Michigan
Murray Keatinge Inviational
Wolverines Place Third at Murray Keatinge Invitational
10/6/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
ORONO, Maine -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan men's cross country team posted a third-place finish at the University of Maine's Murray Keatinge Invitational on Saturday morning (Oct. 6) as senior All-American Mark Pilja (Naperville, Ill./North HS) led the Wolverines with a third-place showing in a time of 24:07.10.
Last year Pilja won the individual championship at the Murray Keatinge Invitational when he ran the 8,000-meter course in 23:43.7. Since that time, Pilja has posted top-10 finishes in six races, including all three scored meets he has competed in for the 2001 season.
As a team, Michigan secured a third-place showing with 76 points despite not having three of its best runners competing. Senior All-American Mike Wisniewski (Temperance, Mich./Bedford HS), and freshmen Alan Webb (Reston, Va./South Lakes HS) and Nathan Brannen (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston HS) did not run at the Murray Keatinge Invitational.
In their absence, the Wolverines picked up top-20 finishes from three sophomores -- Tom Greenless (Milford, Mich./Milford HS), John Hughes (Traverse City, Mich./Central HS) and Nick Stanko (Wyandotte, Mich./Roosevelt HS). All three established personal best times for the season, led by Greenless, who finished 11th with a time of 24:53.90. Hughes' and Stanko's times earned them 17th and 18th place, respectively, at 25:02.40 and 25:06.60.
No. 2-ranked Stanford captured the individual and team titles as the Cardinal placed four runners among the top five en route to scoring 25 points. Freshman Ryan Hall paced the field with a time of 24:00.40 for the individual crown.
Michigan's next meet will be on Sunday, Oct. 14, when it hosts the Wolverine Interregional on the University of Michigan Golf Course. The men's competition will cover 8,000 meters and is scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m.
Team Standings
1. Stanford 25 2. Arizona 42 3. MICHIGAN 76 4. Purdue 142 Maine 142 6. New Hampshire 148 7. Vermont 222 8. Holy Cross 228 9. Central Connecticut State 231
Top 10 Individuals
1. Ryan Hall, Stanford 24:00.40 2. Louis Luchini, Stanford 24:07.10 3. MARK PILJA, U-M 24:07.10 4. Joe Urbanski, Stanford 24:12.70 5. Daniel Parris, Stanford 24:14.60 6. Mark Anderson, Arizona 24:30.60 7. Mike Cramer, Arizona 24:32.90 8. Steve Smith, Arizona 24:34.10 9. Kyle Goklish, Arizona 24:44.20 10. Daniel Hocking, New Hampshire 24:47.20
Other Michigan Finishes
11. Tom Greenless 24:53.90 17. John Hughes 25:02.40 18. Nick Stanko 25:06.60 30. Jason Stover 25:36.60 31. Brian Turner 25:40.80 42. Tarn Leach 25:59.30 54. Ryan Hesselink 26:27.10
Contact: David Crabtree (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
