Five Seniors Race in Last Collegiate Competition at Kollege Town Sports Invitational
WINNECONNE, Wis. – Michigan Tech men's cross country seniors Josh Rzeppa, Marcus Shamberg, Michael Tuski, Alex Claerbaut and Cory Burkwald ended their cross-country collegiate careers today at the UW-Oshkosh Kollege Town Sports Invitational. Tech had 10 men runners competing and one member of the women's team participated at the invitational.
"Today was a well-earned opportunity for the athletes we brought down," said Michigan Tech head coach Jake Isaacson. "They have worked hard all season and today capped off their fall racing season."
The men's team finished 17th in the 8K competition. Tech leaders were Marcus Shamberg (73rd, 27:36), Cory Burkwald (76th, 27:42), Quinn Kaspriak (103rd, 28:18), Michael Tuski (110th, 28:27) and Alex Claerbaut (114th, 28:32).
"We had five seniors end their MTU cross country careers today, and their leadership has helped instill the new culture of this program," Isaacson added. "Those five guys are some of my favorite people, and I'm unbelievably proud of each of them."
Senior, Claerbaut of Cedar Grove, Wis. is majoring in accounting and earned his best collegiate race time in the 8K race in 2016 with a time of 29:04. Burkwald, of Naperville Ill., enjoys camping and hiking and is majoring in geology. His best collegiate race time in the 8K was 27:47. Grayslake Ill. native, Shamberg, enjoys soccer and snowboarding and majors in mechanical engineering. Tuski of Oxford, Mich. likes to hunt and fish in his free time and is studying to be a chemical engineer. Our last senior racer today, Josh Rzeppa of Sterling Heights, Mich., majors in mechanical engineering and participated in summer youth programs and serves as an admissions tour guide.
Daniella Kyllonen finished 180th in a field of 353 female racers with a time of 26:32.90 in the 6K race.
Tech travels to Marquette, Mich. next Saturday, Oct. 21 to compete in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship races.