Cross Country

Category: Cross Country

Lawrence men lead all MWC teams at Brissman-Lundeen Invitational

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — The Lawrence University men’s cross country team led the contingent of Midwest Conference teams by finishing 19th on Friday at the Brissman-Lundeen Invitational.

Freshman Josh Janusiak led the Vikings by taking 70th as he covered the 8,000 meters at Saukie Golf Course in 26:14.4. Also scoring for the Vikings were Max Edwards (113th), Ben Schaefer (121st), Jordan Atkins (128th) and Mayan Essak (159th). Lawrence had a team score of 591.

The University of Illinois won the men’s title with 65.

On the women’s side, the Vikings were part of a strong contingent of MWC teams and took 15th with 410 points. Ferris State University took the title with 125.

Lawrence bunched its top three runners together at the end of the 6,000-meter course as Clare Bruning took 69th in 24:05.1, Liz Landes was 72nd in 24:09.5 and Erin Schrobilgen was 76th in 24:11.5. Rounding out the scoring were Sierra Polzin (93rd) and Hannah Kinzer (100th).

Men’s Results

Women’s Results

Vikings take team title at Ken Weidt Classic

MEQUON, Wis. — The Lawrence University women’s cross country team ran in a pack up front and rolled to the team title on Saturday at the Ken Weidt Classic on the Concordia University of Wisconsin campus.

The Vikings finished with 49 points to beat UW-Stevens Point by 13 points. The Pointers entered the meet ranked eighth in the Midwest Region, arguably the toughest region in the country.

Lawrence had all five of its scorers in the top 17, and Clare Bruning led the way by finishing second in 23:44.3 on the 6,000-meter course. Erin Schrobilgen was fifth in 24:18.8, Liz Landes was 10th in 24:34.2, Sierra Polzin was 15th in 24:55.3 and Margaret Huck took 17th in 25:09.2.

This was Lawrence’s first team title since the Vikings swept the team title at this meet in 2013.

On the men’s side, the Vikings finished fifth with 138 points, and UW-Stevens Point took the title with 31.

Freshman Josh Janusiak led the Vikings by taking ninth in 27:13.6 over the 8,000 meters. Rounding out the scoring for the Vikings were Ben Schaefer (25th, 28:17.7), Cam Davies (31st, 28:36.7), Jordan Atkins (35th, 28:50.6) and Mayan Essek (38th, 29:09.1).

Men’s Results

Women’s Results

Janusiak, Schrobilgen pace Vikings at Tom Barry Invitational

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Lawrence University women’s cross country team finished fourth and the men were seventh at the Tom Barry Invitational on Saturday at Colburn Park.

The Vikings had a pair of top-10 finishers in Josh Janusiak and Erin Schrobilgen.

The Lawrence women finished with 91 points, and St. Norbert won the title with 32 points. The Lawrence men had 160 points, and St. Norbert and MSOE tied for the title with 76.

Janusiak posted a time of 21:40.3 in his first collegiate meet to finish eighth, and Schrobilgen crossed the line in 20:21.6 to finish ninth for the women.

Men’s results

Women’s results

Six to be inducted into Lawrence Hall of Fame

A championship-winning coach and five former student-athletes will be inducted into the Lawrence University Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame on Oct. 16.

Long-time swimming and diving coach Kurt Kirner will be enshrined with two-sport star Shannon Arendt LaRoux, runners Courtney Miller Cameron and Shelley Ebert Navis, basketball star Felice Porrata and baseball star Steve Blomberg.

The induction ceremony takes place at the Blue and White Dinner at the Warch Campus Center on Oct. 16, and the inductees are also introduced at the Hall of Fame football game vs. Carroll University at 5 p.m. on Oct. 17 on Roberts Field at the Banta Bowl.

Steve Blomberg
Steve Blomberg

Steve Blomberg ’74

Steve Blomberg’s athletic career at Lawrence was brief, but the Brookfield, Wis., native stands as the finest hitter in school history.

Blomberg played two seasons of baseball at Lawrence before signing with the Kansas City Royals. He went on to play five seasons in the minor leagues and reached as high as Double-A before retiring.

A standout running back, Blomberg played varsity football as a sophomore and rushed for more than 1,000 yards, breaking or tying six school records along the way.

An outfielder on the baseball team, Blomberg was a career .481 hitter, hitting .485 in 1971 and .475 in 1972. Blomberg, whose season batting average record stood for 24 years, is the only player in Lawrence history to hit .400 in back-to-back seasons. A two-time All-Midwest Conference selection, Blomberg also earned Topp’s District All-America honors twice.

Known for his powerful bat, Blomberg posted a career .915 slugging percentage and still holds the season record at .984. He set career records with 12 home runs and seven triples and set season records with seven triples, nine home runs and 30 runs batted in. Blomberg continues to hold the game record of three homers.

Lawrence’s 1972 team tied with St. Olaf College for the Midwest Conference championship, the Vikings’ first league title.

During his one season of football, Blomberg was a first-team all-conference selection and was named the team’s Most Valuable Back. The Vikings finished 6-3 as Blomberg ran 204 times for 1,060 yards, a 5.2-yard average, and caught 16 passes for 239 yards.

Blomberg tied All-American Chuck McKee’s season record of 78 points scored in the process. He also broke the season records for punt returns, punt return yards, kickoff returns, kickoff return yardage and kickoff return average.

After playing five seasons in the minor leagues, Blomberg retired after playing the 1976 season with the Shreveport Captains of the Double-A Texas League. Blomberg hit .248, belted 38 homers and drove in 149 runs during his pro career.

A salesman for Waters Industrial Supply Co., Blomberg and his wife, Jeanne, have two children, Sam and Rebecca, and live in Waukesha. He also has a son, David, who resides in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Courtney Miller Cameron
Courtney Miller Cameron

Courtney Miller Cameron ’04

Courtney Miller displayed consistent excellence in cross country and collected a fistful of Midwest Conference track championships to stand as one of the great distance runners in Lawrence history.

A native of Rochester, N.Y., Miller is the only cross country runner in Lawrence history to finish in the top 10 at the Midwest Conference Championships four times and is one of just three four-time all-conference honorees.

Miller posted second-place finishes at the MWC Championships in 2001 and 2003 and took ninth in 1999 and 2000. Part of a stellar group of distance runners, Miller led the Vikings to MWC cross country titles in 1999 and 2001 and second-place finishes in 2000 and 2003.

Running in the toughest regional in the nation, Miller grabbed one of the few individual qualifying spots for the NCAA Division III Championships in 1999 when she finished 26th to earn All-Midwest Region honors. She went on to finish 128th at the NCAA meet.

Miller, who was twice named the MWC Performer of the Week, took home individual titles at the Beloit Old English Classic and the Wisconsin Private College Championships in 2001 and won the Lawrence Invitational in 2003.

Miller, who didn’t compete during the 2002-03 academic year due to injury, also starred on the track for the Vikings. Miller was named the Outstanding Performer at both the 2004 indoor and outdoor Midwest Conference Championships and won five individual track titles and one relay championship.

Miller capped her 2004 indoor season at the MWC Championships by winning the the 800 meters in 2:18.94 and taking first in the 1,500 in 4:47.70. She also placed third in the 3,000 and ran a school-record time of 10:38.70. Miller also holds the indoor mark in the 1,000 meters at 3:04.67. At the MWC’s outdoor meet, Miller won the 800 (2:19.93) and 1,500 (4:51.11) and took second in the 5,000.

Miller claimed her first league title when she won the 800 at the 2000 MWC indoor meet with a time of 2:19.78. She also was part of the winning sprint medley relay team at the 2003 indoor MWC Championships. Miller teamed with Shelley Ebert, Sarah Slivinski and Jess Moser for a winning time of 4:16.80. Miller also was chosen as a MWC Performer of the Week during both the indoor and outdoor seasons during her career.

Miller won the school’s Outstanding Freshman Athletic Award for Women and claimed the Ruth Bateman Award for excellence in scholarship, athletic ability and leadership by a female athlete.

Miller earned degrees in German and violin performance at Lawrence and went on to earn her master of music degree in violin performance from the University of Illinois. Miller plays with the Victoria Symphony, and she and her husband, Matt, live in Victoria, B.C.

Kurt Kirner
Kurt Kirner

Kurt Kirner

Kurt Kirner took Lawrence swimming to a new level as his teams won a pair of Midwest Conference titles and he coached nearly 200 league champions.

A native of Prairie du Sac, Wis., Kirner took over for another Lawrence Hall of Famer, Gene Davis, in 1991. He coached both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams for the next 16 seasons before moving to Division II Hillsdale College.

Kirner’s men’s team won the Midwest Conference Championships team title in 1996 and 2000. Kirner was named the MWC Men’s Coach of the Year in 1996 and 2006 and was the Women’s Coach of the Year in 2007.

Kirner, who coached eight current Lawrence Hall of Famers, had a remarkable record in the biggest meets of each season. The Lawrence men posted an average finish of 2.6 at the MWC Championships, and the women’s average finish at the league meet was 2.9. Following his first season as head coach, the Lawrence men finished third or higher in the Midwest Conference in 13 of the next 15 seasons. The Lawrence women did the guys one better, finishing third or higher in the league in 14 of Kirner’s final 15 seasons.

Kirner saw a remarkable 187 swimmers crowned Midwest Conference champions during his tenure at Lawrence. The 1995-96 men’s team had a stunning 36 competitors take the top spot in 1996 as Lawrence won 12 individual titles and six relays at the MWC Championships. The women’s team set a best of 19 league champions in 1993 and had 18 in 1995.

Lawrence established itself as the state’s dominant private college program during Kirner’s tenure. The Lawrence women won eight team titles at the Wisconsin Private College Championships and finished second eight times. The Lawrence men won six titles at the Private College Championships and finished second 10 times.

Kirner also broke new ground for Lawrence swimming at the NCAA Division III Championships. Becky Wagenaar was Lawrence’s first female All-American and earned All-America honors three times. Tracy Maschman was an All-American in 1995 and 1996, and Chas Mitchell eared All-America honors on the men’s side in 1996.

Kirner’s teams were also great in the classroom as perennial winners of the Scholar All-America Team award from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. The 1996-97 men’s team posted the highest grade point average in the nation.

In addition to his coaching duties at Lawrence, Kirner served as the building and programming director for the Buchanan Kiewit Wellness Center from May 1993-May 2006.

Kirner coaches the women’s swim team and is an assistant professor at Hillsdale College. He and his wife, Susan, have two sons, Quinn and Clayton.

Shannon Arendt LaRoux
Shannon Arendt LaRoux

Shannon Arendt LaRoux ’04

Shannon Arendt starred on the field and on the court for the Vikings. A standout infielder for the Lawrence softball team, Arendt also was a powerful outside hitter for the volleyball squad.

The Hortonville, Wis., native started for four years at second base and received postseason honors in three seasons. Arendt was an All-Midwest Conference selection in 2003 and 2004 and earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Great Lakes Region honors in 2001.

A career .324 hitter, Arendt batted in the No. 2 spot in the lineup and piled up 26 doubles, three triples and one homer while driving in 62 runs and scoring 88 times.

Arendt helped Lawrence to a 71-57-1 record in her four seasons, and the Vikings qualified for the MWC Tournament for three consecutive seasons (2002-04). Lawrence won the 2003 North Division title and hosted the four-team conference tournament.

Arendt was a force as an outside hitter on the volleyball court and earned All-Midwest Conference honors in 2002 and 2003. She also led Lawrence to its best season in school history in 2001 when the Vikings went 19-12 and finished third in the Midwest Conference.

Arendt’s name is all over the Lawrence records, and she ranks second with 1,357 career kills. A career .187 hitter, Arendt had three of the top six season kill totals when she graduated. She posted a career-high 27 kills in a match twice, and her 448 kills in 2003 led the team.

Arendt’s wicked serve accounted for 199 career aces, which is tops in Lawrence history. She also holds the record for aces in a match (12) and season (69). Arendt has three of the top four season totals for aces in Lawrence history.

A fine defensive player as well, Arendt ranked second in school history with 1,604 digs when she graduated. She also piled up 100 career blocks.

Arendt, who received a degree in biology with an interdisciplinary in psychology, received her nursing degree from Rush University. She works as an aesthetic nurse at Fox Valley Plastic Surgery. Arendt and her husband, Alex, have a dog, Gunner, and a cat, Gizzie.

Shelley Ebert Navis
Shelley Ebert Navis

Shelley Ebert Navis ’03

Shelley Ebert blazed to eight Midwest Conference track titles, set six school records and was a key contributor on a pair of conference championship cross country teams.

A two-time qualifier for the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships, Ebert earned berths in the 800 meters for the 2002 indoor national meet and the 2003 outdoor championships.

Ebert continues to hold the school record both indoors and outdoors in the 800. She set the indoor mark of 2:18.01 at the 2002 NCAA Division III Championships and set the outdoor record of 2:14.30 in 2003.

A native of Janesville, Wis., Ebert dominated the 800 in the Midwest Conference for most of her career. She won the title indoors in the 800 for three consecutive years, 2001, 2002 and 2003. Ebert was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the 2003 MWC Indoor Championships.

Ebert took the title in the 800 at the MWC outdoor meet in 2002 and 2003 and also claimed the title in the 1,500 meters in 2003. Ebert was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the MWC Outdoor Championships in 2003. She also claimed three MWC track performer of the week awards.

A track team captain, Ebert also was a part of four school relay records and a pair of conference title winners.

Ebert teamed with Sarah Slivinski, Jess Moser and Courtney Miller to win the sprint medley relay at the 2003 indoor conference championships in 4:16.80. At the same meet, the 4×400 relay team of Ebert, Slivinski, Moser and Kim Boeckers finished second and set the school record of 4:09.03. The same relay team set the school record of 4:03.28 outdoors in 2003 and won the title at the MWC Championships.

The sprint medley relay team of Ebert, Slivinski, Sally Schonfeld and Kate Okenatez set the school record of 4:16.47 in 2000. The distance medley relay team of Ebert, Schonfeld, Moser and Katy Roll set the school record of 12:10.49 in 2002.

Ebert was part of an outstanding group of cross country runners and helped the Vikings to team titles at the 1999 and 2001 Midwest Conference Championships. The Vikings finished second in 2000 and took fourth in 2002.

Ebert earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lawrence. She has a master’s degree in professional development from Winona State University and a post-master’s school counseling certificate from UW-Whitewater. She is married to another Lawrence cross country and track standout, Peter Navis ’03, and they live in Fort Atkinson with their two children, Rachel and Michael.

Felice Porrata
Felice Porrata

Felice Porrata ’05

Felice Porrata quietly went about her business on the basketball court at Lawrence and emerged as one of the greatest players in school history.

Porrata’s competent consistency resulted in spectacular career numbers, and she was just the second player in Lawrence history to be a four-time All-Midwest Conference selection. The native of Glenview, Ill., joined Hall of Famer Jackie Huss as the only other four-time all-conference pick. Porrata was a first-team selection in 2004 and 2005 and a second-team pick in 2002 and 2003.

Porrata scored 1,186 career points, which ranked only behind Hall of Famer Sarah O’Neil when she graduated. Porrata averaged 12.8 points per game while shooting 47.9 percent from the floor. Porrata also ranks third with 645 career rebounds (6.9 average), and she is the only player in Lawrence history with 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.

Not only was Porrata one of the league’s top scorers during her career, she also was a fine defensive player. Porrata ranked second in Lawrence history with 241 steals when she graduated and was second with 54 blocks.

A team captain, Porrata led Lawrence to three appearances in the four-team Midwest Conference Tournament during her four seasons. Lawrence made the tournament in 2002, 2003 and 2005.

The Vikings reached the conference championship game in 2005 and finished second in the league. Lawrence’s 18 wins in 2004-05 tied for the highest win total in school history and still ranks second all-time.

Porrata also played one season of softball and emerged as a contributor for the Vikings. Porrata played as a senior in 2005 and started 16 games in the outfield. The Vikings went 9-4 in Midwest Conference play, won the league’s North Division and hosted the Midwest Conference Tournament on their way to a 17-win season.

Porrata, who earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish, lives in Kansas City, Mo. She works as a freight broker at Efreightship.

More than 150 Lawrence student-athletes named to Academic All-MWC team

APPLETON, Wis. — More than 150 Lawrence University student-athletes have been named to the Academic All-Midwest Conference team.

Lawrence had 153 student-athletes meet the minimum grade point average of 3.33 during the 2014-15 academic year. The top team for the Vikings was women’s indoor track, which had 17 student-athletes honored. Other top performing teams were women’s cross country and women’s soccer with 13 selections apiece, women’s swimming and diving with 12 and men’s soccer and women’s outdoor track with 11 apiece.

A total of 1,859 student-athletes were selected across the conference, and that surpasses the total of 1,752 honored during the 2013-14 academic year.

Complete List

 

 

Student-athletes receive awards at Honors Celebration

APPLETON, Wis. — More than a dozen Lawrence University student-athletes recently received awards at the 2015 Honors Celebration.

The awards and winners are as follows.

The Ruth Bateman Award is given for excellence in scholarship, athletic ability and leadership by a female athlete. Senior swimmer Taylor Winter (Bayside, Wis./Nicolet) won the award for a second consecutive year. The swim team captain, Winter won the 1,650-yard freestyle for the second consecutive year at the 2015 Midwest Conference Championships and also finished third in the 500 freestyle. Winter broke her own school record in the 1,650 freestyle and recorded an NCAA “B” cut in the event. She also broke Hayley Vatch’s school record in the 500 freestyle.

The Iden Charles Champion Cup is given for excellence in scholarship, athletic ability, college spirit and loyalty. Senior men’s basketball player Andrew Borresen (West Bend, Wis./Living Word Lutheran) has won the award for the second consecutive year. A member of the Dean’s List and Mortar Board, Borresen has a 3.92 grade point average and will graduate with a degree in history. A member of the Academic All-Midwest Conference team, Borresen is co-chairman of Lawrence’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He has served as a volunteer at Richmond Elementary School, worked on Habitat for Humanity projects and volunteered with Lawrence’s Food Recovery Network. He also works in Lawrence’s Sports Information Office and Admissions Office.

The Outstanding Freshman Athletic Award for Men is given the freshman man who has made the most outstanding contribution to Lawrence athletics. Sharing the award are tennis player David Jumes (Appleton, Wis./Xavier) and hockey player Brendan Vetter (Phillips, Wis./Phillips). Jumes finished with a 14-7 record in singles and an 8-11 mark in doubles. Jumes, who reached the semifinals at No. 2 singles at the Midwest Conference Championships, was named the team’s Most Valuable Player. Vetter, a defeseman, led the team with seven goals scored and was tied for third on the team with 11 points. Vetter also led the team in plus-minus and has been named an assistant captain for next season.

The Outstanding Freshman Athletic Award for Women is given to the freshman woman who has made the most outstanding contribution to Lawrence athletics. Erin Schrobilgen (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park River Forest) competed in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field. Schrobilgen earned All-Midwest Conference honors in cross country after a 12th-place finish at the league championships. During the indoor track season, Schrobilgen broke the school record in the mile that had stood since 1978. She also earned Academic All-America honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The Ralph V. Landis Award was established by the Lettermen of Lawrence in honor of Dr. Landis, physician to Lawrence students from 1926-78, and is awarded for outstanding contributions to Lawrence athletics by a senior male athlete. Senior men’s basketball player Ryan DePouw (Oconto, Wis./Oconto) was honored after finishing a stellar career. A three-year starter and team captain, DePouw is one of just 22 players in Lawrence basketball history to score 1,000 points. He finished 21st in career scoring with 1,028 points.

The Charles E. Pond Award for Men is given for all-around athletic ability by a senior man in two or more sports and for sportsmanship, school spirit and scholarship. Senior soccer player and swimmer Steve Salansky (Parker, Colo./Legend) was a standout in both sports. On the soccer field, Salansky was a three-year starter and two-year team captain. As a defender, he earned All-Midwest Conference three times and was a two-time All-Wisconsin selection. Salansky, who also served as swim team captain, was the second-leading scorer for the squad.

The Charles E. Pond Award for Women is given for all-around athletic ability by a senior woman in two or more sports and for sportsmanship, school spirit and scholarship. Senior multi-sport athlete Kassidy Rinehart (Hortonville, Wis./Hortonville) starred in three sports and won 12 letters for the Vikings. During the fall, Rinehart ran cross country for the Vikings and helped Lawrence to a third-place finish at the Midwest Conference Championships in 2014. During the winter season, Rinehart was a four-year player for the basketball team. She served as the basketball team captain as a senior and was named the team Defensive Most Valuable Player all four years. During the spring season, Rinehart has won four letters as a sprinter and jumper for the track and field team. Rinehart also is the co-chairperson of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is a four-year Academic All-Midwest Conference selection.

The Marion Read Award is given for outstanding contributions to Lawrence athletics. The award had two winners this year as seniors Keli Muchowski (Neenah, Wis./Neenah) and Kara Vance (Racine, Wis./Park) shared the honor. Muchowski was the leading scorer for the women’s soccer team and earned All-Midwest Conference honors three times. She scored nine goals and handed out three assists in 2014 for 21 points. Muchowski finished ninth in Lawrence history with 26 goals and is eighth with 65 points. Vance was a standout pitcher for the Vikings and finished with a 28-20 career record. Vance was named Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Week twice during her career and her 28 wins ranks sixth in Lawrence history. She holds the Lawrence record for fewest walks per innings pitched with just 36 bases on balls in 292.2 innings pitched. The softball team captain, Vance also served as a student manager for football and is a leader in the Kids Give campaign.

The Letterwinner Award is presented by the L Club to those outstanding seniors who have earned eight or more letters. The winners are:

Kyle Dockery (Barrington, Ill./Barrington), cross country and track and field

Pat Mangan (Barrington, Ill./Barrington), cross country and track and field

Kassidy Rinehart (Hortonville, Wis./Hortonville), cross country, women’s basketball and outdoor track and field

Savannah Vogel (Deerfield, Wis./Deerfield), cross country and track and field

Schrobilgen, both cross country teams honored for academic achievement

Erin Schrobilgen
Erin Schrobilgen

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University’s Erin Schrobilgen and both cross country teams have been honored for academic achievement by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Schrobilgen (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park River Forest) was named to All-Academic individual team, which combines accomplishments in the classroom and in competition. To be eligible for the award, a runner must finish in the top 25 percent at their NCAA Regional competition and have a minimum 3.3 grade point average. Schrobilgen finished 68th at the Midwest Regional, the toughest in the nation, and sports a sparkling 3.75 GPA.

The cross country teams, under the direction of head coach Jason Fast, have been chosen as All-Academic teams during all five years of Fast’s tenure.

The women’s team, which has 16 runners, posted an impressive cumulative GPA of 3.62. The Lawrence women had three All-Midwest Conference runners and placed third in the league championships.

The Lawrence men’s team, which had 11 runners, posted a 3.22 cumulative GPA. The Vikings had two all-conference runners and placed fourth at the MWC Championships.

To be eligible for the All-Academic team award, a squad must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.10.

Edwards, Schrobilgen pace Vikings at NCAA Midwest Regional

WINNECONNE, Wis. — Erin Schrobilgen and Max Edwards were the top finishers on Saturday for the Lawrence University cross country teams at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional.

Schrobilgen finished 68th and covered the 6,000-meter course at Lake Breeze Golf Club in 23:03.20. Led by Schrobilgen, Lawrence finished 17th in the team standings with 519 points. Washington University was the winner in the 41-team field with 62 points.

Cora Williams grabbed 79th for the Vikings and Clare Bruning was 94th for Lawrence. Kristen Bischel (135th) and Hannah Kinzer (143rd) rounded out the scoring for Lawrence.

On the men’s side, Edwards finished 112th and finished the 8,000-meter race in 26:42.20. Lawrence finished 29th among the 38 teams with 821 points. North Central College won the title with 51 points. Also scoring for the Vikings were Jonah Laursen (142nd), Pat Mangan (183rd), Cam Davies (189th) and Kyle Dockery (195th).

Men’s results

Women’s results

Lawrence women third, men fourth at MWC Championships

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University cross country teams finished with five all-conference performers at the Midwest Conference Championships Saturday at Reid Golf Course.

The Lawrence women raced to a third-place finish with 96 points, and the Lawrence men took fourth with 117.

On the women’s side, the Vikings had three all-conference performers by virtue of a top-20 finish. Leading the way was Cora Williams, who took 11th by covering the 6,000-meter course in 23:11. Freshman Erin Schrobilgen was right on her heels, taking 12th in 23:15. Clare Bruning also grabbed all-conference honors by taking 19th in 23:39.

Rounding out the scoring for Lawrence were Amy Hutchings, who was 25th, and Hannah Kinzer, who finished 29th.

Grinnell College won the women’s team title with 57 points, and Monmouth College’s Kyra Kimber was the individual champion.

On the men’s side, Max Edwards led Lawrence by taking 10th place as he covered the 8,000-meter course in 26:21. Also earning all-conference honors for the men was Kyle Dockery, who was 12th in 26:25.

Completing the scoring for the Vikings were Cam Davies (22nd), Jonah Laursen (26th) and Teddy Kortenhof (47th).

Grinnell won the team title with 54 points, and Carroll University’s Isaac Jordan was the individual champion.

Men’s results

Women’s results

Inside LU Athletics: Vikings ready to run down some titles

APPLETON, Wis. — No beating around the bush for Lawrence University cross country coach Jason Fast.

“The goals for the men’s and women’s teams are to bring home the conference title,” Fast said.

Lawrence gets the chance to race at the Midwest Conference Championships on Saturday when the Vikings host the league meet at Reid Municipal Golf Course. The men’s 8,000-meter race is at 11 a.m., and the women’s 6,000-meter race is at noon.

“The thing we know is both of our teams are very good,” Fast said. “We have a lot of talent, and at different times during the season we’ve had different people show those flashes of greatness. At the conference meet, we need to have our best race as we have done in years past.”

The Lawrence women made a huge leap in 2013 when they finished third after taking eighth place in 2012. With four returning all-conference runners, the Vikings have firmly established themselves as a title contender.

“We were a little disappointed last year,” Fast said. “Granted, last year we snuck up on everyone. This year we don’t have that luxury. We are one of the favorites and our runners know it. It would be a huge disappointment if we didn’t (win the title).”

The Vikings have returning all-conference performers Clare Bruning, Amy Hutchings, Cora Williams and Liz Landes. The Vikings also have standout freshman Erin Schrobilgen, who has one of the top-five times in the conference this season.

“Coach Fast’s training plan is designed to deliver us to that finish line on Saturday in our fastest times of the season,” said Bruning, a junior from Mondovi who finished sixth at the MWC Championships last season. “On race day we just need to keep that in mind, trust that we are ready and that we have what it takes to make it happen. If we work together like we always do and keep our heads on straight, our bodies should follow.”

Schrobilgen and Bruning have consistently been the Vikings’ top two runners all season, but the team is so deep that any number of other runners could score for Lawrence. That’s a good problem to have so even if one runner has an off-day, someone else is right there to step up.

“The team is aiming to win,” Bruning said. “We haven’t won a conference title in over a decade, and for the first time in a long time, I think we’re in a good position to go for it.”

On the men’s side, Appleton native Max Edwards is leading the charge for the Vikings. He has one of the top-10 times in the league this season and is joined by last year’s fourth- and fifth-place finishers from the league championships, senior Kyle Dockery and junior Jonah Laursen.

“The men are ready to go,” Fast said. “We’ve had little bumps and bruises along the way that have held us back. Everyone is healthy and in good spirits. They are definitely prepared to run their best. When you go through and look up and down our men’s roster and you look at the running resumes those guys have, it’s hard for us not to be a favorite.”

While Edwards, Dockery and Laursen figure to run near the front, it will be the last two point scorers that could prove to be the difference.

“The victory will probably end up going to whatever team has the least time between their third and fifth guys, so we hope to have both a lead runner and a strong pack,” Dockery said.

“As a team the men are looking to have at least four guys run all-conference (the top 20 finishers)and win the conference title. Personally, I hope to improve on my fourth-place finish from last year.”

Lawrence has traditionally run its best race of the season at the conference championships since Fast took over the program in 2009. This season they have the added benefit of running in front of a partisan crowd.

“We are familiar with the course. We know where it’s challenging. We know where we can do the things we want to do. It think it’s an advantage for us to run at home,” Fast said. “Some of our upperclassmen have run on it multiple times so they know what to do on it to be successful.”