Nov. 10, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Junior Patrick Smyth won the 2007 Great Lakes Regional individual title to lead the Notre Dame men’s cross country team to a third-place finsh at the 2007 Great Lakes Regional this morning, just eight points shy of first place. Wisconsin and Michigan tied for the team title at 68 points to earn to two automatic bids for the 2007 NCAA Cross Country Championships. While the Irish did not receive an automatic bid with the third-place performance, they sit in a good position to receive an at-large bid. The NCAA will determine at-large bids tomorrow.
Regardless of the outcome of the Irish team placing, Smyth advances onto the NCAA championships held on Nov. 19 in Terre Haute, Ind. He took the crown with authority, clocking in at 30:22.44 while second-place finisher Matt Withrow of Wisconsin clocked in at 30:38.42. This is Smyth’s second-consecutive NCAA championship bid, after he earned one last season and went on to earn All-America honors.
Smyth became just the second runner in Notre Dame history to capture a regional championship individual title. Former athlete and now volunteer assistant coach, Luke Watson was the first when he took the crown in 2000. Watson claimed victory as a junior, just as Smyth did today.
Smyth will not travel alone to the NCAA meet as teammate Jake Watson finished fourth, also earning an automatic bid to the national championship. Watson finished with a time of 30:46.98. The Notre Dame scorers all finished within the top 35.
The Irish women finished 11th in the team competition with 293 points. Top finisher for Notre Dame was senior Ann Mazur finishing 26th with a time of 21.52.68. Michigan State won the women’s team crown with 60 points and Nicole Edwards of Michigan won the individual title with a time of 20:30.76. The Irish women have battle injuries and sickness all season, making for a tough season finale for the squad.
–ND–
Great Lakes Regional Nov. 10, 2007 Bloomington, Ind. • Indiana Cross Country Course
MEN’S 10,000-METER RACE
Team Results (top five of 29): 1. Wisconsin (68), 1. Michigan (68); 3. Notre Dame 76; 4. Indiana (111); Ohio State (167)
Individual results (top five of 204 plus Notre Dame finishers): 1. Patrick Smyth (Notre Dame) 30:38.42; 2. Matt Withrow (Wisconsin) 30:38.42; 3. Andy Baker (Butler) 30:40.81; 4. Jake Watson (Notre Dame) 30:46.98; 5. Jordan Kyle (Indiana) 30:49.51; 14. Jake Walker (Notre Dame) 31:14.09; 22. Brett Adams (Notre Dame) 31:29.40; 35. Mike Popejoy (Notre Dame) 31:49.67; 46. Dan Curran (Notre Dame) 32:00.42; 79. Dan Jackson (Notre Dame) 32:55.26
WOMEN’S 6,000-METER RACE
Team Results (top five of 30 plus Notre Dame): 1. Michigan State (60); 2. Michigan (63); 3. Wisconsin (93); 4. Marquette (192); 5. Butler (220); 11. Notre Dame (293)
Individual Results (top five of 215 plus Notre Dame finishers): 1. Nicole Edwards (Michigan) 20:30.76; 2. Nicole Bush (Michigan State) 20:34.47; 3. Erin Webster (Michigan) 20:47.23; 4. Hanna Grinaker (Wisconsin) 20:52.96; 5. Laura Neufarth (Miami, Ohio) 20:55.07; 26. Ann Mazur (Notre Dame) 21:52.68; 43. Becca Bauman (Notre Dame) 22:11.75; 53. Emily Wauford (Notre Dame) 22:23.83; 79. Emily Higgins (Notre Dame) 22:59.62; 94. Beth Tacl (Notre Dame) 23:09.13; 103. Lindsey Ferguson (Notre Dame) 23:16.28; 105. Julie Opet (Notre Dame) 23:18.11