UW-P cross country teams run away at conference, off to regionals

Kat Connors
Exponent

The UW-Platteville men’s and women’s cross country teams had a record-breaking weekend at the WIAC Championships on Oct. 27. The meet was held at Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne.

Going into the conference meet, the men’s team was nationally ranked seventh and the women’s team was ranked 10th.

The UW-P men’s team and UW-Stevens Point tied for second place with 65 points, and UW-La Crosse won with 40 points.

In the women’s division, UW-Eau Claire finished first with 44 points, while UW-P came in second with 49 points.

” We did as well as we could; they just ran a little better,” head coach Tom Antczak said.

Tyler Sigl finished first and won his third straight individual title in the men’s division. He is only the fourth runner to win three individual titles in WIAC history.

” Tyler was running with some tough company,” Antczak said.

Sigl shaved 11 seconds off his former school record with a time of 24:12 at the conference meet.

Tony Kilburg placed 10th for the men in 25:20 and earned second team all-conference. Honorable mentions were Jason Garvens, 17th in 25:41, Aaron Whalen, 18th in 25:46 and Cam Klein, 19th in 25:49.

” We try not to let the important meets seem much different than the others,” Kilburg, men’s team captain, said. “We are running the same distance as the other meets.”

The women earned two first team honors with Jessica Scott placing third in 21:52 and Emma Dreis placing seventh in 22:33.

Alli Tank finished eighth in 22:36, and Eileen McGuine placed 13th in 22:56, earning them second team all-conference honors. Lindsey Vick was an honorable mention, placing 18th in
23:07.

Scott’s finish was the third best in UW-P history.

” We had higher expectations but it’s the best a Platteville women’s team has ever done,” Qynne Kelly, women’s team captain, said.

After the conference meet, both teams are ranked third going into regionals.

The top two teams from the regional meet advance to nationals automatically. Two to three more teams are chosen by a selection committee.

” We’re striving for the top two teams, so we go automatically and don’t have to be picked to go,” Antczak said.

The Pioneers will return to the Lake Breeze Golf Course for the regional meet on Saturday, Nov. 10.

” Next year our team will be even better,” Kelly said. “We’re going to be tougher.”