The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's and women's cross country teams wrapped up their 2017 season Sunday night at the team's annual awards banquet.
 
Men
 
The Warhawk men finished fifth at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship, the program's highest finish since 2010. The team also placed ninth at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship, also the program's best finish since 2010.
 
Senior Brett Harms (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) capped his standout four-year career with his third appearance at the NCAA Championships. He became the program's first three-time national qualifier since Gary Garcia (2003, 2004, 2005) and recorded his third career top 10 finish at the WIAC Championship, becoming only the second runner since 1970 to accomplish the feat. (Ryan Meissen – 1997, 1998, 1999)
 
Six runners ran sub 26-minute personal best times in the 8-kilometer race, the most since 1999:
 
Brett Harms (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) – 24:06, 3rd
Jonah Nelson (Dodgeville, Wis./Dodgeville/Mineral Point) – 24:45, 10th
David Fassbender (Slinger, Wis./Slinger) – 24:48, 12th
Alec Meixelsperger (Middleton, Wis./Middleton) – 25:20, 26th
Conner Hackett (Darlington, Wis./Darlington) – 25:47, 50th
Kyle Neuroth (Muskego, Wis./Muskego) – 25:47, 51st
 
Three runners collected top 20 times run on the UW-Whitewater home course during the WIAC Championship:
 
Brett Harms (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) – 25:15, 2nd
David Fassbender (Slinger, Wis./Slinger) – 26:13, 13th
Jonah Nelson (Dodgeville, Wis./Dodgeville/Mineral Point) – 26:19, 18th
 
The following individual award winners were announced:
 
First Year Award:
David Fassbender (Slinger, Wis./Slinger)
Mitchell Georgi (Sun Prairie, Wis./Lakeside Lutheran)
Conner Hackett (Darlington, Wis./Darlington)
Brian Kuehl (Geneva, Ill./Geneva)
Jeremy Morgan (Tinley Park, Ill./Tinley Park)
Kyle Neuroth (Muskego, Wis./Muskego)
 
Second Year Award:
Evan Seghers (Muskego, Wis./Muskego)
Clinten Woerishofer (Appleton, Wis./North)
 
Third Year Award:
Braeden Michael (Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chippewa Falls)
Alec Meixelsperger (Middleton, Wis./Middleton)
Jonah Nelson (Dodgeville, Wis./Dodgeville/Mineral Point)
Todd Noreen (Dundee, Ill./Dundee-Crown)
Noah Stamsta (Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee)
 
Fourth Year Award:
Brett Harms (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater)
 
Most Valuable Freshman:
David Fassbender (Slinger, Wis./Slinger)
 
Most Improved:
Alec Meixelsperger (Middleton, Wis./Middleton)
Andrew Hirsch (Brookfield, Wis./Catholic Memorial)
 
Most Inspirational:
Alec Meixelsperger (Middleton, Wis./Middleton)
 
Most Valuable Performer:
Brett Harms (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater)
 
Women
 
The UW-Whitewater women placed eighth at the WIAC Championship and 14th at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship, the program's best finish at the regional meet since 2012.
 
Junior Manda Slaback (Janesville, Wis./Parker) became the program's highest scoring fifth runner at the WIAC Championship since 2010, placing 53rd overall. Senior Ashley Paulick (Union Grove, Wis./Union Grove) posted the best performance of any 12th runner since 1993, finishing 75th.
 
Five runners collected top 25 personal best times in the 6-kilometer race:
 
Sydney Prestifilippo (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) – 22:32.5, 6th
Liz Mielke (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) – 22:54.3, 11th
Jessie Braun (Wales, Wis./Kettle Moraine) – 23:00.9, 14th
Kennedy Hauser (Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon) – 23:04.4, 15th
Manda Slaback (Janesville, Wis./Parker) – 23:21.1, 20th
 
Nine runners earned top 20 times run on the UW-Whitewater home course during the WIAC Championship:
 
Liz Mielke (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater) – 23:51, 4th
Jessie Braun (Wales, Wis./Kettle Moraine) – 23:57, 5th
Sydney Prestifilippo (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) – 24:04, 6th
Kennedy Hauser (Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon) – 24:28, 12th
Manda Slaback (Janesville, Wis./Parker) – 24:37, 13th
Sara Fuller (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) – 24:46, 15th
Mara Wiebke (Onalaska, Wis./Onalaska) – 24:47, 16th
Elizabeth Considine (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) – 24:50, 17th
Julia Fewell (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem) – 24:57, 19th
 
The following individual award winners were announced:
 
First Year Award:
Jessie Braun (Wales, Wis./Kettle Moraine)
Julia Fewell (Loves Park, Ill./Harlem)
Elizabeth Considine (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove)
Kennedy Hauser (Green Bay, Wis./Ashwaubenon)
Maddie Van Ness (Hudson, Wis./Hudson)
 
Second Year Award:
Sydney Prestifilippo (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North)
Madison Wargowsky (Wentzville, Mo./Wentzville Holt)
 
Third Year Award:
Sara Fuller (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield)
Emma Knudtson (Aurora, Ill./Rosary)
Liz Mielke (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater)
Manda Slaback (Janesville, Wis./Parker)
Olivia Woyak (Onalaska, Wis./Onalaska)
 
Fourth Year Award:
Ashley Paulick (Union Grove, Wis./Union Grove)
Monica Sweet (Franklin, Wis./Franklin)
Mara Wiebke (Onalaska, Wis./Onalaska)
 
Most Valuable Freshman:
Jessie Braun (Wales, Wis./Kettle Moraine)
 
Most Improved:
Elizabeth Considine (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove)
 
Most Inspirational:
Liz Mielke (Whitewater, Wis./Whitewater)
 
Most Valuable Performer:
Jessie Braun (Wales, Wis./Kettle Moraine)