Posted September 19, 2009
The eighth-ranked UW-Platteville men's cross country team made an impressive season debut, winning the nine-team UW-Whitewater Warhawk Invitational Saturday.
The regionally-ranked women also had a strong first race, placing second among the 10 schools competing on the Warhawks' new campus course.
Paced by individual winner Jason Garvens, the Pioneer men scored 31 points to out-distance second-place UWW with 39. UW-La Crosse was third with 54, followed by UW-Oshkosh 122, UW-Stevens Point 154, Ripon 189, MSOE 225, Carroll 235, and College of Lake County 275.
Garvens, who did not compete last fall due to injuries, completed the 8,000-meter course in 26:32, winning by five seconds. Six other Pioneers placed in the top 17 for Coach Tom Antczak's deep squad. Patrick Klein was fourth in 26:41; Tony Kilburg fifth in 26:47; Matt Hoefs ninth in 26:59; Greg Alleman 12th in 27:07; Aaron Whalen 14th in 27:09; and Josh Melby 17th in 27:12. The Pioneers ran so well that eighth-man Shane Lacy, who finished 19th overall, would have been the top scorer for five of the nine teams there.
The Pioneer women were runners-up to UW-La Crosse. The Eagles won with 24 points, while UWP scored 51 points, and UW-Whitewater took third with 92.
The Tank sisters led the Pioneers, as Ann finished fourth in the 6,000-meter race in 23:38, while Alli was seventh in 24:12. Lacey Curtis added a 13th-palce finish in 24:22, while Molli Springer was 16th in 24:25, and Eileen McGuine 19th in 24:32.
The women are ranked ninth in U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Midwest Region poll.
The Pioneers will compete at the University of Minnesota's Roy Griak Invitational next Saturday.
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