, respectively.
Eli Hoeft, Hunter Lucas, Declan Dahlberg, and Austin Streit all raced in their first B1G cross country meet for the Maroon & Gold.
Wisconsin won the team title on the men's side with 40 points and Indiana came in second; the Badgers and Hoosiers each placed all five scoring runners among the top 15 overall finishers.
Quotable
"Going in, I knew Bethany had a good shot, but it's just so competitive," women's cross country head coach Sarah Hopkins said. "She's been one of those athletes who everybody knows is so good. She's always up at the front. She's so consistent, and she's always going to be in the mix. To get to this point and never having won one, it just seems like it's just not right for her. To get the first one and get that monkey off her back a little bit, of not just being the consistent really good runner, but to now be able to call herself a Big Ten champion -- I'm so thrilled for her. She just does everything right, and she's such a joy to coach."
"I'm really happy for the team," Hopkins said. "I know we all went in knowing we had a shot to win. I think we have a team that, on a great day, could do it, but hats off to Michigan State because they ran a wonderful race. I think, on the day, they were just a better team... It was no knock on the way we competed, it was just a great day for them, and they deserved it. That's why you compete. I know we all would have loved to come away winning a team title, and I certainly think we have a team that's capable of that, but for the day, that was the race that we had and I was proud of them for holding off Illinois. Illinois made a really strong charge to try to be second. It's hard to be in the top two or three in this conference."
"We fell short in some areas today, and that made it what it was," men's cross country head coach Steve Plasencia said. "When you have goals and you don't meet them, if the pain goes away too quickly, you weren't committed enough. We'll have to lick some wounds for a little while and, at the same time, be getting back at it for what comes next."
"I think the folks here in Shelbyville did a very nice job hosting the event, especially under conditions that were rather unusual," Plasencia said. ""I think the biggest thing was the racing or non-racing for cross country going into it. Some teams got out in the fall and ran unattached. We didn't really avail ourselves to leaving campus at all in the fall. This really was their first shot at the cross country season."
Minnesota Women's Complete Results
1. Bethany Hasz, 20:13.2 (All-Big Ten First Team)
8. Abby Kohut-Jackson, 20:45.2 (All-Big Ten Second Team)
17. Jaycie Thomsen, 21:03.3
20. Anastasia Korzenowski, 21:11.6
30. Megan Hasz, 21:26.2
31. Tate Sweeney, 21:27.3
52. Bit Klecker, 21:54.4
62. Emma Atkinson, 22:08.7
66. Brianne Brewster, 22:14.7
74. Liesl Paulsen, 22:27.2
81. Carissa Dock, 22:44.8
Minnesota Men's Complete Results
17. Alec Basten, 24:29.2
20. Jordan MacIntosh, 24:37.6
32. Owen Hoeft, 24:51.5
51. Alex Plasencia, 25:39.8
57. Khalid Hussein, 25:44.0
64. Eli Hoeft, 25:55.3
79. Hunter Lucas, 26:20.0
84. Declan Dahlberg, 26:57.3
85. Austin Streit, 27:55.5
Robert Wagner, DNF
###
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