EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's and women's cross country teams have announced their team awards for the 2021 season. With both teams making trips to the 2021 NCAA National Championship Race, the Blugolds capped off a successful return to competition with their end of the year banquet last weekend.
The Blugold Award is given to the student athlete on each squad who exemplifies the qualities of a phenomoenal teammates. Sid Gross (Sr. - Saint Paul, MN/Highland Park) and Naomi Long (Sr. - Medina, MN/Wayzata) both earned the Blugold Award in their senior seasons with the team.
Connor Dolan (Sr. - Nekoosa, WI/Assumption) and Carolyn Shult (Jr. - Augusta, WI) both earned Most Valuable Runner honors. Dolan had two top-5 finishes and had a season best 24:26.2 during the NCAA Championship 8K. Shult also gather two top-5 finishes, including a runner-up placement at the WIAC Championships. Shult's fastest 6K time of the year was 22:10.6.
The Most Improved Runners of the year were Sam Verkerke (So. - White Bear Township, MN/White Bear Lake) and Crolyn Shult. Both runners hit their personal records this season with Shult's coming at the NCAA Championships and Verkerke's set at the Jim Drews Invitational with a time of 26:30.3.
Nic Burgdorf (Fr. - New Berlin, WI/New Berlin Eisenhower) and Allison Weissinger (Fr. - River Falls, WI) were named the teams' Most Valuable Newcomers.
