2012 MIAC X-Country Championship Meet Preview

MIAC men's cross country preview courtesy of Matt Higgins and the MIAC office

MIAC Men's XCountry Meet Home Page

SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- Several key questions surround the 2012 MIAC Men's Cross Country Championships. Will one of the other 10 teams be able to end Hamline's three-year run atop the conference? And with the top five finishers from the 2011 race all graduated, which individuals will emerge as contenders for the individual title? Saturday, those questions will be answered.
 
The 2012 race marks the 15th anniversary of Como Park Golf Course in St. Paul, Minn., serving as the championship host site. The event will begin with the men's 8K race at 2:15 p.m., followed by the women's 6K race and a short awards ceremony. Augsburg College is the host school for the 2012 MIAC Cross Country Championships, which feature nine returning All-Conference men's runners who headline the competitive, 11-team field.
 
Head Coach Paul Schmaedeke and his Piper squad have enjoyed a three-year reign atop the MIAC, as they edged St. Olaf by nine points (45-54) a year ago to complete their three-peat. However, Hamline graduated Devin Monson, Jack Deichert and Ellis Richardson - who finished 2-3-4 a year ago, making the race for the 2012 conference title a wide-open affair Also graduated is St. Thomas' Ben Sathre - the 2011 MIAC and NCAA Division III national champion - clearing the way for a new conference individual winner.
 
Despite their losses, Hamline will again be among the contenders, led by senior Brendan Ruter who finished 20th and earned All-MIAC Honorable Mention a year ago. The 2011 runner-up Oles also look loaded heading into the championship race with three All-MIAC runners and one Honorable Mention performer back for Phil Lundin's squad. Sophomore Grant Wintheiser is the top returner after finishing sixth a year ago, and Brian Saksa (eighth) and Tim Lillehaugen (10th) joined him on the All-MIAC squad, while Josh Wold (19th) received Honorable Mention honors for his performance.

Saint John's finished third a year ago with a team score of 111, and it returns talented upperclassmen Matt Scherber and John Subialka, who finished 21st and 24th, respectively, to earn All-MIAC Honorable Mention status in 2011. Bethel also has to be considered one of the top contenders for the team title with a deep, talented group back in the fold. Zach Haskins (seventh), Matt Schafer (ninth) and Matt Berens (15th) give the Royals a returning All-MIAC trio as talented as any in the league.

St. Thomas finished fifth a year ago with a score of 150, and will be led by emerging star Keaton Wendroth as the Tommies adjust to life without the immensely-talented Sathre. Carleton is another team looking to move up into contention after scoring 163 points to finish sixth in 2011, but the Knights bring back All-MIAC runner Marcus Huderle (12th) and Honorable Mention teammate Bobby Davis (17th) to bolster their hopes in this season's race.

Saint Mary's finished seventh a year ago (185 points) and hopes seniors Jake Traxler and Peter Borash can lead the team to another strong showing in 2012. Gustavus was eighth (211 points) and returns its top runner from a year ago, Dillon Emo, who just missed Honorable Mention honors by finishing 26th. Macalester has All-MIAC standout Joe Giamberdino (12th) back in the mix, who was one of the top freshman finishers a year ago, and the Scots hope to follow his lead up the standings after a ninth-place finish (220 points) in 2011.

Concordia came in 10th last season (227 points) and said goodbye to standout Tom Sederquist, who led the Cobbers with a top-five finish in 2011. The Cobbers have high hopes for top returner Tanner Sakrismo and Brad McConn to lead the way Saturday. Augsburg rounded out the 2011 field in 11th place (260 points), but the host school has its sights set on climbing the standings behind All-Conference standout Micheale Tesema (14th) and company.
 
The MIAC Championships will conclude with a short awards ceremony to honor the team and individual champions and All-Conference runners near the clubhouse following the end of the women's race. The Top 15 runners in each race will be named All-MIAC, with finishers 16-25 receiving Honorable Mention, and all will be recognized for their accomplishment during the presentation.

The MIAC has a Web page dedicated to the event, and complete results, recaps, photos and more will be available on that site following the event. Webcast America will also be offering on-demand video highlights of both races following the event on its Web site. There will be a limited quantity of 2012 MIAC Championship T-shirts available for purchase on site, and the Como Park clubhouse concession stand will have concessions available for purchase as well.

The MIAC would like to thank Augsburg for its efforts as the host school for the event, as well as Como Park Golf Course for the outstanding accommodations for the 15th consecutive season. The MIAC also offers thanks to Twin Cities Orthopedics, which will provide on-site athletic training and medical services again in 2012.