Cross Country

Category: Cross Country

Laursen takes MWC Performer of the Week honors

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University cross country standout Jonah Laursen has been named the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week.

Laursen (Traverse City, Mich./West), a sophomore, took second place at this past Saturday’s Tom Barry Invitational at St. Norbert College. Laursen covered the four-mile course at Colburn Park in Green Bay in 20:52.6. He ran nearly a minute faster than he did at the same meet as a freshman in 2012.

Led by Laursen, Lawrence finished fourth in the team standings with 111 points. This marks the first time in his career that Laursen has earned the conference’s weekly honor.

Lawrence returns to action on Sept. 14 when it travels to the Concordia (Wis.) University Falcon Invitational.

Laursen grabs second place to pace Vikings at Tom Barry Invitational

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Sophomore Jonah Laursen raced to a second-place finish on Saturday at the St. Norbert College Tom Barry Invitational to pace the Lawrence University cross country teams.

Laursen covered the four-mile course at Colburn Park in 20:52.6, exactly six seconds behind Carroll University’s Dakota Pruitt.

Kyle Dockery grabbed 12th for the Vikings in 21:42.4, and Jamie Brisbois wsa close behind in 15th place in 21:46.1. Dan Thoresen took 30rh in 22:29.6, and Tyler Herman rounded out the scoring by taking 52nd in 23:41.0.

Lawrence finished fourth in the team standings with 111 points, and the College of St. Scholastica took the title with 48.

On the women’s side, St. Scholastica won the title with 19 points, and Lawrence was fourth with 96.

The Vikings ran as a pack with all five scorers separated by just seven places. Anna Ratliff led the way by taking 16th in 20:20.7, and Liz Landes was 17th in 20:21.1. Clare Bruning grabbed 19th in 20:25.8, followed by Amy Hutchings in 21st in 20:33.7 and Kristen Bischel in 23rd in 20:36.7.

Results

Lawrence student-athletes named to Academic All-Midwest Conference team

APPLETON, Wis. — More than 100 Lawrence University student-athletes have been chosen for the Academic All-Midwest Conference team.

Lawrence had 133 student-athletes earn the academic all-conference honor, which is given after having a grade point average of 3.33 during that academic year.

The Lawrence women’s swimming and diving team had the largest numbers of honorees with 12. Women’s tennis and women’s indoor track both had 11 and volleyball and women’s outdoor track both had 10.

Complete list

Lawrence student-athletes receive awards at Honors Celebration

APPLETON, Wis. — Nine Lawrence University student-athletes were recently honored at the 2013 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 Rose Tepper (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon) was honored after an outstanding career in track and field. A five-time all-conference honoree in the high jump, Tepper was 2010 Midwest Conference outdoor champion. Tepper, who holds the Lawrence record indoors in the high jump, was a qualifier for the 2011 NCAA Division III Championships.

The Iden Charles Champion Cup is given for excellence in scholarship, athletic ability, college spirit and loyalty. Senior Tyler Mazur (Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg) completed an outstanding football career at Lawrence and remains a key contributor to the men’s basketball squad. Mazur finished his football career ranked fourth in receiving yards (2,253), fifth in catches (130), fifth in touchdown catches (25), fourth in total touchdowns (37) and fifth in points (224). Mazur also was a key member of the men’s basketball team and broke the school record by making nine 3-pointers in a game this past season.

The Outstanding Freshman Athletic Award for Men is given the freshman man who has made the most outstanding contribution to Lawrence athletics. Brandon Boelter (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage) earned the award after an outstanding rookie season with the Lawrence hockey team. Boelter was a first-team All-Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association selection and was named to the All-MCHA Freshmen Team. Boelter led all defensemen in the conference in scoring with six goals and 15 assists for 21 points.

The Outstanding Freshman Athletic Award for Women is given to the freshman woman who has made the most outstanding contribution to Lawrence athletics. Hayley Cardinal (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East) won the award after a big impact on the swimming and track and field teams. Cardinal broke the Lawrence records in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200 breaststroke and placed second and third, respectively, in those events at the Midwest Conference Championships. Cardinal also was part of two record-setting relay teams. Cardinal also won a letter in track and field.

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 hockey player Brad Scurfield (Midland, Mich./Midland) was an All-Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association selection and was the team’s Most Valuable Player each of the past two seasons. Scurfield finished his career ranked in the top eight in school history in points, goals, assists and power-play goals.

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. Sam Stevens (Suamico, Wis./Bay Port) was a four-time Midwest Conference champion in track and field was a 15-time All-Midwest Conference performer. The 2011 Midwest Conference cross country champion, Stevens led the Vikings to the team title. Stevens, who holds Lawrence track records in the mile, 3,000 meters and distance medley relay, was a four-time all-conference honoree in cross country.

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. Cathy Kaye (Sturgeon Bay, Wis./Sevastopol) was a four-year starter in both softball and basketball and also earned a letter in cross country. Kaye was a three-time All-Midwest Conference softball selection and also earned All-Great Lakes Region honors. The team’s center fielder, Kaye also served as team captain.

The Marion Read Award is given for outstanding contributions to Lawrence athletics. Shannon Murray (Lawrenceville, Ga./Dacula) earned the award for the second consecutive year. A four-year starter in softball, Murray was named to the All-Midwest Conference honors for the last two seasons and was the 2013 North Division Pitcher of the Year. A team captain, Murray also was a two-time All-Great Lakes Region softball selection. Murray also served as a student athletic trainer for both women’s tennis and basketball.

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

Amanda Dwyer (Ralston, Neb./Ralston), cross country and track and field;

Cathy Kaye (Sturgeon Bay, Wis./Sevastopol), basketball, cross country, softball;

Sam Stevens (Suamico, Wis./Bay Port), cross country and track and field;

Rose Tepper (Mount Vernon, Iowa/Mount Vernon), indoor and outdoor track and field.

Cross country teams earn academic award for fourth straight year

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University men’s and women’s cross country teams have been named a United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Scholar Team.

This marks the fourth consecutive year both Lawrence teams have been honored for their academic achievement by the USTFCCA. To be eligible for the award, the team must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.10 through the fall term.

The Lawrence women had a team grade point average of 3.36, and the Vikings were one of five Midwest Conference teams to receive the award. The Lawrence men had a 3.33 grade point average and were one of only three teams from the conference to win the award.

Lawrence also had a successful season in competition. The Lawrence men finished second at the Midwest Conference Championships and had two all-conference finishers in junior Curran Carlile and senior Sam Stevens. The Lawrence women finished eighth and freshman Clare Bruning (seventh place) was the highest first-year finisher for the Vikings in more than two decades.

Carlile, Bruning pace Vikings at Midwest Regional

WINNECONNE, Wis. — Curran Carlile and Clare Bruning were the top finishers for the Lawrence University cross country teams on Saturday at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championships at Lake Breeze Golf Course.

Carlile paced the Lawrence men by finishing 70th on the 8,000-meter course in 26:05.74. The Vikings finished 16th among the 39 teams.

Bruning finished 83rd to lead the Lawrence women. She completed the 6,000-meter course in 23:53.54. Lawrence finished 30th among the 40 teams.

Men’s results

Women’s results

Men grab second, women take eighth at MWC Championships

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Lawrence University men’s cross country team took second place and the women were eighth on Saturday at the Midwest Conference Championships at Colburn Park.

Lawrence, the defending champions on the men’s side, finished with 93 points. Grinnell College won the title with 33 points.

Junior Curran Carlile led the Vikings by placing sixth in 25:52.3 on the 8,000-meter course and earning a spot on the all-conference team. Senior Sam Stevens, the defending individual champion, was seventh in 25:58.1 and earned all-conference honors for the fourth consecutive season.

Rounding out the scoring for Lawrence were Kyle Dockery (21st), Jamie Brisbois (26th) and Dan Thoresen (33rd).

On the women’s side, Lawrence finished with 222 points, and Monmouth took the title with 51.

Clare Bruning led Lawrence by placing seventh on the 6,000-meter course in 23:12.8. Bruning posted the best finish by a Lawrence freshman at the conference championships since Robin Dvorak finished sixth in 1990. Bruning was the top freshman finisher in the league as well.

Also scoring for the Vikings were Cora Williams (45th), Katherine Dannecker (52nd), Anna Ratliff (58th) and Vanessa Cattleman (60th).

Men’s results

Women’s results

Inside LU Athletics: Stevens, Vikings shooting for another title

Sam Stevens is looking for the storybook ending – the hometown boy winning a championship in his own backyard.

Stevens, the lone senior on the squad, leads the Lawrence University men’s cross country team into the Midwest Conference Championships on Saturday with his eye on the Vikings repeating as champions. Stevens will be going for his second consecutive individual title on a very familiar course at Colburn Park in Green Bay, Wis.

“The team goal has always been to repeat,” Stevens said. “Individually, putting myself up toward the front and being the frontrunner is where we need me to be to win.”

Stevens grew up in nearby Suamico, Wis., and was a standout at Bay Port High School. Even though St. Norbert College is hosting the championship, Stevens has the home course advantage on the rest of the field.

“I’ve run there every year since my sophomore year of high school,” said Stevens, who won last year’s title with a time of 25:09.11 over 8,000 meters. Stevens is looking to be the first Lawrence runner to win back-to-back titles since Eric Griffin did it in 1985 and 1986.

“Sam’s run this course, between college and high school, about 20 times. He could pretty much run it with his eyes closed,” Lawrence coach Jason Fast said.

“Sam’s definitely motivated to go in and be the No. 1 runner we need him to be. This is his last conference meet, and I know he wants to go out with a team win. To do that, he has to do his part.”

Stevens was dinged up a bit earlier this season but feels like he is back in top form heading into the weekend.

“I’m feeling good now,” Stevens said. “The last few weeks I’ve been a little sick, a little hurt. I feel like things are going the right way now. I need that to translate into a race. I feel pretty confident with where I am.”

Lawrence won last year’s title with 51 points, edging Grinnell College by two points and breaking the Pioneers’ 14-year stranglehold on the trophy. For the Vikings to repeat, Fast said his team will need to improve over last year’s superlative effort.

In addition to Stevens, the Vikings return three other all-conference performers from a season ago. Junior standout Curran Carlile was fifth a season ago, sophomore Kyle Dockery was sixth and junior Jamie Brisbois was 19th.

“The biggest thing is improving on our performances from last year,” said Fast, the 2011 MWC Coach of the Year. “Going in, we expect to win. We’re going after the title. If you talk to the guys, that’s all they’re thinking about, defending their title and bringing another trophy home.”

The Lawrence women finished fifth last season, and Fast said the Vikings are again shooting for an upper-division finish. While the Vikings were led by all-conference runner and senior Emily Muhs in 2011, freshman Clare Bruning is leading the pack this season. Fast believes Bruning could make the all-conference team this season with a top-20 finish.

“Clare’s done far more than I thought she was going to do coming into her freshman year,” Fast said. “She has flourished under our training program, and she’s doing everything right. She’s working hard and racing smart. She’s seen nothing but positive results throughout the season.”

Soccer in the running

The Lawrence men’s soccer team enters the final weekend of regular season play battling for the fourth and final spot in the MWC Tournament.

The Vikings are 4-4-1 and in fourth place with 13 points. Lawrence wraps up its regular season on Saturday when it hosts Beloit, which is 6-2-1 in the league and already in the tournament.

Grinnell is 4-4-0 with 12 points, and St. Norbert is 3-3-2 with 11 points. Both the Pioneers and Green Knights have two games left and both could still overtake Lawrence.

Lawrence is attempting to make the tournament for the third consecutive year and the fourth time in five seasons.

Barthelmess closing in

Lawrence quarterback Luke Barthelmess is just 287 yards away from breaking the school’s career passing record.

Barthelmess, a junior, now has 5,145 passing yards and is closing in All-American Jim Petran, who stands atop the career list with 5,431 yards.

Mazur tops 200 again

Senior wide receiver Tyler Mazur had a career-high 225 receiving yards against Monmouth last Saturday. Mazur became only the second receiver in recent Lawrence history to top 200 receiving yards in a game twice.

Mazur, who had 220 receiving yards last season against Knox College, matches Appleton native Zach Michael, who topped 200 yards twice in the 2001 season.

Editor’s Note: Inside LU Athletics is a notes package written by Lawrence University Director of Athletic Media Relations Joe Vanden Acker. It will feature teams and individual players, recap weekly awards or highlights and take a look at what’s ahead for the Vikings.

Carlile, Bruning pace Vikings at Brooks Invitational

WINNECONNE, Wis. — Curran Carlile and Clare Bruning were the top finishers for the Lawrence University cross country teams on Saturday at the massive UW-Oshkosh Brooks Invitational.

Carlile completed the 8,000-meter course in 26:16 to finish 67th in miserable weather conditions at Lake Breeze Golf Club. Paced by Carlile, Lawrence finished 26th among the 38 teams.

On the women’s side, Bruning checked in at 65th place after running the 6,000-meter course in 23:26. The Vikings finished 29th among the 37 teams.

Men’s results

Women’s results

Carlile, Bruning win titles for Vikings at Gene Davis Invitational

Lawrence University’s Curran Carlile and Clare Bruning were the individual winners on Saturday at the Gene Davis Invitational at Reid Golf Course.

Carlile raced to the victory on the 8,000-meter course in 26:25.40 and led Lawrence to the team title. The Vikings swept the top four places with Sam Stevens in second (26:26.91), Kyle Dockery in third (26:43.17) and Jonah Laursen in fourth (26:51.33). Dan Thoresen rounded out the scoring by taking 13th in 27:35.47.

Lawrence won the men’s team title with 23 points. UW-Stevens Point was second with 42 and UW-Oshkosh was third with 65.

Bruning won her first collegiate title as she covered the 6,000 meters in 23:29.40, which was nearly a minute faster than the second-place finisher. Bruning led the Vikings to second place in the team standings with 39 points.

Katherine Dannecker grabbed fifth for the Vikings in 25:04.06. Liz Landes (26:02.60), Anna Ratliff (26:05.21) and Haedyn Smith (26:14.44) rounded out the scoring for Lawrence by finishing 10th through 12th, respectively.

UW-Stevens Point won the women’s team title with 22 points.

Results