Wolverines Take 10th at NCAA Great Lakes Regional

Saturday, November 14

Bloomington, Ind.

Noon

Michigan

NCAA Great Lakes Regional

11/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country

Nov. 14, 2009

Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Indiana University Championship Cross Country Course)
Meet: NCAA Great Lakes Regional (10,000 meters)
U-M Finish: 10th of 30 Teams (259 points)
Top U-M Individual: Peter Christmas, 29th (31:54.16)
Next U-M Event: TBA

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The University of Michigan men's cross country team finished 10th overall (259 points) in the 10,000-meter NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Saturday (Nov. 14) at the Indiana University Championship Cross Country Course.

Senior/junior Peter Christmas (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) led the Wolverines across the finish line for the second time this season, claiming 29th place with a time of 31:54.16. Freshman Brendon Blacklaws (Wellington, New Zealand/Wellington College) and fifth-year senior Brandon Fellows (Mercer Island, Wash./Mercer Island HS) finished several steps back in 31st and 33rd place, respectively, clocking times of 31:56.75 and 32:00.80.

There was a significant drop off from the Wolverines' final two finishers. Freshman Zach Ornelas (Cedar Park, Texas/Vista Ridge HS) and fifth-year senior Sean McNamara (Elmhurst, Ill./York HS) rounded out U-M's scoring in 69th and 97th place, respectively.

Only the top two teams at the regional receive automatic bids to the NCAA Championships, and the Wolverines will have to wait until 7 p.m. tomorrow (Sunday, Nov. 15) to find out if they earn an at-large selection. The NCAA Championships will be held Monday, Nov. 23, in Terre Haute, Ind. The 10,000-meter men's race will start at noon at the Lavern Gibson Championship Course.

Team Standings (Top 10)

 1. Wisconsin            62 2. Michigan State      128 3. Ohio State          144 4. Indiana State       151 5. Butler              160 6. Kent State          192 7. Notre Dame          205 8. Indiana             213 9. Eastern Michigan    23210. MICHIGAN            259

Top 10 Individuals

 1. Jeff See, Ohio State                 31:03.16 2. Landon Peacock, Wisconsin            31:08.36 3. MOHAMMED AHMED, Wisconsin            31:08.75 4. Andrew Poore, Indiana                31:11.70 5. Patrick Grosskopf, Michigan State    31:12.98 6. Eric Schulz, Indiana State           31:13.37 7. Madison Roeder, Butler               31:13.92 8. Andy Baker, Butler                   31:19.52 9. Jake Walker, Notre Dame              31:21.1010. Caden Shields, Purdue                31:22.20

Other Michigan Individuals

29. Peter Christmas, U-M                 31:54.1631. Brendon Blacklaws, U-M               31:56.7533. Brandon Fellows, U-M                 32:00.8069. Zach Ornelas, U-M                    32:50.0597. Sean McNamara, U-M                   33:30.79

Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423