Michigan
Great American Festival
Webb, Pilja Finish One-Two at Great American Festival
9/21/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Freshman Alan Webb (Reston, Va./South Lakes HS) won his first scored collegiate meet and senior Mark Pilja (Naperville, Ill./North HS) finished second as the No. 19-ranked University of Michigan men's cross country team finished runner-up at the Great American Cross Country Festival on Friday night (Sept. 21).
With Webb pacing the pack in a time of 24:05 and Pilja, an NCAA All-American in 2000, placing second at 24:08, the Wolverines were able to rack up 67 points and trailed only No. 11-ranked North Carolina State, which won the meet with 34 points.
All seven of Michigan's scoring runners placed in the top 30, including four in the top 25. Freshman Nathan Brannen (Cambridge, Ontario/Preston HS) earned an 18th-place finish with a time of 24.57 and senior All-American Mike Wisniewski (Temperance, Mich./Bedford HS) was six spots behind at 24th as he crossed the finish line at 25.11.
The rest of the Wolverines' top seven consisted of underclassmen as sophomores Thomas Greenless (Milford, Mich./Milford HS) and Dave Sage (Clarkston, Mich./Clarkston HS) placed 26th and 29th, respectively, with times of 25.13 and 25.16. Finishing in between U-M's two sophomores was freshman Jason Stover (Williamston, Mich./Williamston HS) in 28th at 24.14.
Michigan's next meet will be on Saturday, Sept. 29, at the William and Mary Invitational in Williamsburg, Va., at 11 a.m.
Top Five Teams
1. North Carolina State 34 2. MICHIGAN 67 3. Duke 102 4. Tennessee 176 5. Georgia 196
Top 5 Individuals
1. ALAN WEBB, U-M 24:05 2. MARK PILJA, U-M 24:08 3. Chad Vearson, Tennessee 24:08 4. Sean Kelly, Duke 24:12 5. Chris Seaton, N.C. State 24:12
Other Michigan Finishes
18. Nathan Brennan 24:57 24. Mike Wisniewski 25:11 26. Thomas Greenless 25:13 28. Jason Stover 24:14 29. Dave Sage 25:16 38. Nick Stanko 25:32 44. Brian Turner 25:36 45. John Hughes 25:36 73. Tarn Leach 26:09
Contact: David Crabtree (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
