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UWM Cross Country Opens Season At UIC Invitational

Aug. 31, 2004

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The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's and women's cross country teams kick off their 2004 campaign at the UIC Invitational, Sept. 4, in Chicago. The Panther women went 2-2, while the men posted a 1-2 record in the event's dual meet scoring last season. About the UIC Invitational For the second consecutive season the Panthers will open their cross country season at the UIC Invitational. The UIC Invite features a unique dual meet scoring system and shortened course. The men compete on a 4.1 mile course, rather than the typical distance of almost five miles. Instead of a standard course of just over three miles, the women run 2.1 miles. Scoring features dual meet results against each team competing. Joining Milwaukee and the host Flames at the meet is Chicago State, the University of Chicago and St. Xavier, as well as the St. Francis women. U of C is a member of Division III, while St. Xavier and St. Francis are NAIA institutions. The 2003 UIC Invitational
Women: Strength in numbers appeared to be the name of the game as UWM took places 11-15 in the 45-person race. Griffin McNulty paced the Panther attack, covering the two-mile course in 12:02. McNulty was followed in succession by Kourtney Nault, Maggie Seed, and Brittany Schoessow in slots 12-14. Tenia Fisher finished 17th overall in a time of 12:48, while Teresa Braunreiter and Kris Gasser finished 20th and 21st, respectively. UWM picked up wins over St. Francis and Chicago State 15-50, but fell to Horizon League foes UIC and Loyola, 15-40 and 15-42. Men: Milwaukee defeated Chicago State 19-44 and dropped decisions to UIC and Loyola, 24-32 and 15-50, respectively. Three Panther freshman stood out in their debuts, led by Ben Uphoff who crossed the line in 21:16, good for a ninth place finish. Byron Kowalksi finished 13th in a time of 21:31, while Ryne Leuzinger covered the 4.1-mile course in 21:50. Elliot Enright finished 20th in a time of 21:54 and Adam Swanson, Justin Gorman, and Gabe Wagoner finished 24th, 27th, and 29th. Back in `04 Highlighting the returning runners from 2003 are all-league honorees in senior Anna Christian (first team) and junior Josh Nygren (second team). Christian emerged as one of UWM's most consistent runners, while Nygren was the top Panther finisher in each race he competed in last season. Like Christian, senior Christine Wampach and junior Katie Anderson provided consistency throughout the season. The duo finished 16th and 17th, respectively, at the league championships to help UWM to a third-place finish. Joining Nygren is junior Nate Weiland and sophomore Ben Uphoff. Weiland was consistantly among the Black and Gold top three, while Uphoff ran fourth most often. Parkside on the Horizon Milwaukee is set to host the Horizon League Championships for the second time in team history. The meet will be run on the UW-Parkside campus in Kenosha, Wis. Times are 11 a.m. for the women's race, while the men run at noon. The last time UWM played host to the conference championships was 1995 when it was run in Glendale, Wis. Up Next UWM has a week off before the Parkside Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 18. The meet is hosted by UW-Parkside and will serve as a preview of the course on which the league championships are held.