With senior All-American John Mortimer (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry HS) out due to injury, fellow senior All-American Todd Snyder (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS), U-M's No. 2 runner all year, offset the loss of his teammate with a runnerup finish in the 10,000-meter race. Mortimer has been battling multiple injuries all season and sat out the regional in order to rest up for the national meet.

The 1997 and 1998 Big Ten Champion Wolverines' attempt at a second staight regional title fell short as Michigan State, which was second at the Big Ten meet on Nov. 1, scored 58 points to U-M's 82. Butler provided the meet's individual champion and another top-10 finisher, but the Bulldogs' remaining three scorers left it open for Michigan to move into second place.

Though the Wolverines had more space than coach Ron Warhurst would have liked between their runners, top-30 finishes by all five scorers proved to be enough to earn the NCAA automatic bid. Finishing behind Snyder was junior Jay Cantin (Camlachie, Ontario/St. Clair SS), a 1998 All-Big Ten Second-Team honoree, in 12th place, followed immediately by Steve Lawrence (Consecon, Ontario/East Northumberland SS) in 13th.

Michigan's other two scorers were senior Don McLaughlin (Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) and freshman Mark Pilja (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North HS) in 26th and 29th place, respectively.

The NCAA Championship will be hosted by the University of Kansas on Monday, Nov. 23, at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kan. Joining Michigan and Michigan State at the national meet will be the top two teams from the other eight regions, along with 13 teams which will received at-large bids.

Top 10 Teams (national rankings)

    
1. Michigan State (10)         58    
2. Michigan (6)                82    
3. Butler                      96    
4. Wisconsin (12)             102    
5. Central Michigan (23)      138    
6. Miami (Ohio) (20)          147    
7. Ohio State                 165    
8. Notre Dame (18)            192    
9. Eastern Michigan (25)      211   
10. Indiana State              243

    
1. Julius Mwangi, Butler           30:20.49   
2. Todd Snyder, Michigan           30:33.75    
3. Ryan Taylor, Michigan State     30:41.26    
4. John Schoenfelder, Wisconsin    30:42.84    
5. Ian Connor, Ohio State          30:49.24

   
12. Jay Cantin                      31:29.50   
13. Steve Lawrence                  31:33.32   
26. Don McLaughlin                  32:01.89   
29. Mark Pilja                      32:09.12   
49. Chris Bunt                      32:34.99   
62. Mike Wisniewski                 32:56.69

SENIOR CO-CAPTAIN JOHN MORTIMER

On missing the regional (prior to the meet) ...
"Our region is the toughest in the country. As long as we finish in the top five or six, we should make it to NCAAs with at least an at-large bid, and that is what's most important. We're strong enough to do it without me, so I'd rather rest this week and save it for NCAAs."

Contact: Barb Cossman (734) 763-4423

For more information on University of Michigan Cross Country contact:
http://www.mgoblue.com/crosscountry-m/

Press Release courtesy of University of Michigan Athletics