Oct. 28, 2007

Minnesota wins the 2007 Big Ten Women's Cross Country Championships by a mere one point over Michigan State on the campus of Ohio State University.  The Gophers were paced by senior Ladia Albertson-Junkans.  She placed tenth overall, covering the course in 20:21.81 and earning All-Big Ten Second Team honors. 

 

Consistency paved the way toward success for Minnesota as all runners placed within the top 17.  Gabriele Anderson, Elizabeth Yetzer, Jamie Cheever, and Heather Dorniden placed 14^th through 17^th for the Gophers.  This win marks the first championship title for the Gophers.

 

Finishing second on the day was Michigan State, compliments of a great performance from senior Nicole Bush.  Bush was the individual runner-up with a time of 19:49.38 earning All-Big Ten First Team honors. Michigan rounded out the top three finishing third and ending an impressive five year reign as team champions. 

 

Iowa senior Diane Nukuri takes home the individual crown in a record-breaking time of 19:37.60.  The Hawkeye leader shatters the old Big Ten Championships mark by over 45 seconds set at last year's event by Michigan's Erin Webster.  Nukuri also gains a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team.

 

 

ALL-BIG TEN

 

First Team                                                                               

Diane Nukuri, Sr., Iowa

Nicole Bush, Sr., Michigan State

Angela Bizzarri, So., Illinois

Meghan Armstrong, Sr., Iowa

Hanna Grinaker, So., Wisconsin

Bridget Franek, So., Penn State

Nicole Edwards, Jr., Michigan

 

Second Team

Alissa McKaig, Jr., Michigan State

Jolly Burke, So., Iowa

Ladia Albertson-Junkans, Sr., Minnesota

Erin Webster, Sr., Michigan

Lisa Senakiewich, Jr., Michigan State

Katie Engel, Jr., Illinois

Gabriele Anderson, Jr., Minnesota