Cross Country announces team awards

Posted: Dec 13, 2019

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire cross country team had their end of season awards banquet on Sunday, December 8^th. This event provided an opportunity for the team to gather one last time to celebrate the 2019 season and a moment of relaxation during the busiest time of the semester. The end of season awards, which are selected by team voting, include: Most Valuable Runner, Most Valuable Newcomer, Most Improved Runner and the Blugold Award.

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Lexie Tremble (sr.-Muskego HS) earned the Most Valuable Runner Award for the women's team. She was the top Blugold finisher at every race she competed in this fall. Lexie was the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Individual Champion leading the women's team to their 3^rd consecutive WIAC Team title. She finished 2^nd of 257 runners at the Midwest Regional Championships and earned All-American honors by placing 35^th of 277 at Nationals. Lexie is the 4^th woman in school history to win an individual conference title; past champions include Lucy Ramquist in 2012, Chris Goepel in 1985 and Katie Somers in 1984. In addition, Lexie was voted WIAC Cross Country Runner of the Year and won the WIAC Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year Award.

Connor Dolan (jr.-WI Rapids Assumption HS) earned the Most Valuable Runner Award for the men's team. He was the top UW-Eau Claire finisher in every race he competed in this season. Connor raced his best when it mattered most as evident by the finish at his final three races of the season. Connor earned All-WIAC honors by placing 14^th of 90 runners at Conference, All-Midwest Region honors finishing 17^th of 252 at Regionals and All-American honors by placing 39^th of 279 at Nationals.

The Most Valuable Newcomer Awards went to Ashley Kachurik (fr.-Warren Township HS (IL)) and Tyler Osen (fr.-Lakeville North HS (MN)). Ashley had an incredible finish to her first season winning the City Wells 5K in a meet record time of 19:11 and securing a conference spot. She then was the Blugolds seventh runner at Conference finishing 22^nd overall and sixth runner at Regionals and Nationals. Tyler Osen ran in the Blugolds top seven all season with his best performance at the UW-Oshkosh Invite where he placed 36^th of 452 runners with an 8K personal best time of 25:42. This performance ranks Tyler third on the All-Time Freshmen Blugold 8K list.

The Most Improved Awards went to Liz Galloway (jr.-Prospect HS (IL)) and Zach Yengo (so.-Eau Claire Regis HS). In 2018, Liz's highest finish on the team was 11^th with a personal best 6K time of 24:14. This season Liz finished as high as fifth on the team with a personal best 6K time of 22:57. Arguably her best race of the season came at the Luther Saga Cup where she placed first of 79 runners winning the 6K race by 20 seconds. In 2018, Zach's highest finish on the team was 16^th with a personal best 8K time of 27:43. This year at the Midwest Regional Championships Zach was the Blugolds number three runner narrowly missing All-Midwest Region honors (top 35) placing 37^th of 252 runners with an 8K personal best time of 25:34, which is a two minute and nine second improvement over last season!

The Blugold Award recognizes someone who is an incredible teammate and this year's winners were Liz Galloway and Harrison Redepenning (sr.-Anoka HS (MN)). Liz had an incredible season from a performance perspective, as evident by receiving the Most Improved Award. Harrison also had a strong season improving his 8K PR by 19 seconds, 26:43 at the Blugold Invite, and finishing in the top 10 at the Luther Saga Cup. However, both individuals' contributions to the team go way beyond running performance because they truly care for their teammates and have been instrumental in creating and maintaining a positive team environment where everyone is respected and supported.

This year's cross country letter award winners were also announced at the banquet and include:

Women: