The No. 3 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's cross country team put together a phenomenal team performance to finish second in the championship race of the Pre-National Meet hosted by Rose-Hulman in Terra Haute, Indiana Friday night. A second squad of Warhawk men took the open crown at the meet.
The Pre-National Meet featured an open and championship race. More than 400 runners represented 46 institutions in the championship race. The open featured 271 runners from 21 programs. Eight teams competing Friday night are ranked among the top 30 in the latest USTFCCCA Division III poll.
In the championship race, three Warhawks finished among the top four led by
Gunner Schlender (Brillion, Wis./) who won the meet with a personal best time of 24:08.97.
Christian Patzka (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) followed with a clocking of 24:15.89 to finish as the runner-up.
Dan Anderson (Eau Claire, Wis./McDonell) crossed the line in 24:31.44 to claim fourth and set a new personal best by 14 seconds.
Tucker Johnson (Poynette, Wis./) was the next from UWW to cross the line. He finished 36th with a time of 25:21.28 - a new career best by 11 seconds.
Alex Metko (Brillion, Wis./) registered a time of 25:24.43 to secure 40th followed by
Chris Allen's (Downers Grove, Ill./North) clocking of 25:25.76 to finish 44th.
Conner Murphy registered a top 60 time of 25:35.91. His mark broke his previous personal best by over 20 seconds.
Brandon Gang (Waukesha, Wis./West) (25:48.47) and
Keegan Bratt (Waukesha, Wis./West) (26:03.76) both finished among the top 100. Landen Batt also represented UWW in the championship race. He finished just outside the top 100 with a time of 26:15.03.
Three Warhawks claimed top ten honors in the open race to lead UW-Whitewater to the title.
Jonah Block (Whitefish Bay, Wis./) was the first to cross the line with a time of 25:55.39 - good for fourth and a new PR.
Tommy Conklin (West Bend, Wis./East) (26:06.39) and
Brandon Massman (Belvidere, Ill./North) (26:06.64) finished back-to-back in sixth and seventh respectively. Massman's time is a personal best by over 30 seconds.
Matt Andreano was clocked in 26:19.09 to secure 11th while
Bryce Faith (Oconomowoc, Wis./) added a top 20 time of 26:28.97. Next to cross were
Andrew Beyer (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs) (26:53.44) and
Nick Wendl (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) (26:55.74).
Adrian Ahuatl (St. Charles, Ill./East) (26:59.79), Aiden Johnson (27:05.14),
Ryan Van Dam (Glen Ellen, Ill./Glenbard East) (27:14.24) and
Will MacCudden (Slinger, Wis./) (27:17.17) rounded out the Warhawks finishing among the top 50. Ahuatl crushed his previous PR by 37 seconds Friday night.
Also representing UWW in the open were
James Belus (Oconomowoc, Wis./) (27:48.73) and
Jordan Loferski (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Hamilton) (27:54.15). Both finished among the top 80 in the field of more than 270 runners.
