Michigan
NCAA Championships
Michigan, Webb Finish 11th at NCAA Championships
11/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan men's cross country team ran to an 11th-place finish at the NCAA Championships with 364 points Monday (Nov. 19) at the Furman University Golf Course. Freshman Alan Webb (Reston, Va./South Lakes HS) became the 19th different All-American under head coach Ron Warhurt and senior Mike Wisniewski (Temperance, Mich./Bedford HS) earned his second All-America honor as both placed in the top 20 overall.
Webb, who finished 11th, earned his first All-America award by covering the 10,000-meter course in 29:38 and Wisniewski followed in 18th with a time of 29:50. Wisniewski also earned All-America status in his junior year of 1999 when he placed 32nd at the NCAA Championships. To qualify for All-America honors in cross country, an individual must place in the top 30 overall or be one of the top 30 American finishers.
Colorado earned the team championship with 90 points, edging out runner-up Stanford by a single point. Eastern Michigan junior Boaz Cheboiywo won the individual crown, setting a course record with a time of 28:47 to easily outdistance runner-up Jorge Torres of Colorado (29:06). Arkansas (118 points) and Northern Arizona (193) rounded out the top four teams and Great Lakes Region representatives Wisconsin (245) and Notre Dame (248) placed fifth and sixth, respectively.
Senior All-American Mark Pilja (Naperville, Ill./North HS), who was running in his fourth NCAA Championships, was the Wolverines' third finisher. His time of 30:48 placed him 83rd in the 244-runner field.
Two freshmen and two sophomores made up the rest of the Michigan team, with all four making their first appearances at the NCAA Championships. Freshman Nathan Brannen (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston HS) was the Maize and Blue's fourth finisher in 148th place at 31:28. Sophomore Tom Greenless (Milford, Mich./Milford HS) rounded out the Wolverines' point scorers with a time of 31:51, resulting in a 181st-place finish.
Michigan's other two representatives were freshman Brian Turner (Omaha, Neb./Millard North HS) and sophomore Ryan Hesselink (Freeport, Mich./Thornapple-Kellogg HS). Turner placed 201st (32:10) and Hesselink finished 232nd (33:01).
Top 15 Teams
1. Colorado 90 2. Stanford 91 3. Arkansas 118 4. Northern Arizona 193 5. Wisconsin 245 6. Notre Dame 248 7. Portland 273 8. Villanova 282 9. North Carolina State 293 10. Providence 294 11. MICHIGAN 364 12. Brigham Young 368 13. Oregon 389 14. Duke 410 15. Georgetown 419
Top 20 Individuals
1. Boaz Cheboiywo, Eastern Michigan 28:47 2. Jorge Torres, Colorado 29:06 3. Alistair Cragg, Arkansas 29:10 4. Dathan Ritzenhein, Colorado 29:11 5. Luke Watson, Notre Dame 29:19 6. Ryan Shay, Notre Dame 29:23 7. Donald Sage, Stanford 29:24 8. Matt Tegenkamp, Wisconsin 29:26 9. Josh Spiker, Wisconsin 29:29 10. Travis Laird, Northern Arizona 29:31 11. ALAN WEBB, U-M 29:38 (10) 12. Louis Luchini, Stanford 29:41 13. Silverus Kimeli, Arkansas 29:40 14. Dan Wilson, Connecticut 29:46 15. Ed Torres, Colorado 29:47 16. Tom McArdle, Dartmouth 29:47 17. Josh Horton, Cal-Santa Barbara 29:49 18. MIKE WISNIEWSKI, U-M 29:50 (16) 19. Daniel Lincoln, Arkansas 29:51 20. Ian Dobson, Stanford 29:53
Other Michigan Finishes
83. Mark Pilja 30:48 (68) 148. Nathan Brannen 31:28 (120) 181. Tom Greenless 31:51 (150) 201. Brian Turner 32:10 (169) 232. Ryan Hesselink 33:01 (199)
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Ron Warhurst
On his team's performance ... "We've been ranked around 11th all year so our finish fell in line with that. Alan (Webb) did well considering it's his first NCAA Championships and Mike (Wisniewski) was absolutely great. Both of them earned All-America honors and Mike closed out his collegiate career in fine fashion."
Freshman Alan Webb
On his first NCAA Championships ... "I'm happy to get my first season over with and to gain the experience of being in an NCAA Championships. Boaz (Cheboiywo) was incredibly fast today and he really set the pace. Now I'm just ready to get track season underway."
Contact: David Crabtree (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
