Men's cross country runs to title at Willamette
9/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
The University of Montana men's cross country team won the eight-kilometer Gold Race at Saturday morning's Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore. The Grizzlies' five scoring runners, each of whom recorded eight-kilometer personal bests, all placed between 23rd and 41st and finished with a remarkable 15-second split.
In the absence of sophomore Brett Carter, who was Montana's top finisher at the Montana Open and Montana State Invitational earlier this fall, junior Eli Hermann led the way, placing 23rd in a time of 25:00. Hermann was UM's top finisher at the final four meets of the 2006 season.
Finishing closely behind Hermann were sophomore Michael Fisher (26th, 25:01), sophomore Steven Gimpel (38th, 25:12), junior Dan Bingham (40th, 25:14) and junior Mac Bloom (41st, 25:15).
"We felt like we could win the race going in, but not having our No. 1 runner allowed us to show our depth and made it that much more rewarding," Griz cross country coach Tom Raunig said. "The rainy weather made it tough to reach our time goals, but the guys are still fired up about the victory. They got in a pack and just pushed each other."
Also competing for Montana were junior Dennis Brands, who placed 65th in 25:47, also a career best, and senior Duncan Hendrick, who was 116th in 26:47.
The Grizzlies narrowly edged out Spokane Community College for the win. Montana had 57 points, while SCC finished with 62.
Rounding out the top five teams were Idaho in third with 81 points, Portland in fourth with 98 points and Portland State in fifth with 154 points.
Though he was 23rd overall, Hermann was the fourth attached collegian to finish. The top collegian was Idaho's Diego Moreno Guzman, who was ninth in a time of 24:30.
Jordan McNamera, competing unattached, was first in 23:42. Isaac Stoutenburgh (23:58) and Jake Schmitt (24:02), both unattached, rounded out the top three.
In the absence of sophomore Brett Carter, who was Montana's top finisher at the Montana Open and Montana State Invitational earlier this fall, junior Eli Hermann led the way, placing 23rd in a time of 25:00. Hermann was UM's top finisher at the final four meets of the 2006 season.
Finishing closely behind Hermann were sophomore Michael Fisher (26th, 25:01), sophomore Steven Gimpel (38th, 25:12), junior Dan Bingham (40th, 25:14) and junior Mac Bloom (41st, 25:15).
"We felt like we could win the race going in, but not having our No. 1 runner allowed us to show our depth and made it that much more rewarding," Griz cross country coach Tom Raunig said. "The rainy weather made it tough to reach our time goals, but the guys are still fired up about the victory. They got in a pack and just pushed each other."
Also competing for Montana were junior Dennis Brands, who placed 65th in 25:47, also a career best, and senior Duncan Hendrick, who was 116th in 26:47.
The Grizzlies narrowly edged out Spokane Community College for the win. Montana had 57 points, while SCC finished with 62.
Rounding out the top five teams were Idaho in third with 81 points, Portland in fourth with 98 points and Portland State in fifth with 154 points.
Though he was 23rd overall, Hermann was the fourth attached collegian to finish. The top collegian was Idaho's Diego Moreno Guzman, who was ninth in a time of 24:30.
Jordan McNamera, competing unattached, was first in 23:42. Isaac Stoutenburgh (23:58) and Jake Schmitt (24:02), both unattached, rounded out the top three.
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