Ornelas Leads Wolverines for Second Straight Week in Illinois

Friday, September 16

Urbana, Ill.

5:15 PM CT

Michigan

Illinois Orange & Blue Preview

Ornelas Leads Wolverines for Second Straight Week in Illinois

9/16/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country

Sept. 16, 2011

• Photo Gallery

Site: Urbana, Ill. (University of Illinois Arboretum)
Meet: Illinois Orange & Blue Preview (8,000 Meters)
U-M Finish: 3rd of 3 Teams (50)
Top U-M Individual: Zach Ornelas, fifth (24:35)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Sept. 24 -- at Florida Mountain Dew Invitational (Gainesville, Fla.), 8 a.m.

URBANA, Ill. -- The University of Michigan men's cross country team placed three runners in the top 10 and took third overall at the Illinois Orange & Blue Preview on Friday (Sept. 16) at the 8,000-meter University of Illinois Arboretum. The 8,000-meter race was the Wolverines' first at that distance this season, as well as their first time facing Big Ten competition in 2011.

The meet, which also featured Wisconsin and host Illinois, was held at the site of the Big Ten Championships on Oct. 30.

For the second consecutive week, junior Zach Ornelas (Cedar Park, Texas/Vista Ridge HS) led all U-M runners across the finish line with a time of 24:35, finishing fifth overall. In their season debuts, junior/sophomore Brendon Blacklaws (Wellington, New Zealand/Wellington College), 24:46, and senior Bobby Aprill (Dexter, Mich./Dexter HS), 24:51, joined Ornelas in the top 10, placing eighth and ninth, respectively.

In his first career collegiate meet against conference opponents, sophomore/freshman James Yau (Troy, Mich./Troy) finished 12th with a time of 25:10. Sophomore Nathan Karr (Ann Arbor, Mich. /Pioneer) followed, taking the 15th spot in 25:18, while senior/junior Derek Henning (Alanson, Mich./Petoskey HS) placed 19th in a time of 25:34.

Also making his season debut was sophomore Matt Popielarz (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage), who finished 20th with a time of 26:21.

The Wolverines will be back in action on Friday (Sept. 24) at Florida Mountain Dew Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. The 8,000-meter event is slated to begin at 8 a.m. at the University of Florida Golf Course.

Team Standings

 1. Wisconsin                      33 2. Illinois                       42 3. Michigan                       50

Top 10 Individuals

 1. Michael Brice, Wisconsin       24:24 2. Dan Kremske, Illinois          24:25 3. Collin Mickow, Illinois        24:29 4. Andrew Shields, Wisconsin      24:29 5. Zach Ornelas, U-M              24:35 6. Nathan Troester, Illinois      24:42 7. Donald Schwaderer, Wisconsin   24:46 8. Brendon Blacklaws, U-M         24:46 9. Bobby Aprill, U-M              24:5110. Alex Brill, Wisconsin          24:52

Other Michigan Finishers

12. James Yau, U-M                 25:1015. Nathan Karr, U-M               25:1818. Derek Henning, U-M             25:3420. Matt Popielarz, U-M            26:21

Contact: Whitney Dixon (734) 763-4423