Four Runners Earn All-Region as Michigan Tech Women Qualify for National Championships
HILLSDALE, Mich. – With two runners placing inside the Top 20, the Michigan Tech women's cross country team placed third in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships to earn themselves a spot in the NCAA Division II National Championships in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Additionally, the Black and Gold men's team placed seventh with one runner inside the Top 20.
"Today capped the best season in history on both sides," says head coach Jake Isaacson. "Both teams finished with the best results in our program's history."
The Michigan Tech women, who finished second in the GLIAC Championships, punched their ticket to Pittsburgh by finishing third with 116 points. The Huskies placed three women's runners inside the Top 25, as junior Emily Byrd (10th, 22:00.2) and senior Liz Bloch (18th, 22:16.4), and senior Emily Vigil (22nd, 22:24.1) all earned USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region honors. Despite just missing out on an All-Region finish, freshman Gabrielle Feber (27th, 22:36.7) had a solid day on the course for the Huskies, as did Sophia Farquhar (39th, 23:01.7) and freshman Michelle Bollini (40th, 23:03.6). Junior Carly Huggins (58th, 23:30.1) also put in a good showing for the Huskies in the 6k race at Hayden Park.
"Our women auto qualifying for the National Championships is incredible," Isaacson says. "These women have been an absolute joy to coach this entire season."
On the men's side, the Huskies finished in seventh with 201 total points, finishing 24 points ahead of Malone and just six points behind Hillsdale. Sophomore Braden Reichl earned USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region plaudits by placing 11th with a time of 32:10.8. Freshman Clayton Sayen (31st, 32:48.3) and freshman Zack Werth (43rd, 33:06.5), and sophomore Luke Moore (49th, 33:13.9) also put in a strong performance on the course today. Freshman Robbie Watling (67th, 33:34.8) and sophomore Logan Lukonic (88th, 33:58.4)
With their top three finish, the Michigan Tech women will now train for the 2018 NCAA Division II National Championships on December 1 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The 6k race, hosted by Slippery Rock University, will be held at the Schenley Park.