Juniors Rebeka Stowe and Donny Wasinger led Jayhawks at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational
Oct. 2, 2010
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MADISON, Wis.- Kansas cross country juniors Rebeka Stowe and Donny Wasinger both set career best times and were the top KU finishers Saturday, Oct. 2, at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational, helping the women to capture 11th overall and the men to place 16th.
“I thought the quality of the team was really good today and I thought both teams competed well,” head coach Stanley Redwine said. “However, we know what we have to do to compete at the next level.”
Stowe had a great showing for her first meet of the season, clocking a 6K time of 20:32 and placing 12th overall in a field 202 runners.
“This being the first race back for me, it was a little bittersweet,” Stowe said. “It was a good first race back, but at the same time I need to be in the top five finishers. I have a lot to work on in the next two weeks before Pre-Nationals. I need to believe in myself that I can be in the top five and I am going to make that happen.”
Sophomore Natalie Becker had a breakout race finishing as KU’s No. 2 runner, placing 54th overall and clocking a 6K time of 21:21.
“I am really pleased with Natalie Becker’s race today,” assistant coach Michael Whittlesey said. “She had a great breakout race. This is a good precursor race for the ISU Pre-Nationals that are coming up next.”
Seconds apart from each other were crimson and blue sophomores Tessa Turcotte and Kyra Kilwein as well as senior Amanda Miller. Turcotte was the Jayhawks’ No. 3 runner crossing the finish line with a time of 21:37 and Miller was at her heals placing 75th overall with a 6K time of 21:42. Rounding out the Jayhawks top five spot was Kilwein, who clocked a time of 21:55.
Sophomores Brenna Farren and Allie Marquis also dawned Jayhawk singlets at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course, placing 106th and 128th respectively.
On the men’s side, Wasinger led the KU pack with a career best 8K time of 24:03, crossing the finish line 12th in a field of 212 runners
“It was a good learning experience,” Wasinger said. “In the middle of the race I got a little complacent, but by the end of the race I woke back up and had a good finish.”
Senior Nick Caprario also had a strong performance on Oct. 2, finishing as KU’s No. 2 runner with a time of 24:31.
“Nick Caprario ran very well and had a good day,” Wasinger said. “That was a good stride for him.”
Junior Austin Bussing and freshman Jose Muñoz were the Jayhawks’ No. 3 and 4 finishers. Bussing ran a career best 8K time of 25:02 to finish in 99nd place, while Muñoz was close behind at 25:24. Freshman Josh Munsch was five seconds apart from Muñoz with a time of 25:29.
Sophomore Josh Baden finished the 8K race with a time of 26:04 and freshman Nikki Trooien-Smith rounded out the men’s team with a time of 26:24.
The Jayhawk cross country teams will be back in action on Saturday, Oct. 16, in Terre Haute, Ind., where they will face stiff competition at the NCAA Pre-Nationals Invitational.
Head Coach Stanley Redwine
On how the Jayhawks competed:
“I thought the quality of the team was really good today and I thought both teams competed well. However, we know what we have to do to compete at the next level.”
Assistant Coach Michael Whittlesey
On learning from the meet:
“We definitely need to learn from experience. The women didn’t get off as well as they should in the first 600 meters and that kind of put us in the bind. On the other hand, the men’s team got off well, but they didn’t continue to run as a pack.”
On KU’s top finishers:
“I thought both Donny Wasinger and Rebeka Stowe did a great job putting themselves in front of the pack and buying into where they belonged in the race. They both need to get a little bit stronger mentality in the middle of the race.”
On Natalie Becker:
“I am really pleased with Natalie Becker’s race today. She had a great breakout race. This is a good precursor race for the ISU Pre-nationals that are coming up next.”
Junior Donny Wasinger
On the Wisconsin adidas Invitational:
“It was a good learning experience. In the middle of the race I got a little complacent, but by the end of the race I woke back up and had a good finish.”
On his Jayhawk team members:
“Nick Caprario ran very well and had a good day. That was a good stride for him. I also think it was good for the freshmen to get their feet wet in a meet with some stiff competition.”
Junior Rebeka Stowe
On the women’s team:
We were hoping to have a little better placing, but there were a lot of women that really stepped up and ran well, especially Natalie Becker. We have been waiting for her to come into her own and realize her potential. She had a solid race.”
On the ISU Pre-Nationals:
“We are going to work-up from here and are looking forward to the ISU Pre-Nationals. We know this won’t affect how we are going to do the rest of the season.”
On her first race of the season:
“This being the first race back for me, it was a little bittersweet. It was a good first race back, but at the same time I need to be in the top five finishers. I have a lot to work on in the next two weeks before Pre-Nationals I need to believe in myself that I can be in the top five and I am going to make that happen.”
