Irish Women, Men Finish Sixth At NCAA Great Lakes Regional Championship

Nov. 14, 2014

Men’s Complete Results

Women’s Complete Results

MADISON, Wisc. — The University of Notre Dame women’s cross country team figured it would need to finish among the top six at the NCAA Great Lake Regional on Friday at the Zimmer Championship Course to secure a bid to next week’s NCAA Championships in Terre Haute.

The Irish fell exactly where they thought they needed to, paced by all-region performances from juniors Molly Seidel (4^th, 19:59) and Danielle Aragon (25^th, 20:45). Now all that is left to do is wait.

All six women’s teams ranked in the latest USTFCCCA coaches poll finished in the top six, with No. 1 Michigan State (28 points) and No. 6 Wisconsin (82) earning the region’s automatic bids to next week’s NCAA Championships with the top two spots. No. 26 Toledo (133), No. 8 Michigan (137) and No. 19 Ohio State (155) rounded out the top five.

Seidel bested her 6K time from the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship race by 12 seconds in her homecoming to Wisconsin, while Aragon shaved off three seconds. Emily Frydrych (37^th) clocked in at 20:59, Karen Lesiewicz (49^th) completed the race in 21:11 and Katie Moran came in at 21:48. Taylor Driscoll (93^rd, 21:48) and Sydni Meunier (101^st, 22:07) rounded out the Irish finishers.

“It was a good day for the team,” Seidel said. “It was so much fun to race in my home state. It was great to have Dani Aragon [named] all-region and [to] place sixth as a team in our region. It’s going to be close getting into nationals, so we’re hoping for another shot to run well next Saturday.”

The Irish women won’t know their fate until Saturday, when the at-large decision process is complete. Meanwhile, Seidel has already qualified as an individual.

In the men’s 10K, Michael Clevenger led the Irish to a sixth-place team finish with a sixth-place showing of his own (30:22), earning all-region recognition and an individual at-large bid to the national meet. Jake Kildoo (39^th, 31:03), Timothy Ball (40^th, 31:07), Jacob Dumford (54^th, 31:23) and Chris Marco (66^th, 31:35) made up the Irish top five.

“After a rough start to the season both as a team and individually, it was great to have things come together when it counted most,” Clevenger said. “It was good to see our guys compete well, and build momentum for the upcoming track season and next year’s cross country season.”

Wisconsin (61) and Michigan State (82) took the top two spots on the men’s side, with Michigan (94), Indiana (126) and Eastern Michigan (164) rounding out the top five.

“Both teams were much improved from the last time we ran at Wisconsin a month ago,” associate head coach Matt Sparks said, referencing the Wisconsin adidas Invitational. “Individually, we know we have qualified two people. Molly Seidel and Mike Clevenger ran especially well to advance to Terre Haute for the NCAA finals next week.”

Stay tuned to UND.com and follow the team on Twitter as information on the NCAA Championship qualifiers becomes available.

Men’s Team Results (30 Teams)

1. 1. Wisconsin (61)
2. 2. Michigan State (82)
3. 3. Michigan (94)
4. 4. Indiana (126)
5. 5. Eastern Michigan (164)
6. 6. Notre Dame (205)

Men’s Individual Results (207 Runners)

1. 1. John Mascari, Indiana State 30:07
2. 2. Malachy Schrobilgen, Wisconsin 30:10
3. 3. Matt McClintock, Purdue 30:17
4. 4. Caleb Rhynard, Michigan State 30:17
5. 5. Erick Peterson, Butler 30:22
6. 6. Michael Clevenger, Notre Dame 30:22*

*At-Large Individual Qualifier

Other Irish Finishers: 39. Jake Kildoo 31:03, 40. Timothy Ball 31:07, 54. Jacob Dumford 31:23, 66. Chris Marco 31:35, 68. Scott Milling 31:44, 97. Calvin Kraft 32:11

Women’s Team Results (32 Teams)

1. 1. Michigan State (28)
2. 2. Wisconsin (82)
3. 3. Toledo (133)
4. 4. Michigan (137)
5. 5. Ohio State (155)
6. 6. Notre Dame (195)

Women’s Individual Results (219 Runners)

1. 1. Leah O’Connor, Michigan State 19:45
2. 2. Rachele Schulist, Michigan State 19:45
3. 3. Sarah Disanza, Wisconsin 19:58
4. 4. Molly Seidel, Notre Dame 19:59*
5. 5. Julia Otwell, Michigan State 20:06

*At-Large Individual Qualifier

Other Irish Finishers: 25. Danielle Aragon 20:45, 37. Emily Frydrych 20:59, 49. Karen Lesiewicz 21:11, 80. Katie Moran 21:48, 93. Taylor Driscoll 21:57, 101. Sydni Meunier 22:07

By Joanne Norell, Media Relations Assistant

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