Weekly Release #3
9/28/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Friday, Oct. 1 -- at Notre Dame Invitational (South Bend, Ind.), 5 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 9 -- at Murray Keatinge Invitational (Orono, Maine), 11 a.m.
Up Next for the Wolverines
The Michigan men's cross country team will travel to South Bend, Ind., Friday (Oct. 1) for the 44th annual Notre Dame Invitational. The 8,000-meter race is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. at the Notre Dame Golf Course.
The Notre Dame Invitational is one of the nation's oldest intercollegiate cross country races. Started by Irish coach Alex Wilson in 1956, the invitational will bring together teams from across the country, including Georgetown, which the Wolverines finished behind for a third-place finish at the Spiked Shoe Invitational on Sept. 18.
Men To Face Fierce Competition
After placing third behind the second-place Georgetown Hoyas at the Spiked Shoe Invitational on Sept. 18, the University of Michigan men's cross county team is ready for a rematch on Friday (Oct. 1) at the Notre Dame Invitational.
"Georgetown is a tremendous team," said coach Ron Warhurst. "They are highly talented. We are looking forward to facing the challenge again."
Notre Dame will also be a challenge for the Wolverines this Friday. The Irish are coming off their 15th consecutive win at the National Catholic Championships that were held on Sept. 17. Notre Dame is riding high and looking for a repeat of its previous success on Friday. Michigan will have to look out for junior Ryan Shay, who finished second last year at the invitational.
"All in all it should be great race," said Warhurst. "It will be a tough race, but the our guys are ready."
Men Seeking Repeat Success
No one doubted the Michigan men's cross country season would be difficult without All-Americans John Mortimer and Todd Snyder, but the men didn't miss a stride Saturday (Sept. 18) when finishing third overall with 62 points at the Spiked Shoe Invitational in State College, Pa.
The Wolverines faced two of the most talented teams in the country over the weekend -- James Madison and Georgetown -- and finished behind winner James Madison (46 points) and runner-up Georgetown (50 points).
Top Five Teams
1. James Madison 46 2. Georgetown 50 3. MICHIGAN 62 4. Bucknell 126 5. Malone 132
Michigan Individual Finishes
3. Mike Wisniewski 25:46.78 8. Mark Pilja 26:00.72 14. Jay Cantin 26:26.39 17. Steve Lawrence 26.37.44 30. Tom Caughlan 26:52.88 34. David Cook 26:55.68 47. Nick Stanko 27:14.19 86. John Butsic 27:55.60 88. Nate Hoffman 27:58.29 167. John Wesley 29:26.66
Notes
... Junior Mike Wisniewski (Temperance, Mich./Bedford HS) and Mark Pilja (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North HS) continue to be the dynamic duo, being the Wolverines' top finishers for the second meet in as many weeks.
... Freshman Nick Stanko (Wyandotte, Mich./Roosevelt HS) is still showing he can run with the upperclassmen. He was the top freshmen finisher at the Spiked Shoe Invitational.
... The Wolverines are running consistently. At the Michigan Open the top 10 runners clocked times under 27 minutes. All five of Michigan's scoring places were under 27 minutes at the Spiked Shoe Invitational as well.
Contact: Adrienne Gutierrez (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
