Women's Cross Country punches ticket to NCAA National Meet

Photo by Dan Schwamberger

Posted: Nov 16, 2019

By Alanna Huggett, UWEC Sports Information

Winneconne, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's cross country team competed at the NCAA Midwest Regional meet on Saturday, November 16. The race took place at the Lake Breeze Golf Course. The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh hosted the meet.

Results | Photos | NCAA National Meet Live Results | NCAA National Meet Live Video

The Blugolds placed 4^th out of 35 teams, scoring 120 points. Washington University won the meet with 37 points.

Lexie Tremble (Sr. – Muskego, WI) was the first Blugold to cross the finish line, placing 2^nd with a time of 22:13.1. Tremble also earned All-Midwest Region honors.

Naomi Long (So. – Medina, MN/Wayzata) was the next Blugold to finish the race. Long placed 18th with a time of 22:51. Long also earned All-Midwest Region honors.

Long said the race went well for her individually, and that the atmosphere on race day itself was great. Long also said that the Blugolds had great support from their fans at the meet.

Long said, "I mentally was present during the race and gave all I had to help my team."

Emma Drangstveit (Jr. – Lakeville, MN/Lakeville North High School) and Lizzy Cisewski (Jr. – Stevens Point, WI/Pacelli High School) were runners 3 and 4 for the women's cross country team. Drangstveit finished 23^rd with a time of 22:56.2, earning All-Midwest Region honors. Cisewski placed 38^th with a time of 23:16.6.

Rounding out the top 5 for the Blugolds was Teagan Monfils (Jr. – Shawano, WI) who placed 39^th with a time of 23:19.

Ashley Kachurik (Fr. – Wadsworth, IL/Warren Township) and Hannah Lamack (Jr. – Kewaunee, WI) were the next runners to cross the line. Kachurik placed 50^th with a time of 23:37.1. Lamack crossed the line in 52^nd place, running a time of 23:40.2.

Long said the team is ready for the NCAA Division III National meet next weekend.

"I was proud of my team and we did everything we needed to do to continue on to nationals," said Long. "I think we all have more gas in the tank that we're ready to show off at the Louisville course together."

Head Coach Dan Schwamberger said he was proud of the team and excited to see what the team can do next weekend at the NCAA National meet.

The Blugolds qualified for the 2019 National Cross Country meet as an at-large team. The women will race again this next Saturday, November 23 at the NCAA National meet held at Tom Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Kentucky.