Wolverines Win Team Title at Greater Louisville Classic

Saturday, October 1

Louisville, Ky.

10:15 AM

Michigan

Greater Louisville Classic

Wolverines Win Team Title at Greater Louisville Classic

10/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country

Oct. 1, 2011

Site: Louisville, Ky. (E.P. 'Tom' Sawyer State Park)
Meet: Greater Louisville Classic (5,000 Meters)
U-M Finish: 1st of 30 Teams (81 points)
Top U-M Individual: Danielle Tauro, 3rd (17:01.99)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Oct. 16 -- at NCAA Pre-Nationals (Terre Haute, Ind.), 11:40 a.m.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The No. 13-ranked University of Michigan women's cross country team clinched its second straight team title, winning the Greater Louisville Classic on Saturday (Oct. 1) at E.P. 'Tom' Sawyer State Park. For the third time in as many meets, fifth year senior Danielle Tauro (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional HS) led all Wolverine harriers across the finish line in the 5,000-meter race.

Tauro's time of 17:01.99 set a new personal best by nearly 14 seconds. Sophomore/freshman Taylor Pogue (Goodrich, Mich./Goodrich) earned her highest finish in a scored meet this season, crossing just three ticks behind Tauro (17:04.38.) in fourth place. Claiming the last spot in the top 10 was junior Rebecca Addison (Spring Lake, Mich./Grand Haven HS) with a time of 17:17.33. Pogue shaved more than a minute off her 5k time from her career debut at the Michigan Open on Sept. 2, while Addison topped her personal best by more than 20 seconds.

Freshman Brook Handler (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester) finished fourth for the Maize and Blue, taking the 30th spot overall with a time of 17:44.53. Sophomore/freshman Megan Weschler (Wyandotta, Mich./Roosevelt HS) rounded out Michigan's top five, placing 36th at 17:48.28.

In her first official team competition of her career, sophomore/freshman Erica Crane (Dearborn, Mich./Divine Child) finished 154th in a field of 262 runners with a time of 18:51.16. Her time improved nearly a minute and a half from the Michigan Open when she ran for the Maize and Blue for the first time in her career.

The Wolverines will take a two-week break before competing on the national championship course at the NCAA Pre-Nationals meet on Sunday, Oct. 16. The 6,000-meter race is slated to begin at 11:40 a.m. at LaVern Gibson Championship Course in Terre Haute, Ind.

Team Standings (Top 10)

 1. MICHIGAN             81 2. Ferris State        190 3. Mississippi         202 4. Purdue              228 5. South Florida       232 6. Alabama             240 7. Illinois State      246 8. West Virginia "B"   247 9. East Carolina       26310. Vanderbilt "B"      325

Top 10 Individuals

 1. Lydia Kosgei, Eastern Kentucky       16:51.12 2. Tina Muir, Ferris State              16:59.01 3. Danielle Tauro, U-M                  17:01.99 4. Taylor Pogue, U-M                  17:04.38 5. Lauren D'Alessio, Samford            17:06.47 6. Hilary Orf, St. Louis                17:08.54 7. Logan Waites, Ole Miss               17:09.75 8. Samantha Johnson, Ferris State       17:13.83 9. Liz Anderson, Vanderbilt "B"         17:16.3510. Rebecca Addison, U-M                 17:17.33

Other Michigan Individuals

 30. Brook Handler, U-M                  17:44.53 36. Megan Weschler, U-M                 17:48.28 56. Lindsey Hilton, U-M                 18:05.92 58. Mary Grace Pellegrini, U-M            18.07.13100. Chloe Prince, U-M                   18:27.16125. Nicola Hallenborg, U-M              18:40.88154. Erica Crane, U-M                    18:51.16

Q U O T E S

U-M Fifth-year Senior Danielle Tauro
On the team's first test running in a large field ... "We had a solid day overall. Winning as a team is always a great feeling, but there are definitely some things to improve upon. I think running in a larger field of competition is a little wake up call for us. It's easier to run as a group when you are in control with only your teammates beside you. When other teams and runners are in the front with you, you lose a little of that sense of control and it's easier for the team to break apart. We all ran hard today but are better than what we showed so I am excited for the next opportunity to race."

U-M Sophomore/freshman Taylor Pogue
On competing in the first large meet of her career ... "Today was our first big meet. Racing more teams, I definitely felt more nervous during the race. I think this was a good experience for our team to run against a larger field. We are all excited to race again and keep improving."

Contact: Whitney Dixon (734) 763-4423