Michigan
adidas XC Challenge
Wolverines, Hubaker Victorious at adidas XC Challenge
9/20/2019 8:02:00 PM | Men's Cross Country
Site: Cary, N.C. (WakeMed Park)
Event: adidas XC Challenge
Distance: Six Kilometers (3.73 miles)
U-M Team Finish: 1st Place of 10 teams (17 points)
Top U-M Individual: Christian Hubaker, 1st (17:45.7)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sep. 28 -- at Big Ten Preview (Columbus, Ohio)
• Complete Results (PDF)
CARY, N.C. -- The University of Michigan men's cross country team was victorious Friday (Sept. 20) as it hit the road for the first time with both the race distance and competition level bumping up at the adidas XC Challenge at WakeMed Park.
The Wolverines won the team race with 17 points as Christian Hubaker led the way for the Wolverines individually with a first-place finish and covered the six-kilometer (3.73-mile) course in 17:45.7.
The closest team behind the Wolverines was North Carolina State with 58 points. Like Michigan, the Wolfpack did not run its full-strength roster.
Rounding out Michigan's scoring lineup -- comprised of its top five runners -- were second-place Gabe Mudel (17:53.7), third-place Will Landowne (17:53.9), fifth-place Cole Johnson (17:57.3) and sixth-place Jacob Branch (17:57.5).
Those five were joined by seventh-place Joost Plaetinck (17:59.8) in sub-18-minute territory on the day. While comparing cross country times is an inexact science, when last the Wolverines raced here in 2017 no Michigan man broke 18 minutes. That includes eventual All-American and outdoor 10,000-meter champion Ben Flanagan.
Not only were the Wolverines fast, they also were packed up well together. Just 11.8 seconds separated Michigan's top five, with just 19 spanning between Michigan's No. 1 and No. 7 runners. The results point to a reservoir of depth Michigan can add to a lineup that will eventually reintroduce All-American Jack Aho, Michigan Open winner Isaac Harding and others.
Hubaker was third overall at the halfway point of the race, running alongside Landowne behind midpoint leader Lee.
Hubaker was exceptionally strong over the final 3.1 kilometers of the race, covering it in 9:07.7. Teammate Johnson was the next-fastest over that distance, nearly five full seconds arear.
Johnson made his own moves to get up to fifth overall, bypassing 12 opponents in the last half of the competition. Branch also was able to climb through the field late, jumping up 10 spots to sixth.
The results of this competition will not count toward Michigan's at-large NCAA Championships qualifying resume as the race distance was shorter than eight kilometers (4.97 miles). Should the Wolverines not secure an automatic NCAA Championships berth with a top-two finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in November, regular-season results are a big component of determining the teams that qualify at-large.
The remainder of the Wolverines' regular-season schedule -- including next Saturday (Sept. 28) at the Ohio State Big Ten Preview -- likely will count towards their postseason resume.
Full Michigan Results
1. Christian Hubaker -- 17:45.7
2. Gabe Mudel -- 17:53.7
3. Will Landowne -- 17:53.9
5. Cole Johnson -- 17:57.3
6. Jacob Branch -- 17:57.5
7. Joost Plaetinck -- 17:59.8
8. Jacob Lee -- 18:04.7
10. Andrew Lorant -- 18:11.8
11. Colton Yesney -- 18:14.6
13. Dominic Dimambro -- 18:20.8
Full Team Standings
1. MICHIGAN (17 points)
2. NC State (58 points)
3. Davidson (95 points)
4. UNC-Greensboro (116 points)
5. Charleston Southern (123 points)
6. NC A&T (152 points)
7. UNCW (201 points)
8. Citadel (247 points)
9. N.C. Central (270 points)
10. Gardner-Webb (296 points)
Players Mentioned
