Gopher Women Seek Harrier Three-Peat; Hassan Mead Seeks Second-Straight Title

In a conference known for its cross country dynasties, the University of Minnesota women's cross country team will seek to become only the third Big Ten program to win three consecutive conference women's cross county titles when the team competes at the 2009 Big Ten Championships on Sunday morning.

The #15-ranked Gopher expect a stiff contest against #13 Illinois, hosts #18 Penn State, and #22 Michigan in order to join Wisconsin and Michigan among the dynastic programs. Wisconsin held the title for two six-year runs, while Michigan accomplished a three-peat and later held the title for five straight years.

Winning a third title will be challenging for the Gophers. Earlier this season, Illinois nipped the Gophers at the NCAA Pre-National meet in Terre Haute, Indiana.

The Gopher are led by senior all-American Megan Duwell who finished 4th in last year's Big Ten Championships. Also racing for the maroon and gold are: senior Jamie Cheever, senior Heather Dorniden, senior Amy Laskowske, sophomore Stephanie Price, junior Nikki Swenson, senior Mallory Van Ness, freshman Kayla Wagner and senior Elizabeth Yetzer.

The Gopher sports information staff offer THIS comprehensive Big Ten women's preview -- including a video clip.

The Big Ten published THIS feature on Yetzer during the week.


Mead Seeks Individual Repeat ... The Gopher men are looking for some replication in College Park as well, hoping junior Hassan Mead can repeat as the Big Ten men's individual champion. He could join Fred Watson and Garry Bjorklund -- both three-peaters -- as only the third Gopher to win multiple Big Ten harrier crowns.

A victory by Mead would also mean the Big Ten men's individual title has been held by a Gopher for three of the last four year, Chris Rombough having won the title in 2006.

As a team, the un-ranked Gopher men expect to face strong competition from 10-time defending Big Ten team champions Wisconsin. Along with the #15-ranked Badgers, #18 Indiana appears to be the strongest contender for the 2009 Big Ten team crown.

The Gopher men, which finished third in the meet last year and were runners-up in 2007, will line up a young team alongside Mead, namely: senior Matt Barrett, junior Ben Blankenship, red-shirt freshman Travis Burkstrand, red-shirt freshman Pieter Gagnon, red-shirt freshman Paul Hilsen, red-shirt freshman Kevin Lachowitzer, junior Mike McFarland, sophomore Sean Olson, and true freshman Derek Storkel.

The Gopher sports information staff offer THIS comprehensive Big Ten men's preview -- also with video.

They also published THIS feature on Barrett during the week.

Find more information on the meet (and results) from the hosts' web-site HERE.