Issued: November 3, 2003

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY TO COMPETE IN MIDWEST REGIONAL

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire men's cross country team will host 40 teams at the Division III Midwest Regional Saturday held at the Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax.

Four of the top 10 teams and six of the top 25 in latest Division III poll will be among the teams competing in the event. Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member and defending national champion UW-Oshkosh will be the team to beat. The Titans currently hold the top spot in the latest poll with Midwest teams North Central College, UW-Stevens Point and UW-La Crosse also among the top 10.

Matt Goertz (Sr.-Manitowoc/Lincoln) comes in as the top runner on a very balanced team. Goertz finished first among Blugold competitors in four of seven events with a top time of 26:14 in the 8k run.

Adam Condit (Jr.-La Crosse/Central) finished first among Blugold competitors in two of the seven races. Condit comes into the event tied for the top 8k time among Blugolds with a time of 26:08.

Other Blugold runners expected to compete include Micah Hernandez (Jr.-Milwaukee/Wisconsin Lutheran), Jake Ebner (Jr.-Cameron), Ben Schmiege (Jr.-Madison/Lakeside Lutheran) and Jeff Burkart (Sr.-Marshfield).

Hernandez finished first among Blugolds at the Midwest Collegiate held earlier this year and shares the top time of 26:08 with Condit. Schmiege's top time for the year is 26:14.2 at the Midwest Long Course Challenge with Burkart bringing in a top time of 26:37. Ebner had his best time of the season at the WIAC championships two weeks ago with a time of 26:37.

The top five teams will advance to the Division III Nationals held in Hanover, Ind. with the top eight men not on a qualifying team also advancing to nationals.

The race is scheduled to begin at noon.