Sept. 29, 2001

MILWAUKEE - The UWM men's cross country team competed in the 78th annual Central Collegiate Championships Saturday in Kalamazoo, Mich., and came away with a fourth place finish out of the five competing schools.

The Panthers were not running at full strength, however, as five freshmen ran for UWM. Resting for the Panthers on the weekend were seniors Pat Harrington and Cornelius Hill, the top two finishers in UWM's two previous races.

Freshman Steve Saul paced the Panthers, finishing 20th overall with a time of 27:02. Fellow freshman Bryan Hassemer was the next to cross the finish line, coming in at 27:09.

Sophomore Andy Kivioja was the third UWM finisher, placing 24th with a time of 27:19. Frehsman Micah Hanthorn placed 26th, finishing in 27:31. Freshman Jason Straka rounded out the Panther placers, finishing 31st in 28:10.

Tim Morehouse of Western Michigan won the race, finishing in 25:16. Notre Dame took team honors, having five of the top seven runners.

Women 11th at Lakefront

The UWM women's cross country team placed 11th at the Sean Earl Lakefront Invitational Saturday.

Junior Abby Hurst was the top Panther finisher, placing 10th in the field of 96 with a time of 18:37. Freshman Christine Wampach finished 36th in 19:32, ten spots ahead of the third Panther runner, junior Katie Olander. Olander's time was 19:44. Fellow junior Brianne Peterson finished in 20:00, placing 58th, while freshman Natalie Tofte was the fifth UWM counting runner, placing 67th overall with a time of 20:19.

Both teams will be back in action again on Fri., Oct. 5, when they take part in the Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Ind. The women's race begins at 2 p.m., while the men's race starts at 2:45 p.m.