Michigan
NCAA Great Lakes Regional
Walter, Wolverines Crowned NCAA Regional Champs
11/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Site: Ypsilanti, Mich. (Eagle Crest Golf Course)
Meet: NCAA Great Lakes Regional (6,000 meters)
U-M Finish: 1st Place of 30 Teams (40)
Top U-M Individual: Rebecca Walter, 1st (20:01)
Next Meet: Monday, Nov. 22 -- at NCAA Championships (Terre Haute, Ind.), 11Â a.m.
YPSILANTI, Mich. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan women's cross country team captured its fourth NCAA regional title thanks to five top-15 finishers, led by junior Rebecca Walter (Beverly Hills, Mich./Groves), who posted a first-place time (20:01.4) Saturday morning (Nov. 13) at Eagle Crest Golf Course.
Walter improved on her second-place finish at the Big Ten Conference Championships, becoming just the fourth Wolverine and the first since 1998 to win the individual regional crown.
Freshman Alyson Kohlmeier (Sarnia, Ontario/St. Patrick's) finished just four seconds back of Walter for third place in 20:05.3, building on her ninth-place showing at Big Tens. Fifth-year senior Andrea Parker (Livonia, Mich./Stevenson) took eighth place (20:20.9), one place higher than her Big Ten finish, while senior/junior Theresa Feldkamp (Lorain, Ohio/Amherst Steele) and junior/sophomore Katie Erdman (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) placed 13th and 15th, respectively, to round out the top 15.
Michigan State and Notre Dame were the agressors out of the gun, pushing the pack to the one kilometer point before a group of 12 runners began to distance themselves from the pack. At two kilometers, Michigan State's Danette Doetzel and Erdman battled with Notre Dame's Stephanie Madia for the lead. As the race approached the midpoint, Doetzel, the 2004 Big Ten individual champion, pulled into the lead, but Walter and Kohlmeier tracked down the pack and ran a close second and third as five Wolverines battled in the group of 12 runners ahead of the pack.
At the four kilometer mark, five harriers pulled away from the group of 12, led by Doetzel, Walter, Kohlmeier, Madia and Indiana's Lindsay Hattendorf. Hattendorf dropped away as the other four picked up the pace, heading into the final stretch of the race.
With 125 meters remaining, Doetzel led by a step over Walter with Kohlmeier close behind, but Walter made her move around the final bend, taking the lead and running out the last 100 meters for the victory.
Junior/sophomore Arianne Field (Kalamazoo, Mich./Hackett Catholic Central) placed 18th overall and freshman Lisa Canty (Highland, Mich./Milford) crossed in 22nd place in her second race of the season.
Notre Dame finished in second place, earning an automatic bid to nationals, while Michigan State, Indiana and Marquette rounded out the top five.
With the team win, Michigan earns an automatic bid the the NCAA Championships on Monday, Nov. 22, in Terre Haute, Ind.
Top 10 Teams
1. MICHIGAN 40 2. Notre Dame 79 3. Michigan State 85 4. Indiana 148 5. Marquette 166 6. Butler 187 7. Akron 202 8. Wisconsin 213 9. Ball State 225 10. Kent State 278
Top 10 Individuals
1. Rebecca Walter, U-M 20:01.4 2. Danette Doetzel, Michigan State 20:02.3 3. Alyson Kohlmeier, U-M 20:05.3 4. Stephanie Madia, Notre Dame 20:10.0 5. Caitlin Kelly, Michigan State 20:14.8 6. Sunni Olding, Notre Dame 20:15.0 7. Jessica Gall, Indiana 20:16.2 8. Andrea Parker, U-M 20:20.9 9. Kerry Meagher, Notre Dame 20:22.2 10. Jill Scully, Ball State 20:28.0
Other Michigan Individuals
13. Theresa Feldkamp 20:41.6 15. Katie Erdman 20:43.7 18. Arianne Field 20:52.1 26. Lisa Canty 21:05.9
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Mike McGuire
On the team's low score (40) ... "This is the best race we've run all year. Our goal was to try to score at or below what we did at Big Tens. We surpassed that by 10 against a very good field. I can't remember the last time when we had seven runners fire on all cylindars in the same meet."
On freshman Alyson Kohlmeier... "We saw her ability in practice and you can tell she did her homework. I think the catalyst was the 25 or 30 people from her hometown in Sarnia who came out today to support her. She had a lot of gas left in the tank today and had her best race of the year."
On nationals... "We are going to go out and give our best effort at nationals. That's all I can ask. We have nine days to go to school, practice and stay relaxed."
Junior Rebecca Walter
On the final kilometer of the race ... "We looked at this course and knew that the final turn would act as a slingshot if we needed it. With 125 kilometers left, I made my move on Danette (Doetzel) and was able to pull ahead of her."
On running in the lead with teammate Alyson Kohlmeier ... "It was very beneficial to have Aly with me for most of the race. I think she helped me relax, and I hope having me there helped her relax too."
On the team's regional title ... "We were favored coming into this race so we didn't want to just cruise through and rely on our ranking. We ran very well and I think there was less pressure here than at Big Tens."
Junior/Sophomore Katie Erdman
On the difference between Big Tens and regionals ... "We adjusted our workouts before regionals and at this time of year we're trying to stay healthy. The main thing we are trying to do now is take care of ourselves."
On the final kilometer of the race ... "We were having a great day and when you can see the finish with about a kilometer to go, you just want to finish strong. Theresa (Feldkamp) and I were working together at the front of the pack and I think that made it easier. We're looking forward to nationals."
Freshman Alyson Kohlmeier
On her first regional ... "It's an exciting environment -- a little more energy than Big Tens. There are only 11 teams at Big Tens, but here there were 33, so you see a lot of runners from different schools. I just had to remember that we have a very good team and then run my race."
On the team's finish ... "We all ran very close at the front of the group. It encouraged me to keep up my pace. It was a perfect day to run and I am very happy with our finish."
On being part of the lead group ... "Once you put yourself in the front, you get a lot of momentum from the other runners. Running with Rebecca (Walter) helped too because it was just like practice. I was able to relax a little more and keep in front of the pack."
N O T E S
• Junior Rebecca Walter is the first Wolverine to take the regional individual title since Katie McGregor achieved that feat in 1998. Only three other Wolverine harriers have finished first at regionals piror to Walter.
• Michigan finished first out of 33 programs this season after taking second out of 31 programs in 2003, led by Rebecca Walter's third-place finish. Walter's has been Michigan's top finisher in each of the last three seasons, leading Michigan to one regional title and two second-place finishes.
• U-M's last regional title came in 1995. The title was the third regional crown in a row for the Wolverines after taking the 1993 and 1994 regionals. Pauline Arnill and Michelle Slater earned All-America honors in 1995. Arnill is one of six U-M harriers to earn All-America accolades more than once in their careers, also earning the honor in 1994.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
