Michigan
NCAA Championships
Woods Races to 55th Place at NCAA Championships
11/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Sophomore Mike Woods (Ottawa, Ontario/Hillcrest HS), a member of the University of Michigan cross country team, concluded his season with a solid showing at the NCAA Championships on Monday (Nov. 21) at Indiana State's LaVern Gibson Championship Course. Woods claimed 55th place among the 253-man field and just missed his 10,000-meter personal best by three seconds.
Improving his position from last season's NCAA meet by 129 positions, Woods clocked a time of 30:34.4 -- a 45-second season-best showing and 2.9 seconds shy of his personal best in the event (30:31.5), which he registered at last season's NCAA Great Lakes Regional. He was just 21 seconds outside of the race's top 30, all of whom earn All-America status.
Running in ideal cross country conditions -- a brisk temperature and a dry course -- Woods hung with the leaders through the early portions of race, staying among the tightly-packed top 30 through the opening 5,000 meters, clocking a 14:58 split at the halfway point. The U-M freshman fell off the pace in the later stages of the race as the frontrunners continued to accelerate. Woods came through the 8,000-meter mark at 24:15 and lost a few positions in the final stretch to finish in 55th.
Wisconsin captured the NCAA team title with 37 points behind the performances of three top-10 finishers. Badger Simon Bairu claimed his second straight individual crown, clocking 29:15.9, the third-fastest time ever recorded at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course.
Top Five Teams
1. Wisconsin 37 2. Arkansas 105 3. Notre Dame 178 4. Iona 205 5. Colorado 223
Top 10 Individuals
1. Simon Bairu, Wisconsin 29:15.9 2. Richard Kiplagat, Iowa 29:21.9 3. Chris Solinksy, Wisconsin 29:27.8 4. Josh McDougal, Liberty 29:32.6 5. Westly Keeting, Texas-Pan American 29:38.1 6. Josh Rohatinsky, Brigham Young 29:40.2 7. Josphat Boit, Arkansas 30:49.1 8. Kurt Benninger, Notre Dame 29:50.2 9. Matt Withrow, Wisconsin 29:50.7 10. Robert Cheserat, Arizona 29:50.8 ------------------------------------------------ 55. Mike Woods, U-M 30:34.4
Q U O T E S
Michigan Sophomore Mike Woods
On the race ... "I was a little disappointed, but I put it all out there on the line. I went out really hard, and I guess I paid for it in the end, but I still went for it, and I'm really happy that I did."
On the course ... "The course was in much better shape than it was last year. Last year it was very muddy and very messy. This year, it was very, very good, especially where they kept it really dry. It was perfect weaher for racing, so it was actually a lot of fun to get out there
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
