Cross Country ready for NACC Championships this weekend
WEST ALLIS, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin Men's and Women's Cross Country teams will compete at the 2016 NACC Championships this weekend. The Falcons have recorded many successful results at the meet since the conference began in 2006 and will look to continue the tradition this weekend. CUWFalcons.com gets you ready for the 2016 NACC Championships.
THE BASICS
- Course: Greenfield Park – West Allis, Wisconsin
- Time: Men's – 11 a.m.; Women's 12 p.m.
- Meet Host: Wisconsin Lutheran College
- Meet Website: Click here for the official page of the NACC Championships
- Falcons 2015 Results: Men – 4th (105 points); Women – 3rd (58 points)
MEET HISTORY
- The Falcons have won five championships between the men's and women's programs over the 10-year history of the meet. CUW captured two straight men's titles in 2010 and 2011 while posting three consecutive women's victories from 2009-2011.
- In addition to the team success, the Falcons have captured five individual titles at the NACC Championships, four of those coming on the men's side. CUW won four of the first five individual titles as Micah Lorenzen captured the first two in 2006 and 2007, while Andy Ashenden won back-to-back in 2010 and 2011. Samantha Gries won the race on the women's side in 2009 for the Falcons.
- Aurora has captured the most team championships, winning a combined nine titles. The Spartans have won five on the women's side and four on the men's, winning three of the last four in each.
FALCONS IN 2016
- The Falcons women's team has spent much of the season in the regional rankings, having just fallen out the last couple weeks. CUW has been led by junior Nora Imperl (Greenfield, Wis.) this season, a two-time All-NACC runner. Imperl finished 15th at the NACC Championships each of the past two seasons but is expected to finish much higher this season after posting some impressive times.
- Ashley Scheele also returns as an All-NACC runner for the Falcons, finishing eighth in last year's event. She is a three-time First Team All-NACC selection and will try and become a rare four-time All-NACC runner with a top-15 finish this season. Cassandra Sprotte also returns as an All-NACC runner from a season ago.
- The Falcons have had great balance on the women's side with several runners figuring into the top five this season. CUW should be able to use that balance to finish at or near the top of the race on Sunday.
- On the men's side, the Falcons biggest challenge has been getting healthy, but CUW had a nearly full roster in its last race, two weeks ago at UW-Oshkosh.
- Senior Michael Taylor is the leading returner for the Falcons from last year's NACC Championships and has been the top runner for most of the season. Taylor finished 18th last season and will be looking to move up a few spots to secure All-NACC status.
- Senior Zachary Ziemann has also had a strong season for the Falcons as he looks for a strong showing Saturday. The Falcons have also had some talented newcomers, led by freshman Craig Reese.
