Milwaukee Cross Country Opens 2007 In Chicago• 2007 Cross Country Prospectus in PDF Format MILWAUKEE, Wis. (Aug. 31, 2007) - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's and women's cross country teams kick off the 2007 season this weekend, competing in the UIC Invitational Saturday, Sept. 1, in Chicago. The Panthers have not opened the season at the UIC Invite since 2005, the third-straight year in which they did. A UWM freshman has won the women's race the last two times Milwaukee has competed. Senior Angie Huebner was victorious in her first collegiate meet in 2004 and Megan Johnson followed suit in 2005. The Panthers have posted records of 1-2 in 2005, 3-0 in 2004 and 2-2 in 2003 at the meet. The UIC Invitational features dual meet scoring. On the men's side, Josh Nygren posted a win for Milwaukee the team's last trip to the meet. UWM's men's squad has posted 2-2 records in 2004 and 2005 after a 1-2 mark in 2003. Milwaukee returns to action next Friday (Sept. 7) at the Crusader Open in Valparaiso, Ind. The meet is hosted by Valparaiso, the newest members of the Horizon League.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's cross country team has taken third at the Horizon League Championships in each of the last four seasons, continuing to inch closer to the elusive top two places. Butler and Loyola have occupied those places on an annual basis, but if the last season is any indication, they'll have company. Milwaukee scored 69 points at the league meet last season, its lowest score since joining the Horizon League and just 14 points out of second place. Then, at the NCAA Regionals, the Panthers took 14th, the second-best team finish in school history.
This season seems as good as any to get over the hump, as two of the team's school-record three all-league performers returns. Also returning are two more of the team's top five scorers from a year ago. "Our goals every year are too move up in both the league and region," Head coach Pete Corfeld said. "We performed well last season in both the league and region. We return all but one runner this season and the runners we return are getting better and better." Heading the list is senior Holly Nearman. Nearman was the top Panther finisher at all six races last season and placed seventh at the league meet for all-league first-team honors. Her season culminated with a 41st-place finish at the NCAA Regional, the fourth-best regional finish in school history. "Holly is coming off a great year in both cross country and track," Corfeld said. "An improvement over last year will definitely make her a force to contend with on the regional and national level." Senior Angie Huebner bounced back from an early-season injury to establish herself as the second runner on the team. After an all-league first-team performance as a sophomore (seventh place), she returned to form to take 12th last season. Huebner also posted a strong regional finish, taking 61st for ninth-best in school history. The finish was also a four-place improvement over 2005. "Last season Angie was held back by injuries and still made it on to the league's second team," Corfeld said. "We expect her to be back to her old form this season. With her and Holly together and healthy, we will have a nice one-two punch." Nearman and Huebner are expected to pace the team this season, but will not be alone. Despite losing departed senior Kourtney Nault, an all-league second team member last season, Corfeld has some runners that are poised for breakout seasons. Junior Erin Magargee was the team's No. 3 runner in the first half of last season and, with the return of Huebner to form, provided the team with a strong fourth scorer. At the league meet, she finished just out of award range in 15th place. With the steady improvement she has shown in her career, she could get over the hump and assume Nault's place as the team's third all-league performer. "Erin continues to improve every year. She has a great attitude and is a tremendous team leader," Corfeld said. "Add that with her emerging talent, she is in store for her breakout year." Another runner that has shown a steady incline in her performance has been junior Liz Brothen. She scored at all six meets last season, including twice at No. 4. At the league meet, she was 23rd after taking 58th the year before. "Liz is certainly developing fast as a counter for us," Corfeld said. "She is showing that she can hold down a scoring position solidly." While each runner's place in the scoring is not set in stone, the team will have a number of athletes looking to be among the top five runners. Junior Danielle Magargee, twin sister of Erin, scored one last season, while being among the top seven Panthers at all six meets. Meanwhile, sophomore Laura Ring was a top-seven competitor four times. Ring is also coming off a standout freshman track campaign, earning all-league second-team honors both indoors and outdoors. "Danielle continues to work hard for us and is developing well for someone who did not run in high school," Corfeld said. "She and Erin have that Magargee work ethic and Danielle will use it to go far." Sophomores Erin Willis and Hannah Christ will look to crack the top seven on a regular basis after learning as freshmen. Willis scored at the season-opener last season was among the top seven another time, while Christ competed at just two meets. "For both Erin and Hannah consistency will be the key to tapping their talent," Corfeld said. "Health concerns to its toll on the pair last season, but both are willing and definitely have the drive to do what it takes to rebound this year." A sophomore transfer and five freshmen will add to the mix in 2007. Abbie Zaspel recently transferred from Florida Gulf Coast University and hails from Burlington, Wis. Last season, she was the top finisher at all seven of the Eagles' meets and set the school record for a 5K race. In one season, she posted three of the five fastest times in school history. Freshman Hannah Willis joins older sister Erin on the squad this year after a standout prep career at Sheboygan North High School. She qualified for state twice and won a conference title as a sophomore. Meanwhile, freshman Tanaiya Fisher follows in her sister Tenia's footsteps a year after her graduation. Tanaiya was a perennial state qualifier in track at Rufus King High School in Milwaukee. Her older sister ran both cross country and track for the Panthers, as well, setting every school record between 400m and 800m that the school has. "Tanaiya has already surpassed her sister's times in both track and cross country and track at King," Corfeld said. "She'll come in here and continue the family tradition and we'll look for similar results." Freshman Kristi Wasserburger was a three-year state qualifier in cross country at Poynette High School. She took 10th at the Wisconsin Division 3 meet as a sophomore and, after Poynette moved to Division 2, she placed 11th as a senior. Wasserburger is a relative newcomer to the sport, not starting to run until her sophomore year of high school. Rounding out the squad are its newest members in sophomore Kelli Grundmann and freshman Andrea Kloehn. Grundmann was at Milwaukee last year, but did not compete in athletics, while Kloehn is a walk-on. Grundmann won a state 4x800m relay title at Elkhorn High School. Kloehn ran both cross country and played softball at Weyauwega-Fremont High School. |
