Michigan
NCAA Great Lakes Regional
Woods Finishes Fourth, Team Eighth at NCAA Regional
11/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Sophomore Mike Woods (Ottawa, Ontario/Hillcrest HS) claimed fourth place to pace the University of Michigan men's cross country team to eighth place (209 points) at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Saturday (Nov. 12) at Indiana's IU Cross Country Course. Wisconsin claimed the regional team title and Notre Dame placed second for the second straight year to secure the two automatic NCAA bids.
Competing in the first 10,000-meter race of the season, Woods registered his best-ever NCAA performance with the top-five finish, improving 12 spots on his performance from last year's NCAA regional. The Wolverine sophomore clocked a time of 31:11.7, 20 seconds behind winner Brian Olinger from Ohio State. Woods has led the Wolverines to the finish line in every scored meet this season.
Among Michigan's top-five runners, Woods was the only veteran NCAA performer. The remaining scoring quartet all made their collegiate 10,000-meter debut against the regional field. The group finished in a relatively tight pack -- just over 30 seconds apart -- but crossed the line more than a full minute behind Woods.
Freshman Justin Switzer (Waterford, Mich./Kettering HS) and fifth-year senior Rondell Ruff (Detroit, Mich./Henry Ford HS) came in together as Michigan's second and third men across the line, placing 42nd and 46th, respectively, with times of 32:32.3 and 32:34.9.
Rounding out the U-M scoring contingent were freshman/sophomore Victor Gras (Belmont, Mass./Belmont HS), who placed 57th overall with a time of 32:48.6, and freshman Lex Williams (Ann Arbor, Mich./Dexter HS), clocking 32:57.6 in 60th place.
Only the top two teams at the regional receive automatic bids to the NCAA Championships, and the Wolverines will have to wait until 7 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday, Nov. 13) to find out if they earn an at-large selection. If the team does not receive a bid, Woods is assured an invitation to the national meet based on his individual finish at the regional. The NCAA Championships will be held Monday, Nov. 21, in Terre Haute, Ind.
Top 10 Teams
1. Wisconsin 49 2. Notre Dame 58 3. Ohio State 119 4. Butler 150 5. Eastern Michigan 162 6. Indiana 172 7. Michigan State 203 8. MICHIGAN 209 9. Indiana State 227 10. Miami (Ohio) 280
Top 10 Individuals
1. Brian Olinger, Ohio State 30:51.5 2. Kurt Benninger, Notre Dame 31:06.5 3. Sean Jefferson, Indiana 31:07.9 4. MIKE WOODS, U-M 31:11.7 5. Daniel Huling, Miami (Ohio) 31:13.6 6. Bobby Lockhart, Wisconsin 31:15.8 7. Andy Rayner, Butler 31:19.8 8. Chris Solinsky, Wisconsin 31:23.6 9. Antony Ford, Wisconsin 31:23.6 10. Simon Bairu, Wisconsin 31:23.7
Other Michigan Individuals
42. Justin Switzer 32:32.3 46. Rondell Ruff 32:34.9 57. Victor Gras 32:48.6 60. Lex Williams 32:57.6 72. Andrew Bauer 33:14.3 83. Ethan Brown 33:34.0
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
