Gopher Men Tie for 3rd, Women 5th at Big Tens

The University of Minnesota men's cross country team tied for 3rd-place at Sunday's Big Ten Cross Country Championships, while the Gopher women finished 5th in the contest hosted by the University of Illinois.

Hassan Mead led #12-ranked Minnesota with a 4th-place individual finish, running the 8K course in 23:29. Mead, a two-time Big Ten champion in cross country, was the only runner to break up #2-ranked Wisconsin's domination of the meet -- the Badgers took five of the top six places in the race to score 17 points.

Indiana, ranked #7 in the most recent NCAA D1 poll, was the runner-up with 60 points. The Gophers deadlocked with #21 Michigan for 3rd-place with 104 points. Wisconsin's victory was its 13th-straight Big Ten title.

Behind Mead, Pieter Gagnon and Andrew Larsen finished 16th and 17th, respectively, both clocking 24:17. Marcus Paulson ran 24:31 for 29th place and Erik Truedson ran 24:40 for 38th place.

Mohammed Ahmed of Wisconsin won the race with 23:18.

Find men's results HERE (individuals) and HERE (teams).

Gopher Women ... Senior All-American Stephanie Price led the 5th-place Gophers with a matching 5th-place individual finish at the meet, running the 6K course in 20:30.

#15-ranked Michigan State won the meet with 55 points, #19 Michigan was runner-up with 61, #26 Penn State was third with 71, and un-ranked Wisconsin was 4th with 89.

Penn State's Caitlin Lane won the individual race in 19:58.

Freshman Molly Kayfes was the #2-runner for Minnesota, finishing 19th in 20:49. Ashlie Decker ran 20:59 for 26th place, Maggie Bollig ran 21:16, for 42nd. Rounding out the top five was Katie Moraczewski, who clocked 21:17 for 48th place.

Find women's results HERE (individuals) and HERE (teams).

Pick 10: Big Ten and MIAC Cross Country

This is a big weekend for collegiate cross country meets. The Gophers are off to Illinois to run in the Big Ten Championships on Sunday. But first, right here at Como Golf Course, the MIAC Championship will be held on Saturday afternoon. There are many good angles in both of these meets and we will concentrate on ten of them with our Pick Ten contest.

Pick Ten has a simple concept: predict the finish place for each of 10 Minnesota athletes or teams at the Big Ten and MIAC Meet. You will score points for each athlete/team that scores at or above the finish place you predict for them, following the 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scoring system.

For example: If you pick Hassan Mead to place first in the Big Ten men's race, and he places first, you get 10 points. If you pick Mead to place first and he finishes second, you get zero points. If you pick Mead to finish third in the race and he places first, second or third, you get 8 points, since you that's the place you picked him for.

To play Pick Ten, cut and paste the list of names/events below into an e-mail and add your place predictions -- 1st or 2nd or 3rd...10th. Send your predictions by 2:15 P.M. CST on Saturday, October 29th to DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com. Make sure your full name is in the e-mail. As with our Yes/No contests, we don't offer any prizes, so no one needs to fear running afoul of NCAA or other anti-gambling regulations.

We'll announce the winner of this week's contest and compile results of all of the year's Pick Ten contests to name a grand champion for 2011.

Pick 10 ... Big Ten/MIAC Meet:

Hassan Mead - University of Minnesota, Big Ten Meet:
Stephanie Price - University of Minnesota, Big Ten Meet:
University of Minnesota Gophers Team, Men's Big Ten Meet:
University of Minnesota Gophers Team, Women's Big Ten Meet:
Macalester Women, MIAC Meet:
Hamline Women, MIAC Meet:
Alison Smyth - Carleton, MIAC Meet:
Gustavus Men, MIAC Meet:
Brian Saksa - St. Olaf, MIAC Meet:
Jack Diechart - Hamline, MIAC Meet:

To Help You Make Your Picks ...

Hassan Mead did not compete in cross country last year, but has won two Big Ten cross country titles in his career. Mead is a six-time All American and has finished in the top five in all the meets this year. Stephanie Price finished second at Big Tens in 2010. Price was an cross country All American in 2010 and has been named the Big Ten Runner of the Week three times in 2011.

The Gophers finished third last year at the Big Ten Championships for both the men and the women. The Gopher men are currently ranked twelfth in the nation. Other ranked teams in the race include #2 Wisconsin, #7 Indiana and #21 Michigan. On the women's side, the Gophers are not ranked, but there are four Big Ten teams in the top thirty in the nation.

Results from the 2010 MIAC meet show Macalester women in ninth, Hamline women in seventh and Gustavus men in eighth. On the individual side, Alison Smyth was eighth, Jack Deichert was fourth and Brian Saksa finished thirty-fifth as a freshman.

Here are some conference meet previews for additional information:
Gopher Men
Gopher Women
MIAC Men
MIAC Women

Good luck!

Last week's Yes/No question was: Will Minnesota State - Mankato men's team finish in the top two at the NSIC Championship on Saturday? The answer was yes. Augustana won the team title at NSIC followed by Mankato and UMD. Thirty-two contestants answered correctly this week. Mike Henderson and Rachel Karel are tied for first with twenty-five points.

For full standings of both contests, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner.

Section 6AA Eliminates Four Ranked Teams

At the always hyper-competitive MSHSL Section 6AA cross country championships held yesterday at Gale Woods Farm in Minnetrista, #3-ranked Edina and #5 Edan Prairie advanced to the State Meet in boys' competition, while #7 Wayzata and #8 Edina advanced among girls.

Not advancing to State from the boys' meet are the #4-ranked Wayzata, the defending MSHSL Class AA champions, and #7 Hopkins.

The Edina boys won the meet with 53 points, Eden Prairie scored 56 points, Wayzata tallied 60, and Hopkins was fourth with 84 points.

The girls' competition left #6 Eden Priarie and #11 Hopkins outside of qualifying for the State Meet, which will be held in Northfield on November 5.

Wayzata won the meet with 60 points, Edina scored 69, Eden Prairie scored 97, and Hopkins had 119.

MSHSL qualifying procedures advance two teams from each of eight sections to State in boys' and girls' Class AA and Class A competition.

Find complete Section 6AA results HERE (boys) and HERE (girls).

In the two other section meets held yesterday, #1-ranked Stillwater won the boys title at the Section 4AA meet at the U of M's Les Bolstad Golf Course. The Ponies scored 28 points in victory; #11 White Bear Lake tallied 81 for second place.

In the 4AA girls' race, unranked Roseville Area won with 61 points, #4-ranked East Ridge was second with 65.

Find Section 4AA results HERE (boys) and HERE (girls).

In Section 3AA, #2-ranked Rosemount boys topped #10 Burnsville 58 to 66. Eastview, the #9-ranked team in boys Class AA was a non-advancing third.

In girls' competition at the meet, #4-ranked Eagan won with 44 points, #12 Prior Lake was runner-up with 69 points.

Find Section 3AA results HERE (boys) and HERE (girls).

Section championship races continue today and Friday across the state. Find a full listing of the meets HERE.

Team USA's Kampf 6th in Pan Am 800m

Team USA Minnesota's Heather Kampf finished 6th in yesterday's Pan American Games 800-meter run, clocking 2:07.11.

Cuba's Adriana Munoz, a former IAAF World Championships finalist, won the event in 2:04.08.

Find complete results of the event HERE.

The XVI Pan American Games are being held in Guadalajara, Mexico. Track and field competition, which began on October 23, continues until Sunday.

Former Minnesota State Mankato star Jim Dilling is scheduled to compete in the high jump on Thursday.

Follow the meet HERE.

Stillwater, Monticello Lead Class AA to Sections

The nationally ranked Stillwater boys and Monticello girls' cross country teams will lead Minnesota's Class AA schools into Sectional competition this week as they continue their season-long ride atop the large-school cross country rankings.

The Ponies, the #5-ranked high school boys' team in the country according to National High School Coaches Association's XCNation poll, remain atop the Minnesota Class rankings, ahead of #2 Rosemount and #3 Edina.

The Magic, ranked #6 in the XCNation girls' poll, continues to pace the Minnesota Class AA girls' rankings, in front of #2 Lakeville South and #3 Eagan.

Individually, Wayzata's Josh Thorson and Shakopee's Maria Hauger are still the top-ranked large-school rankings.

Find complete Class AA rankings below. The full XCNation poll is HERE.


Boys' Teams:

1. Stillwater
2. Rosemount
3. Edina
4. Wayzata
5. Eden Prairie
6. Andover
7. Hopkins
8. Moorhead
9. Eastview
10. Burnsville
11. White Bear Lake
12. Owatonna

Others receiving votes: Rochester Mayo

Boys' Individuals:

1. Josh Thorson, Wayzata
2. Cole O'Brien, Burnsville
3. Jan Ketterson, Jefferson
4. Joey Duerr, Chaska
5. Glen Ellingson, Moorhead
6. Riley Macon, Rochester Mayo
7. Connor Olson, Wayzata
8. Mubarik Musa, Worthington
9. Will Burke, Edina
10. Eric Colvin, Stillwater
11. Zach Roozen, Mounds View
12. Sidney Speir, Eagan

Others receiving votes: Luke McKenzie, Chisago Lakes Area


Girls' Teams:

1. Monticello
2. Lakeville South
3. Eagan
4. East Ridge
5. Shakopee
6. Eden Prairie
7. Wayzata
8. Edina
9. Moorhead
10. Andover
11. Hopkins
12. Prior Lake

Girls' Individuals
1. Maria Hauger, 11, Shakopee
2. Jamie Piepenburg, 12, Alexandria
3. Danielle Anderson, 11, Eagan
4. Jenna Truedson, 9, Bemidji
5. Megan Hasz, 8 Alexandria
6. Kaytlyn Larson,9, Lakeville South
7. Bethany Hasz, 8, Alexandria
8. Vivian Hett, 10, Burnsville
9. Madison Overby, 8, Austin
10. Erica Seidenkrantz, 12, Monticello
11. Nicole Heitzman, 11, Andover
12. Chrissy Monson, 11, Albert Lea

Kara Goucher to Train with Schumacher

Duluth native Kara Goucher, who left long-time coach Alberto Salazar earlier this fall, will be trained by former University of Wisconsin coach Jerry Schumacher, the 2008 Olympian announced via her blog last night.

"I am honored and excited to have been welcomed by Jerry Schumacher to join his group of the OTC Elite," Goucher said HERE. "I feel so lucky to be able to train under an incredible coach and alongside two of the best female runners the US has ever produced."

Goucher (pictured), the bronze medalist at 10,000-meters at the IAAF World Track and Field Championships in 2007, will join marathon rival Shalane Flanagan in Schumacher's stable of elite athletes, which also includes Lisa (Koll) Uhl and male runners Chris Solinsky and Matt Tegenkamp.

In her blog post, Goucher also expressed her thanks to former coach Salazar had given her during their partnership.

"I have had my best years under Alberto and after 7 years together he certainly knows me better as an athlete than anyone besides my husband," she said. "I have blossomed under him, going from an often injured nobody to a World Championship bronze medalist and Major Marathon podium finisher. To say that Alberto has helped me find myself and my career would be a massive understatement. He has forever changed my life and I feel eternal gratitude toward him."

Goucher is pointing toward the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, to be held in January in Houston.

Photo by Sean Hartnett.

Old Corn Likker

Q/A: Chris Rubesch, Wild Duluth 100K Champ

Chris Rubesch, of the Superior Performance Elite team, won the men's title at the Wild Duluth 100K last Saturday in 11:25:02. DtB's Ultramarathon Contributor Alex Kurt asked him some questions this week.

Down the Backstretch: First off, what drew you to the Wild Duluth races? To the 100K in particular?

Chris Rubesch: I live here in Duluth near many of the trails the race runs on, so not only do I have the pleasure of running on them regularly, but I also know how challenging they can be. I think I was drawn to the race by both my love of these trails and the challenge. Of course I also know that [the race directors] are great.

DtB: How did the race unfold? In a race this long, you're bound to have low points and high points. Was this the case for you? What were those points in your race?

CR: I was with a lead pack until a few miles into the race, and then I moved into the lead. Apart for a few mile section in which another racer was just ahead I was in the lead for the whole race and continued to expand on that lead at the turn around. In ultras there are definite highs and lows, but I have also found that I have gained more ultra training and racing experience the lows have become shorter for me. It was hard going for me going over Ely's Peak the second time, but after that I got right back into a rhythm and felt strong until the end.

DtB: Ultrarunners are seen as sort of eccentric, even by regular marathoners. Why do you run races this long?

CR: I enjoy racing shorter distances, but with ultras each and every [race] is a unique challenge. You may have to change your race plan 2 or 3 times during a race, and finishing is never guaranteed. I like that challenge. I also love trails and the outdoors that many ultras run on.

DtB: Nutrition is also a factor in a race this long. What did you eat and drink during the race, and how frequently?

CR: When I started racing ultras I had a fairly closed nutrition plan for my races and I tried to follow that plan exactly. Now I eat and drink things during a race that I would never eat in my everyday life. The best example of that is Mountain Dew. I don't ever drink pop outside of an ultra, but in a race the caffeine and sugar of Mountain Dew works great for me. I try to drink about every 20 minutes and eat something every 40 minutes to an hour. I eat mostly gels and M&M's, but eat whatever looks in an aid station.

DtB: How did you get into ultras?

CR: I have been a runner for as long as I can remember - since middle school cross country. When I started I was not that good of a runner. But as I grew and trained more and the distances got longer I became more and more competitive. I think I first became interested in ultramarathons when I read an article about Scott Jurek winning his third Western States 100 and I thought that it would be such a challenge to run that distance. I told my parents that someday I was going to see what it was like run that far, and now here I am racing 4 to 6 ultras a year.

DtB: What was your training like for this race? What is your training, nutrition, etc. like for this and other ultras?

CR: I follow a training cycle throughout the year that is based on hours of training instead of miles, and uses my heart rate to determine my training zones. My volume goes between 12 hours a week to 25 or more hours a week depending on what time of the year it is. Two weeks before this race I had a 22 hour week and the week of the race my volume went down to about 12 hours.

DtB: What are your racing plans for the near future, and for next year and beyond? Do you have any specific running goals?

CR: The next thing on my schedule is a rest period starting in November during which I train about 14 hours a week and I get plan my own workouts. Then in late November I will start to ramp up my training for the snowshoe racing season. That will last until the end of February, and then I go into ultras. I am planning to go back to a few of my favorite races, like the Voyaguer, and also hope to do the FANS race (12 and 24 hour races around Lake Nokomis) again. I will also add a few new races to my schedule next year. In the next two years I would like to do some of the large races out west and also run in some USATF ultra national championships.

Yes/No: MSU-Mankato in Top Two at NSIC?

This Saturday, Minnesota State - Moorhead will host the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) cross country conference meet. The women's race will be contested at 11:00 A.M. and the men's will follow at noon.

Augustana will go into the meet as the favorite in both the men's and women's race. The Vikings swept the NSIC last year and are the highest ranked teams in the conference.

They are not a sure win, however, as they will face numerous challenges to the crown this year. One such challenger, Minnesota State - Mankato, looks to be one of the top teams on the men's side and will be the focus of this week's question ...

Yes/No: Will Minnesota State - Mankato men's team finish in the top two at the NSIC Championship on Saturday?

Minnesota State - Mankato men finished third in the NSIC in 2010, finishing one point behind UMD. The Mavericks are currently ranked fifth in the Cental Region and thirteenth in the nation. Other ranked NSIC men's teams include Augustana, which is fourth in the region and eighth in the nation, and Winona State at tenth in the region.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 11:00 A.M. CDT, Saturday, October 22nd. Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail. We will offer our usual bonus for participants making their 2011 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My answer: Yes

Last week's question was: Will Alyssa Sybilrud finish in the top ten individually at the Tori Neubauer Invitational on Saturday? The answer was yes. Sybilrud finished eighth - her third consecutive year in the top ten at the Tori Neubauer Invitational. Twenty-eight contestants answered correctly this week. Mike Henderson and Rachel Karel are tied for first with twenty-four points.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Antonio Vega Talks About His Hip Surgery

Team USA Minnesota's Antonio Vega talks about his year struggling with injury and subsequent hip surgery to correct the problem HERE.

Gophers' Mead Earns Big Ten Honor, Again

University of Minnesota senior Hassan Mead picked up his second Big Ten Runner of the Week honor of the 2011 season after being the top finisher from the conference at last Friday's Wisconsin Adidas Invitational in Madison.

The Minneapolis South alumnus finished fifth overall to lead the #12-ranked Golden Gophers to a seventh place team finish at the meet. Mead ran the 8K Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course in 23:31, the fastest time in his Gopher career.

Over the weekend Mead was also awarded the 2011 Henry Williams Scholar-Athlete Award for the University of Minnesota.

Mankato Loyola Alum Dani Stack Profiled

The Running Times web-site posted a in-depth feature on Iowa State senior Dani Stack, Mankato Loyola alumnus HERE.

The story traces Stack's rise through the ranks of NCAA Division I distance running, which reached a crest last summer when she finished 4th-place in the 10,000-meters at the NCAA Championships. Stack (pictured) followed up that performance later in the summer with a 12th-place finish in the event at the USA Championships.

On Friday, Stack finished 11th at the Wisconsin Adidas Invitational in Madison.

Photo courtesy of Iowa State University.

National-Class Teams Lead Class AA Polls

The same powerful pair of nationally ranked high school cross country teams continues to lead the Minnesota Class AA cross country rankings.

As it has all year, the Monticello High School girls team, which is ranked #13 in the latest NHSCA national poll, remains #1 in Class AA. The Magic leads #2 Lakeville South and #3 Eagan in the big school rankings.

In boys' Class AA, Stillwater High School, currently the #18-ranked team in the nation according to the NHSCA poll, continues its season-long ride atop the state poll. The Ponies lead #2 Rosemount and #3 Edina.

Shakopee's Maria Hauger and Wayzata's Josh Thorson continue to top the Class AA individual ranks.

In Class A, St. Cloud Cathedral teams continue to pace both the girls' and boys' polls. Blake continues to monopolize the Class A individual ranks with Clare Flanagan and Brandon Clark continuing to top ranks.

Find complete Minnesota rankings below. See the NHSCA rankings HERE.

Class AA

Girls' Teams:
1. Monticello
2. Lakeville South
3. Eagan
4. East Ridge
5. Shakopee
6. Eden Prairie
7. Wayzata
8. Edina
9. Moorhead
10. Andover
11. Hopkins
12. Prior Lake


Girls' Individuals:
1. Maria Hauger, 11, Shakopee
2. Jamie Piepenburg, 12, Alexandria
3. Danielle Anderson, 11, Eagan
4. Jenna Truedson, 9, Bemidji
5. Megan Hasz, 8 Alexandria
6. Kaytlyn Larson,9, Lakeville South
7. Chrissy Monson, 11, Albert Lea
8. Bethany Hasz, 8, Alexandria
9. Vivian Hett, 10, Burnsville
10. Erica Seidenkrantz, 12, Monticello
11. Shaelyn Sorensen, 10, Tartan
12. Nicole Heitzman, 11, Andover

Boys; Teams:
1 Stillwater
2 Rosemount
3 Edina
4 Wayzata
5 Eden Prairie
6 Andover
7 Hopkins
8 Moorhead
9 Eastview
10 Burnsville
11 White Bear Lake
12 Owatonna

Others receiving votes: Rochester Mayo


Individuals:
1 Josh Thorson, Wayzata
2 Cole O'Brien, Burnsville
3 Jan Ketterson, Jefferson
4 Joey Duerr, Chaska
5 Glen Ellingson, Moorhead
6 Riley Macon, Rochester Mayo
7 Connor Olson, Wayzata
8 Mubarik Musa, Worthington
9 Will Burke, Edina
10 Zach Roozen, Mounds View
11 Sidney Speir, Eagan
12 Luke McKenzie, Chisago Lakes Area

Others receiving votes: Wayde Hall, Stillwater

Class A

Girls' Teams:
1. St. Cloud Cathedral
2. Blake
3. Esko
4. Waseca
5. Adrian
6. LaCrescent
7. Trinity of River Ridge
8. Annandale
9. Minnehaha Academy
10. United South Central
11. Park Rapids
12. Perham

Girls' Individuals:
1. Clare Flanagan, Blake
2. McKenzie Holt, St. Cloud Christian
3. Marissa Shady, Esko
4. Elena Danielson, St. Cloud Cathedral
5. Emi Trost, Cannon Falls
6. Lydia Lutz, Park Rapids
7. Mary Ennis, Trinity
8. Kayla Woltz, Chatfield
9. Sadie Klug, Waseca
10. Jenessa Meuleners, Belle Plaine
11. Mayla Hohn, Luverne Area
12. Tierney Winter WEM/JWP

Boys' Teams:
1. St. Cloud Cathedral
2. Perham
3. Blake
4. Waseca
5. Mesabi East
6. Redwood Valley Area
7. Plainview-Elgin-Millville
8. Minnehaha Academy
9. Esko
10. Albany
11. Crosby Ironton
12. Ottertail Central

Boys' Individuals:
1. Brandon Clark, Blake
2. Charlie Lawrence, Foley
3. Shane Streich, Waseca
4. Romeo Benish, Proctor
5. Nick Stoks, Canby-Minneota/LinHi
6. Matt Welch, Proctor
7. Dan Borash, Royalton
8. Nick Golebiowski, St. Cloud Cathedral
9. Byron Schuldt, Nevis
10. Jake Burr, Glencoe-Silver Lake
11. Pat Reinschmidt, Plainview-E-M
12. Jacob Siekmeier, Math & Science Acad

Top Minn. D3 Teams Run Well in Wisconsin

With the championships phase of their seasons on the horizon, Minnesota's highest ranked NCAA Division III cross country teams ran well in a pair of meets in Wisconsin on Saturday.

The #13-ranked St. Olaf women finished 4th at the UW-Oshkosh's Brooks Invitational held at the the site of this year's NCAA Division Championships in Winneconne, Wisconsin. The Oles tallied 190 points, trailing only #3-ranked Washington University (Missouri) at 61, #5 MIT (Massachusetts) with 123, and #7 Calvin (Michigan) at 188.

The #15-ranked Carleton women finished 10th in the meet with 297 points.

The #23-ranked Hamline men's team scored 145 points to finish 3rd at the Jim Drews Invitational in La Crosse, Wisconsin behind hosts #16 UW -La Crosse winners with 79, and Central Region rival #22 Nebraska Wesleyan with 112.

The #26-ranked St. Olaf men finished 5th at the meet with 193 points.

Find complete results of the Brooks Invitational HERE (women) and HERE (men).

Find results of the Jim Drews Invitational HERE (team summary), HERE (team details), and HERE (individuals).

Find results of UW - La Crosse's women's invite -- the Tori Neubaurer Invitational HERE (team summary), HERE (team details), and HERE (individuals).

Gopher Men Finish 7th in Madison

The #17-ranked University of Minnesota men's cross country team finished 7th at the Wisconsin Adidas Classic in Madison yesterday, out-legging four teams ranked above them in the latest NCAA poll.

The Gophers scored 309 points at the meet. Host Wisconsin, the #2-ranked team in Division I, won the meet with 66 points.

Senior Hassan Mead led the Gopher charge with a 5th-place finish on the 8K course in 23:31. Mead was the top Big Ten finisher in the race.

Lawi Lalang of Arizona won the race in 23:11.

Gopher junior Pieter Gagnon and sophomore Andrew Larson, running together, took 51st and 52nd-place, both in 24:32. Freshman Marcus Paulson clocked 24:41 for 75th. Sophomore Erik Truedson was 126th in 24:59 as the team's fifth man. Junior Travis Burkstrand (224th 25:58) and senior Bob Nicolls (247 26:30) rounded out the Minnesota varsity.

"I thought our guys did really well today," head coach Steve Plasencia said. "We beat some teams that were ranked ahead of us and that should help us in the rankings. It was a good test for us at the midway point of the season."

Minnesota topped #9 North Carolina State (11th with 372 team points), #10 Oregon (14th with 448) #13 Northern Arizona (8th with 332) and #16 Georgetown (24th with 609).

The Gopher men were the third-best Big Ten team in the field, behind the Badgers and #7 Indiana, which finished 5th, with 271 points.

Find complete men's results HERE.

Gopher Women 20th ... The #21-ranked University of Minnesota women's team finished 20th at the Adidas Classic, tallying 520 points.

Senior Stephanie Price led the team, finishing 16th in 20:30 over the 6K course. Freshman Molly Kayfes finished 102nd in 21:19, Sophomore Ashlie Decker was 118th in 21:27, classmate Katie Moraczewski was 133rd in 21:34, and another sophomore. Maggie Bollig, was 151st in 21:40 to round our the Gopher top-five.

"We were pleased with Stephanie's performance today," head coach Gary Wilson said. "It was a disappointing team day in the championship race. We have to be a lot more mentally tough than what we were today or we will have a very disappointing end of the year. The team has to do a gut check and decide how they want the championship part of the season to go."

Two more sophomores rounded out the varsity: Laura Docherty was 200th in 21:56, while Missa Varpness was 295th in 23:42.

The University of Washington, ranked only #24 entering the meet, won with 199 points. #1-ranked Villanova finished 4th with 232 points.

The Gophers finished 3rd among Big Ten teams at the meet.

Find complete women's results HERE.

Yes/No: Sybilrud in the Top-10 at La Crosse?

You'll have to face it, Minnesotans; Wisconsin is the place to be for all-things-athletic this weekend. Partly because the Brewers are playing in the National League Championship Series, and partly because, I'm sorry to say it, the Packers stand alone as the best team in football. But what really brings home this stark reality is the fact that two vital college cross country races will be held in Wisconsin. So let's collectively agree to swallow our pride and head across the border.

Just for the weekend, mind you.

All joking aside, the University of Wisconsin Badgers will hold what promises to be a spectacular meet on Friday with many of the best teams and individuals (including the Gophers) competing. Check out flotrack for full coverage of the Wisconsin adidas Invitational.

We will check in with the Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitationals in La Crosse Wisconsin. This is a mainly Division III race, but will also host Winona State and a group from the University of Minnesota. Keeping with our Minnesotans in Wisconsin theme - we will focus on the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire women's squad. The Blugolds have three Minnesotans amongst their top runners - Alyssa Sybilrud, Steph Sjostrom, and Madi Sawyer.

Sybilrud is a senior with the most credentials of the group. She has two top-ten finishes at the La Crosse race in her career already. Give us your guess as to how she will stack up this year...

Yes/No: Will Alyssa Sybilrud finish in the top ten individually at the Tori Neubauer Invitational on Saturday?

Alyssa Sybilrud was a member of the pack-running Burnsville Blaze State Championship team in 2007 MSHSL Cross Country. She then went on to lead her collegiate team to a National Championship in 2009. She is a two-time Division III All-American in Cross Country while at Eau Claire and her squad has finished in the top five at Nationals during all three years of her career.

UW-Eau Claire is currently ranked tenth in D3. Steph Sjostrom is a junior and Madi Sawyer is a sophomore. Both women graduated from Champlin Park.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 11:30 A.M. CDT, Saturday, October 15th. Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail. We will offer our usual bonus for participants making their 2011 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My answer: No

Last week's question was: Will Katie McGregor or Emily Brown finish in the top 5 at the USA Women's 10K Championship? The answer was yes. Katie McGregor finished second, running 33:16. Twenty-two contestants answered correctly this week. Mike Henderson is first with twenty-four points, followed by Rachel Karel with twenty-three.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

Minnesota Air Force Captain Named USATF Athlete of the Week

US Air Force Captain William “Billy” Boland has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Satellite Race in Afghanistan.

Boland, who is from Mendota Heights, beat an international field of more than 120 service men and women from different branches of the military to win in a time of 3:19. “I’ve always been a big runner,” Boland said. “But I’ve never done a marathon and people don’t seem to think you’re a serious runner unless you’ve done one. I figured now is a better opportunity than ever.

“It really was awesome,” Boland, 28, said during a phone interview with the Chicago Tribune. “I’m really looking forward to getting back to the United States and being able to run another marathon at a much lower altitude and with much cleaner air. I think it’d be kind of fun to see how fast I could do it then.”

Instead of running through the streets of the Windy City, the Kabul edition of the Chicago Marathon was held on a NATO base in Afghanistan. The ten-lap Kabul course featured concrete barriers and armored military vehicles. While competitors in Chicago and Kabul wore the same bibs, t-shirts, and medals, the Kabul entrants had to contend with an extra 5,000 feet of elevation above sea-level and notoriously bad air quality.

Chicago executive race director Carey Pinkowski notified Captain Boland that he will be offered an elite bib number for the next Bank of America Chicago Marathon that takes place after his deployment.

The satellite race was organized by Virginia Army National Guard Captain John Zimmerman of Apple Valley and raised more than $12,000 to support St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Captain Zimmermann has run ten Chicago Marathons and is seeking to run 50 by 2050. Zimmermann contacted Chicago Marathon officials and told them he would miss this year’s race. They responded by sending him four boxes of bibs, race tee shirts, and finisher medals. Zimmerman has also been offered to join the Bank of America Chicago Marathon as a visiting race director after his deployment.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Brandon Pomrenke

Another Ultra Win for Undefeated Nowak?

By Alex Kurt

Duluth’s Christi Nowak isn’t necessarily aiming to remain undefeated as an ultramarathoner when she takes on the Wild Duluth 100K this weekend, but that could end up being the result for the emerging star.

“I’m planning to run it with a friend and treat it more as a fun run than a race,” the 23-year-old medical student said. “My hope is taking a relaxed approach, along with being familiar with the course, will make running the longer distance less difficult.”

This will be the longest race attempt yet for Nowak, whose debut season as an ultrarunner has consisted of wins at Wisconsin’s Chippewa 50K in April, the Superior 50K in May, the Voyageur 50-mile in July, and the Superior 50-mile in September. At the Superior 50-mile, she set the course record and finished second overall, only 11 minutes behind the men’s winner.

In this race too, Nowak said she might have trouble curbing her competitive side.
“If it turns out to be a close race, all bets are off,” she said.

Meanwhile, Adam Schwartz-Lowe of Minneapolis will look to add a Wild Duluth 100K title to his long list of ultrarunning accolades. The 38-year-old Western States veteran won the Zumbro 100-mile in April and the inaugural Black Hills 100-mile in South Dakota in June. In September, he came within seven minutes of winning the Sawtooth 100-mile.

“I feel like I’m fully recovered from the Superior 100, and ready to give it a go,” Schwartz-Lowe said. “I’m looking forward to finishing this one before it gets dark out.”

Schwartz-Lowe’s biggest challenge could come from 25-year-old Chris Rubesch, who was the top male finisher at the FANS 12-hour run around Lake Nokomis in June. He also notched wins at the 2010 Ice Age Trail 50K and Superior 50-mile – the latter in a course record. Rubesch topped Schwartz-Lowe in their only previous meeting, at the 2009 Voyageur 50-mile.

“I think I can be competitive,” Rubesch said of his chances Saturday.

Wild Duluth also features a 50K. The 100K is the last race in the Upper Midwest Trail Runners’ “Gnarly Bandit” series, which has a $500 pot for runners who finish the Zumbro and Sawtooth 100-mile races and the Kettle Moraine and Black Hills 100-mile or 100K races. Schwartz-Lowe is the only athlete still in the running for the prize.

Alex Kurt is Down the Backstretch's new ultra-running contributor.

Women's Half/5K Scheduled for Bloomington in August, 2012

Registration for inaugural The Women's Half Marathon-Bloomington is open on womenshalfmarathon.com. The first 250 participants to register online for the August 26, 2012 race receive a special entry fee of just $50. Standard early registration for the half-marathon is $85 through April 30, 2012.

The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bloomington - Minneapolis South, located within walking distance of the start/finish area, serves as both the host hotel and the location of a two-day Health and Fitness Expo. The free expo, open to the public, features women-specific apparel and merchandise, book signings by running celebrities and packet and t-shirt pickup for runners.

The Women's Half Marathon features a patent-pending two-in-one finisher's medal and charm, a designer goodie bag, technical race shirt, live on-course music, cheer stations and an awesome post-race party featuring a cookie café with over 5,000 freshly baked cookies. Dave McGillivray, current race director of the Boston Marathon, and his Dave McGillivray Sports Enterprises team will oversee all race day operations for The Women's Half Marathon - Bloomington.

Runners and walkers can register for The Women's Half Marathon-Bloomington and the Women's Running Magazine 5K, held at the same time and location as the half-marathon, by visiting womenshalfmarathon.com.

Canova Helps Athletes Run Faster Using Common Sense Approach

Renato Canova knew what he wanted to be from the age of 12 when he fell in love with the sport and decided that someday he would be a coach. While most people dream of athletic glory for themselves, Canova labors to teach and inspire others to climb the ladder of success in sport.

Behind the wraparound brown sunglasses he wears often, even indoors, Canova's eyes study the world. He views the athletes he coaches, not merely as runners, but as people that also need to grow as human beings. And he strives to attain the mark of a truly great coach, obsolescence.

A coach's real goal, he believes, is not to be some indispensable Svengali sharing the spotlight with those he has helped win medals and championships, but rather to instruct those he coaches how to coach themselves. His greatest achievement does not rest in the accomplishments of his athletes, but in their self actualization and independence. Like any good teacher, however, he leaves a bit of himself in everyone he mentors.

At last weekend's Bank of America Chicago Marathon, for example, an athlete he is currently coaching, men's race winner Moses Mosop of Kenya, was asked the regular press conference queries about how fit he was, how well his training had gone by athlete turned TV commentator and World Marathon Majors press conference MC Tim Hutchings. Mosop replied that he had been injured after setting a world record on the track for 30K in June, and that he was only 80% fit.

Nonplussed, Hutchings replied: "Well, thanks for your honesty." Most athletes in a similar situation dissemble, reveal little about race plans, fitness, or other things that might be considered strategic information prior to a race. In press interviews, Canova said that, even though Mosop was not 100%, he could still run 2:05, still challenge if not break the course record, which was exactly what he did.

As Canova repeats often his belief is that there are no secrets to good training, race preparation, or racing. The two key elements are self belief and execution. The difference between winning and losing is not so much how many miles you have run or what fitness level you are at, but rather your innate abilities, genetics, and your mental strength in being able to get the most out of those abilities during the race.

You don't consistently get the best out of yourself by deluding yourself, he says. Truth is the foundation of success. Self belief does not thrive on motivational trickery, but rather on believing you can do something and then doing it. The same for training where you gain confidence from putting in the work, and the knowledge of what it takes to accomplish your goals.

Training, like racing, is not a static process, Canova believes. One has to be able to adapt, to figure out what is working, what's not, and adjust things to accommodate those constantly changing variables. As times in the marathon are dropping and tactics in racing changes, one has to modulate the training to reflect that, Canova says.

Looking at how both the Boston and Berlin marathons, the races that produced the fastest times ever in men's marathoning, Canova noted the fact that, interjected into a steadily fast pace, were big surges that produced mid to low 14 minute 5Ks near the end of the race. While most training programs for marathoners feature weekly long runs at a slow to medium tempo. Canova is now convinced that the long run is a crucial part of the modern marathoner's preparation.

A top marathoner needs to run these 35K to 40K long runs at a fast tempo, sometimes with surges to simulate the physiological adaptation necessary to allow them to do it on race day, says Canova. Because these efforts are, in effect, mini races, they will require more recovery time afterward. They can't be done every week. Many top athletes, Paula Radcliffe, the late Sammy Wanjiru, Ryan Hall, mix in rest days in their training for just this purpose.

Another important concept being that training gets divided into two phases, says Canova, the general and the specific. General training makes up 80% and specific 20%. General builds the strength and resilience necessary to accomplish the specific work needed to fine tune the body to run fast and attain the goals you've set, he explains.

In effect marathoners are now training much like track racers, breaking down the race into component parts. Peroidizing that training to gradually build to a peak for the race. Training near race pace to stimulate the body to adapt, and get used to what it will be like, so that you are not entering unfamiliar territory in a race when you have to throw in a 14:20 5K at the 30K point of a marathon, for example.

In a way this may seem revolutionary, but more likely it is merely applying common sense, simplifying training instead of making it some mystical combination of parts that is supposed to produce a magic response.

There is no magic, says Canova, no secrets, just intelligent, hard work. To read more about Canova, Paul Christman's article for Running Times is HERE.

MSHSL Move Doubles State Relay Qualifiers

A decision last week by the Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors will allow twice as many relay teams to qualify automatically to the State Track and Field Meet, effective in 2012.

Under the new rule, proposed by the Minnesota Track and Field Coaches' Association, the top two teams in each Section will advance to State, along with any teams that qualify by time. Previously, only the winning teams in each Section advanced automatically to the State Meet.

The new rule will make State Meet relay qualifying procedures identical to those for individuals.

"We are extremely excited," Kent Viesselman, President of the Minnesota Track and Field Coaches Association, told DtB. "We believe this is in the best interests of student-athletes."

In its proposal, the MTFCA argued that the rule change would lessen confusion about qualifying procedures, create meaningful State Meet semifinals in relay events, and increase the number of participants in the State Meet.

When State Meet semifinal heats have been held in relays events under the old qualifying system, they typically eliminated only one or two teams from advancement to finals.

"It will make preliminary heats in relays much more relevant and significant," Viesselman, the coach at Cambreidge-Isanti, said. "It will be a more realistic tournament. It should be a positive for our State Meet, the MSHSL and track and field."

The proposal was the only rule change offered by the MTFCA to the MSHSL Board this year.

"It has been a 3 year process," Viesselman explained. "We have worked very hard at making this change and met numerous times with the MSHSL and within our Association. We are especially grateful to [Associate Director] Jody Redman at the MSHSL for helping us make this happen. It could not have happened without her."

High School Cross Country Rankings

Little change in the Minnesota Coaches Association rankings in Week Six(through 10/8/2011).

Class AA
BOYS
Teams:
1 Stillwater
2 Rosemount
3 Wayzata
4 Burnsville
5 Eden Prairie
6 Edina
7 Moorhead
8 Andover
9 Eastview
10 White Bear Lake
11 Hopkins
12 Sartell-St Stephen
Others receiving votes:
Centennial, Owatonna, Forest Lake

Individuals:
1 Josh Thorson, Wayzata
2 Cole O'Brien, Burnsville
3 Jan Ketterson, Jefferson
4 Joey Duerr, Chaska
5 Glen Ellingson, Moorhead
6 Riley Macon, Rochester Mayo
7 Connor Olson, Wayzata
8 Mubarik Musa, Worthington
9 Will Burke, Edina
10 Zach Roozen, Mounds View
11 Sidney Speir, Eagan
12 Luke McKenzie, Chisago Lakes Area
Others receiving votes:
Troy Koivisto, Dassel-Cokato; Wayde Hall, Stillwater

GIRLS
Teams:
1. Monticello
2. Lakeville South
3. Eagan
4. East Ridge
5. Shakopee
6. Wayzata
7. Eden Prairie
8. Edina
9. Moorhead
10. Andover
11. Hopkins
12. Prior Lake

Individuals:
1. Maria Hauger, Shakopee
2. Jamie Piepenburg, Alexandria
3. Danielle Anderson, Eagan
4. Jenna Truedson, Bemidji
5. Megan Hasz, Alexandria
6. Chrissy Monson, Albert Lea
7. Bethany Hasz, Alexandria
8. Kaelyn Williams, Robbinsdale Cooper
9. Erica Seidenkrantz, Monticello
10. Shaelyn Sorensen, Tartan
11. Madeline McKeefry, Andover
12. Annie Brekken, Lakeville South


CLASS A
BOYS
Teams:
1 St. Cloud Cathedral
2 Perham
3 Blake
4 Waseca
5 Mesabi East
6 Redwood Valley Area
7 Plainview-Elgin-Millville
8 Minnehaha Academy
9 Esko
10 Albany
11 Crosby Ironton
12 Ottertail Central

Individuals:
1 Brandon Clark, Blake
2 Charlie Lawrence, Foley
3 Romeo Benish, Proctor
4 Shane Streich, Waseca
5 Nick Stoks, Canby-Minneota/LinHi
6 Matt Welch, Proctor
7 Dan Borash, Royalton
8 Nick Golebiowski, St. Cloud Cathedral
9 Byron Schuldt, Nevis
10 Jake Burr, Glencoe-Silver Lake
11 Pat Reinschmidt, Plainview-E-M
12 Jacob Siekmeier, Math & Science Academy

GIRLS
Teams:
1. St. Cloud Cathedral
2. Adrian
3. Blake
4. LaCrescent
5. Waseca
6. Esko
7. Trinity of River Ridge
8. Annandale
9. Minnehaha Acad.
10. United South Central
11. Park Rapids
12. Perham

Individuals:
1. Clare Flanagan, Blake
2. McKenzie Holt, St. Cloud Christian
3. Blake Marissa Shady, Esko
4. Elena Danielson, St. Cloud Cathedral
5. Emi Trost, Cannon Falls
6. Lydia Lutz, Park Rapids
7. Lauren Friese, Fairmont
8. Jordan Kopplow, Adrian
9. Meghan Henrikson, Mankato Loyola
10. Mary Ennis, Trinity
11. Victoria Alexander, Lake of the Woods
12. Kayla Woltz, Chatfield

McGregor takes second in Tufts 10K, USA Circuit; Gray helps US Ekiden team to eighth place finish

Team USA Minnesota’s Katie McGregor finished second in the Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women in Boston on Monday, which was also the USA Women’s 10K Championship. McGregor's time was 33:16, 29 seconds behind winner Janet Cherobon-Bawcom.

Her runner-up points also secured second place in the 2011 USA Running Circuit standings for women in which McGregor was the defending champion. In addition to the 10K results, this year she was fourth at the USA Half Marathon Championships, sixth at the USA 15k Championships, third at the USA 20k Championships and fourth at the USA 10-Mile Championships.

McGregor's Team USA Minnesota teammate, Emily Brown was in the lead pack early, but had an asthma attack and stepped off the course after two miles. Minnesotan Ladia Albertson-Junkanswas 14th in 35:00.6), and former University of Minnesota standout, Megan Duwell, placed 21st in 35:46.6, on an unseasonably warm 80 degree day.

“It was hot out there and the first couple of miles were a little crazy,” said McGregor. “I was in fourth place for awhile and just decided to hold my pace and maintain my position. Although I would have liked to have gotten the win, I will take second place today. Every single race you have to come out and be ready to go given the quality of the fields at the championships.

“I always enjoy running at Tufts because it is one of my favorite races with all the women. I did not have the best year on the USA Running Circuit in that I didn’t win any of the championships like I did in 2010, so I’m glad to end up second in the standings. Now it’s on to 2012.”

Izumo Ekiden – Oct. 10
New Team USA Minnesota member Jon Grey ran the anchor leg for the USA University Select Team at the Izumo Ekiden in Japan on Monday. His time for the 10.2K distance was 30:15. The Ekiden consisted of six stages covering 44.6k with the final leg being the longest. The US team finished eighth.

Armstrong Grad Leah Thorvilson Hits the Wall in Chicago

Leah Thorvilson, who was a sprinter, hurdler, triple jumper at Armstrong High School, transformed herself into a distance runner in college at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock (ALR), and took up marathon and ultramarathon running after that. On Sunday, she was hoping to get down to 2:39 to get an A qualifying standard for the US Olympic Trials, but instead she ran out of gas during the second half,shuffling to the finish in 2:46:54.

Running the first half of the race in 1:18:40, Thorvilson was set up to possibly come close her own personal best of 2:37:54, but she got slower as the race progressed. No amount of willpower could make her legs move faster, she said, as she was hardly breathing hard, but her legs had hit the proverbial wall. From the waist up she was fine, but her lower body was fried, she said after the race as she walked backward down steps on the way to a post-race interview.

Her result was disappointing, but not crushing, as she had already qualified for the Olympic Trials, missing the A standard by 43 seconds while finishing 17th at this year's Grandma's Marathon in 2:39:43, her fastest time since 2009. She wanted to hit the A standard to qualify for getting her expenses paid to run the Trials. "This won't be my last trials," she said prior to Chicago. She wants to use the Trials as a potential opportunity to attract sponsors and as a springboard to 2016.

She quit her sales job with Sprint to focus more on her running, began working with a coach, hoping that it would all pay off in January 2012 in Houston. But it's back to the drawing board after Chicago. Not unfamiliar territory as she pretty much started from scratch in Arkansas when she moved up to distance running.

"Having Leah attend Arkansas-Little Rock was a gamble by both parties," said former University of MN and ALR coach Kirk Elias, who now coaches at University of Nevada, Reno. "She was being recruited as middle distance runner when she had been a long hurdler/triple jumper in high school.

"I had heard from both Rick Kleyman and Scott Wieker at Armstrong HS(my alma mater) about this former hurdler who had not gone straight to college (she went to massage school directly out of high school). She was running about five miles a day during the year immediately after high school. I had always had good luck turning speed sided athletes into distance runners……..and as I was getting a program started from scratch (my first year at UALR the men and women were both last in the Sun Belt in CC) it seemed like a good bet.

"Leah found out she loved to run. I found out she was a savvy, fearless racer. She only ran 5:24 for the mile indoors her freshman year, but by her senior year ran 4:44. Leah ended up winning conference titles in Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor track and was clearly the dominant athlete in the conference her senior year.

"She was a dynamic trainer willing to put in miles in the off-season while attacking tempo and track sessions during a competitive year. I have been coaching since 1974 and have rarely comes across someone so willing to put themselves on the line day in and day out.

"Leah has always marched to her own drummer. Independent, feisty, but friendly and giving, she was great to have on a team. Her progress since college (having run 2:37 in the marathon) has been impressive, but on at least one level, completely understandable. If anyone has the psychological characteristics of a marathoner, it is Leah. She has a love of training, is unafraid of hard work, and loves to race."

Thorvilson has won several marathons since beginning her road running career in 2008, including the Walt Disney World Marathon this year where she ran the race dressed as Tinker Bell. To read more about her adventures, you can find information her blog HERE.

Yes/No: McGregor or Brown Top-5 at USA 10K?

There's no rest for the elite women this week as USA Championships are held on back-to-back weeks. Last weekend the women raced at the USA 10 Mile Championships held in the Twin Cities. Now the top runners will head to Boston to compete at the USA 10K Championships run in conjunction with the Tufts Health Plan race on Columbus Day - Monday, October 10th.

Many runners will run the double including Team USA Minnesota's Katie McGregor and Emily Brown. McGregor finished fourth and Brown was 14th at the stacked USA Championship at the Medtronic TC 10 Mile last Sunday.

We will focus on this local duo with the question of the week...

Yes/No: Will Katie McGregor or Emily Brown finish in the top 5 at the USA Women's 10K Championship?

Another familiar name in the USA 10K will be 10 mile champ Janet Cherebon-Bawcom. The favorites on paper appear to be Molly Huddle, Amy Yoder-Begley, and Lisa Koll. Huddle is the three-time defending champ.

Katie McGregor is no stranger to the Tufts Health Plan 10K for Women. She has won the race twice and finished second once. McGregor is also a seven-time USA Champion at various distances, 10k and up.

Emily Brown is running her first USA 10K Championship but has been a player on the national stage at different events. Brown has qualified for three World Cross Country meets and she was the USA Cross Country champion in 2008. She recently finished third at the USA 5k Championships in September.

To play our game, simply type "yes" or "no" into the subject line of an e-mail and send it to us at DtBFantasy [AT] gmail [DOT] com before 11:00 A.M. CDT, Monday, October 10th. Please put your answers in the subject line of the e-mail and make sure your full name appears somewhere in the e-mail. We will offer our usual bonus for participants making their 2011 debut in Yes/No - a correct answer will be worth two points for anyone who has not played yet this year.

My answer: No

Last week's question was: Yes/No: Will a male runner win the “Equalizer Bonus” at the 2011 USA 10 Mile Championships? The correct answer was yes. Mo Trafeh raced past Janet Cherebon-Bawcom in the last mile of the race and won with a time of 46:46 Twenty-three players answered correctly this week and Mike Henderson maintained his two point lead.

For all the results, please visit DtB Fantasy Corner, HERE.

USATF-Minn. XC Circuit Resumes Saturday

USA Track and Field Minnesota's Cross Country Circuit, a four race grand prix series of overland races, resumes on Saturday with the USATF Minnesota Cross Country Challenge at Highland Park Golf Course in St. Paul.

Competition at the event and throughout the circuit is conducted in six categories - men's open, women's open, men's masters, women's masters, men's grand masters, and women's grand masters.

Winning open division teams at Cross Country Challenge -- and at Jack's Run on October 22 at Les Bolstad Golf Course -- will win $100. Masters winners will earn $50.

At the circuit-culminating USATF Minnesota Cross Country Championships at Valleywood Golf Course in Apple Valley on November 12, victorious open teams will earn $200 and the top masters squads will take home $100.

The circuit kicked off on September 18 with the Fort Snelling Relays. Results of that event can be found HERE.

Find more information on the Cross Country Circuit HERE.

Kara Goucher Splits with Coach, Alberto Salazar

The Portland Oregonian is reporting that Duluth native Kara Goucher has left the Nike Oregon Project and coach Alberto Salazar.

Find the full story HERE.

Under Salazar's tutelage, Goucher won a bronze medal at the 2007 IAAF World Championships at 10,000-meters and finished third in the 2009 Boston Marathon.

According to a Facebook post she made today, quoted HERE, Goucher has not yet settled on a new coach.

Favorites Win, Surprises Place in Chaska

The Class AA #1-ranked Stillwater High School boys and the #2-ranked Lakeville South girls raced to victories at yesterday's power-packed Victoria Lions Invitational in Chaska.

The Ponies, led by Wayde Hall in 8th-place, outran a surprise challenge from un-ranked Burnsville 82-110. #3-ranked Wayzata was third with 114. #4-ranked Edina and #5 Eden Prairie tied for 4th place with 119.

Wayzata's Josh Thorson, the #1-ranked runner in Class AA, topped 2010 Class AA State Meet runner-up Cole O'Brien of Burnsville 15:20 to 15:23.

In girls' competition, #2-ranked Lakeville South withstood a strong effort from #10-ranked Shakopee, 110 to 113. #5-ranked Wayzata was third with 124; #3 Eden Prairie was fourth with 146.

#1-ranked Class AA individual Maria Hauger swamped the field, running 14:08 and winning by more than 45 seconds.

Find complete results of the meet HERE.

High School Cross Country #1's Unchanged

It's autumn. It's a Tuesday. It's time to publish high school cross country rankings.

The top-ranked teams and individuals in both Class AA and Class A remain unchanged.

Find full rankings below.

Class AA

Boys' Teams:

1. Stillwater
2. Rosemount
3. Wayzata
4. Edina
5. Eden Prairie
6. Moorhead
7. Andover
8. White Bear Lake
9. Eastview
10. Hopkins
11. Centennial
12. Sartell-St Stephen

Others receiving votes: Burnsville, Owatonna, Rochester Mayo

Boys' Individuals:

1. Josh Thorson, Wayzata
2. Joey Duerr, Chaska
3. Cole O'Brien, Burnsville
4. Glen Ellingson, Moorhead
5. Will Burke, Edina
6. Wayde Hall, Stillwater
7. Riley Macon, Rochester Mayo
8. Jan Ketterson, Jefferson
9. Connor Olson, Wayzata
10. Eric Colvin, Stillwater
11. Tom Linner, Stillwater
12. Zach Roozen, Mounds View

Others receiving votes: Kieran Kelly, Chanhassen; Luke McKenzie, Chisago Lakes Area; Mubarik Musa, Worthington; Sidney Speir, Eagan

Girls' Teams:

1. Monticello
2. Lakeville South
3. Eden Prairie
4. Eagan
5. Wayzata
6. East Ridge
7. Edina
8. Moorhead
9. Alexandria
10. Shakopee
11. Andover
12. Chanhassen

Girls' Individuals:

1. Maria Hauger, 11, Shakopee
2. Jamie Piepenburg, 12, Alexandria
3. Danielle Anderson, 11, Eagan
4. Kaytlyn Larson, 9, Lakeville South
5. Megan Hasz, 8 Alexandria
6. Chrissy Monson, 11, Albert Lea
7. Bethany Hasz, 8, Alexandria
8. Jenna Truedson, 9, Bemidji
9. Vivian Hett, 9, Burnsville
10. Kaelyn Williams, 12, Robbinsdale Cooper
11. Erica Seidenkrantz, 12, Monticello
12. Madeline McKeefry, 11, Andover

Class A

Boys' Teams:

1. St. Cloud Cathedral
2. Perham
3. Blake
4. Waseca
5. Minnehaha Academy
6. Mesabi East
7. Redwood Valley Area
8. Esko
9. Plainview-Elgin-Millville
10. Albany
11. Crosby-Ironton
12. Ottertail Central

Boys' Individuals:

1. Brandon Clark, Blake
2. Charlie Lawrence, Foley
3. Romeo Benish, Proctor
4. Shane Streich, Waseca
5. Matt Welch, Proctor
6. Nick Stoks, Canby-Minneota/LinHi
7. Byron Schuldt, Nevis
8. Dan Borash, Royalton
9. Nick Golebiowski, St. Cloud Cathedral
10. Jake Burr, Glencoe-Silver Lake
11. Pat Reinschmidt, Plainview-E-M
12. Jackson Lindquist, Esko

Girls' Teams:

1. St. Cloud Cathedral
2. Adrian
3. Blake
4. Esko
5. LaCrescent
6. Waseca
7. Trinity of River Ridge
8. Minnehaha Academy
9. Annandale
10. United South Central
11. Fairmont
12. Perham

Girls' Individuals:

1. Clare Flanagan, Blake
2. McKenzie Holt, St. Cloud Christian
3. Marissa Shady, Esko
4. Elena Danielson, St. Cloud Cathedral
5. Emi Trost, Cannon Falls
6. Lydia Lutz, Park Rapids
7. Lauren Friese, Fairmont
8. Jordan Kopplow, Adrian
9. Meghan Henrikson, Mankato Loyola
10. Mary Ennis, Trinity
11. Bethany Coop, Mora
12. Sadie Klug, Waseca

Medtronic TC 10 Mile Photos by Gene Niemi

The USA 10 Mile lead pack: front row, left to right: Aaron Braun, Max King, Abdi Abdirahman, Scott Smith, Mohamed Trafeh.

USA 10 Mile champ and TC 10 Mile Equalizer winner Mo Trafeh.

Team USA Minnesota's Meghan Peyton leads Serena Burla.

Team USA Minnesota's Matt Gabrielson.

Malakwen, Tadesse Bifa Win MTCM Titles

Kenyan Sammy Malakwen and Ethiopia's Yeshimebet Tadesse Bifa won titles at the 30th Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon today.

Malakwen (pictured, above), who often trains in Two Harbors when he is based in the United States, clocked 2:13:11 in his first career marathon victory. Bifa ran 2:28:24.

Malakwen pulled away from a pack of four runners in the final two miles of the race. Countryman Joseph Mutinda was second in 2:13:24; Weldon Kirui, also of Kenya, was third in 2:13:31.

Bifa (pictured, below) ran alone from the 17-mile mark on. Nedezdha Leonteva of Russia was second in 2:32:53. Former Griak Invitational champion Emily Harrison of Flagstaff, Arizona was third in 2:32:55.

Find StarTribune coverage of the race HERE. Pioneer Press coverage is HERE. My Running USA Wire story is HERE.

Find for complete results HERE.


Photos by Gene Niemi.

Trafeh and Cherobon-Bawcom Win USA 10M

Mo Trafeh and Janet Cherobon-Bawcom won USA 10 Mile titles at today's Medtronic TC 10 Mile.

Trafeh's victory, in 46:46, was his third USA road racing title of 2011. Winning the women's title gave Cherobon-Bawcom her second USA championship of 2011. She ran 54:15.

Trafeh won the event's 10,000 "Equalizer Bonus," making up the seven-minute head-start given the women when he passed Cherobon-Bawcom at the nine-and-a-half mile mark. (Cherobon-Bawcom leads Trafeh in the photo, above.)

Each earned $12,000 for winning USA titles.

Trafeh made his winning move in the final mile of the race, breaking up a large pack of contenders. USA 5K champ Ben True was runner-up in 46:48; Brett Gotcher was third in 46:51.

Defending champ and course record-holder Abdi Abdirahman was sixth in 47:00.

New Team USA Minnesota runner John Grey was the top Minnesota finisher in 12th-place at 47:59. Matt Gabrielson was the top Minnesota finisher in 15th at 48:18.

Cherobon-Bawcom broke up a pack of contenders after 10K. Julie Culley was runner-up in 54:28; 2003 Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon champ Blake Russell was third in 54:44.

Six-time TC 10 Mile champion Katie McGregor of Team USA Minnesota, the defending USA champion, was fourth in 55:00.

Watch video replays of the races and find post-race interviews, HERE, on the USA Running Circuit web-site.

The StarTribune's coverage of the race is HERE. My Running USA Wire story is HERE.

Complete results are posted HERE.

Photos by Gene Niemi.