Gopher Women, Mead Win Big Ten Titles

The University of Minnesota women's cross country team defended its Big Ten title Sunday with a narrow win over Wisconsin.

The #7 Gopher edged the #16 Badgers 63-67. Michigan State, ranked #9, was 3rd with 83 points.

Megan Duwell led the Gophers with a 4th place finish in 21:29 for the 6K distance. According to reports from the event, Gabriele Anderson's 10th place finish in 21:07, as the team's #2 runner, sealed the win as the Perham native passed three Badgers in the final 300 meters of the race.

Amy Laskowske finished 14th in 21:22, Mallory Van Ness finished 17th in 21:27, Jamie Cheever was 18th in 21:31.

Find full women's results HERE.

Mead wins Individual Title ... Gopher sophomore Hassan Mead won the Big Ten men's individual title in 24:26. The Minneapolis South graduate, who was the runner-up at the meet last year, moved to the lead on the course's final hill and bettered runner-up Landon Peacock of Wisconsin by more than nine second.

Gopher senior Chris Rombough the 2006 Big Ten champ finished 3rd in 24:42.

"Winning the title feels great,” Mead said. “This was one of my goals on the season so I’m really happy I accomplished it. I ran a relaxed race. I made my move at about the 5K and went all the way."

"Hassan just continues to add to his savvy as a runner," Gopher men's coach Steve Plasencia said. "He’s able to build off his success. It’s exciting for us that Hassan is so talented and is just a sophomore. He has great days ahead of him."

Mead is the fifth Gopher to win the Big Ten men's cross country title. Along with his and Rombough's wins, Gary Bjorklund won three straight crowns from 1969 to 1971, Fred Watson won three titles from 1913-15 and Leonard "Buddy" Edelen won in 1957.

The #20-ranked Gopher men finished 3rd overall with 60 points. Wisconsin, ranked #6 in NCAA Division I won with 40 points; #9-ranked Michigan was second with 57 points.

Matt Barrett was Minnesota's #3 man in 15th place in 25:01. Mike Torchia was one place behind in 25:03. Ben Blankenship was 25th in 25:16.

"Our guys ran well today,” Plasenica said. “We did a nice job of tightening up our pack. Though we placed third as a team, points-wise we were closer to Wisconsin than we did last year when we placed second."

Find full men's results HERE.

The Gopher sports media office has THIS photo gallery from the meet.