Men's Cross Country wraps up season at Midwest Regional

WINNECONNE, Wis. – The Concordia University Wisconsin Men's Cross Country team wrapped up its 2014 season by competing at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regionals. The Falcons had a pair of runners post PR times Saturday in the 8K that took place at Lake Breeze Golf Course.

Senior Robert Meilbeck (Winthrop Harbor, Ill.) paced the Falcons in his final collegiate cross country race by running a 26:54.30, placing 121st in the 265-competitor field. All-in-all there were 38 teams who registered team scores Saturday, with the Falcons placing 21st.

The two CUW runners who posted PR times were freshman Tyler Neuwirth (Mukwonago, Wis.) and sophomore Zach Ziemann (Jackson, Wis.). Neuwirth was the second Falcon to cross the finish line as he posted a PR time of 26:57.00. The time beat his previous best (27:04.6), which he ran two weeks ago at the NACC Championships.

Ziemann clocked in with his top time by recording a 27:22.30, as he was also the fifth Falcon to finish. He ran 15 seconds faster than his previous best, which was set in his last race, also at the NACC Championships.

Junior Stephen Bernau (Courtland, Minn.) completed his strong finish to the year with a 27:03.90, narrowly missing out on a PR. He was the third Falcon to finish Saturday, and improved his times immensely over the past three races of the year.

Sophomore Michael Taylor (Denmark, Wis.) was the fourth CUW runner to come across the finish line, as he posted a 27:21.30. The final two Falcons who competed Saturday were junior Johann Hinck (Cedarburg, Wis.) and freshman Tanner Rutkowski (Wauwatosa, Wis.). HInck completed the course in 27:35.30, while Rutkowski rounded out the lineup with a 27:39.10.

North Central (Ill.) brought home the regional championship by scoring 51 points, easily out-distancing runner-up UW-Eau Claire (108). Andrew Padgett of Washington University the top individual finisher with a time of 23:56.50.

The Falcons season ended with several runners who posted multiple PRs throughout the year. They placed fourth at the NACC Championships and had several underclassmen who showcased a promising future for CUW.