Michigan
NCAA Championships
McGregor Michigan's First Cross Country National Champion
11/23/1998 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Site: Lawrence, Kan. (Rim Rock Farm)
Meet: NCAA Championships (5,000 meters)
U-M Finish: 11th of 31 teams (380 points)
Top U-M Individual: Katie McGregor, 1st (16:47.21)
Next U-M Event: Season Complete
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- For the first time in school history, a University of Michigan runner captured the NCAA cross country national title. Senior Katie McGregor (Willoughby, Ohio/Willoughby South HS) out-kicked pre-race favorite Amy Skieresz of Arizona in the final 500 meters to capture the national title in 16:47.21. As a team, Michigan finished 11th overall.
Now a two-time cross country All-American, McGregor won seven of the eight meets in which she ran this year, including the Big Ten Conference and NCAA Great Lakes Regional championships. She became the first woman at Michigan to repeat as the Big Ten cross country champion (1997 and 1998) and also won the 1998 NCAA 3,000-meter indoor track and field title.
"Katie did a really great job," said U-M coach Mike McGuire following the race. "Amy Skieresz (Arizona) was the pre-race favorite, but Katie ran under control and never lost contact with her.
"There's a long hill right around the 4K mark," McGuire explained. "Katie came off the hill and you just saw she was going to win. She caught Skieresz with about 500 meters to go and put her away."
Sophomore Lisa Ouellet (Sudbury, Ontario/Lasalle SS) was Michigan's second finisher, placing 68th in a time of 17:59.65. The Wolverines' No. 2 runner during the season, junior Elizabeth Kampfe (Decatur, Ill./MacArthur HS), was unable to finish the race due to shin splints.
Top 15 Teams
1. Villanova 106 2. Brigham Young 110 3. Stanford 111 4. Georgetown 199 5. Wisconsin 233 6. Arkansas 311 7. Colorado 332 8. Baylor 351 9. Washington 363 10. William and Mary 374 11. MICHIGAN 380 12. Oregon 384 13. Kansas State 385 14. Providence 386 15. Wake Forest 388
Top Five Individuals
1. Katie McGregor, U-M 16:47.21
2. Amy Skieresz, Arizona 16:53.52
3. Amy Yoder, Arkansas 17:03.05
4. Kristen Gordon, Georgetown 17:09.17
5. Sally Glynn, Stanford 17:09.47
Other Michigan Finishes
68. Lisa Ouellet 17:59.65 109. Michelle Slater 18:20.12 146. Sarah Hamilton 18:38.27 165. Katie Clifford 18:48.66 175. Julie Froud 18:55.68 --- Elizabeth Kampfe DNF
Players Mentioned
