Cross Country

A quick glance at the 2002 season recap for Minnesota's men's cross country team would make it seem like the Gophers had it all figured out.

The team climbed as high as 13th in the national polls and earned its sixth straight trip to the NCAA championship meet, where it finished 17th overall - its second-best showing ever under coach Steve Plasencia.

But as good as the Big Ten competition is, Minnesota will have to get even better to keep its streak of consecutive NCAA appearances alive.

When walking into coach Gary Wilson's office, visitors are immediately greeted by one particular poster on the wall.

It's a picture of the 2001 Minnesota women's cross country team with a title boasting the school's five consecutive appearances at the NCAA national meet.

But after a disappointing 2002 season Wilson doesn't have the luxury of reminiscing. He spends much of his time in interviews these days discussing what kept the Gophers from making it six in a row.

One season ago, Minnesota's women's cross country team advanced to the NCAA championships by finishing second in the Midwest Regional meet.

With four of the top five Gophers from that race returning, coach Gary Wilson's squad looked to head into this year's regional meet with similar personnel.

But then injuries came calling. Already lost from the big four are senior Anita Menden and sophomore Lisa Dyer. Junior Laura Bjork, who finished a disappointing 49th at the Big Ten championships, is still questionable for the meet on Nov. 16 in Normal, Ill.

Don't stand too close to Minnesota's Gary Wilson. You might get hit by lightning.

Wilson's women's track and cross country teams have suffered multiple, crucial losses recently, reducing the fire power of once potent teams.

The Gophers head into Sunday's Big Ten Cross Country Championships without the runners who finished first and fourth for the team at last year's conference meet.

Sophomore Lisa Dyer (stress fracture) and senior Anita Menden (foot surgery) will not be among Minnesota's nine competing runners.

Minnesota's men's cross country team finished fifth at the Roy Griak Invitational at the Les Bolstad Golf Course Saturday in St. Paul.

More than 50 NCAA Division I schools and nearly 2,600 runners compete at the Griak each year. It is the largest cross country meet in the nation.

Paced by junior Andrew Carlson's 10th-place finish, the Gophers improved 12 spots from last year's 17th-place finish and were tops among the six Big Ten teams in the field.

There wasn't any big city noise, pressure of school, or even working plumbing.

But a three-week trip to a cabin in north central Colorado this summer was just what Minnesota cross country runner Erik Grumstrup needed.

With three of his teammates, Grumstrup planned his summer around July's trip to an altitude of 8,800-feet as a time to train, but more importantly, get away from the hectic college life.

"We lived a simple life," Grumstrup said. "It's not bad to be caught up in everything, but it's nice to get away. It puts everything in perspective."

It was on a joint recruiting trip to Minnesota last October when cross country runners Jen Hess and Carly Emil first met.

Both were the top runner at their state high schools, Hess in Minnesota and Emil in North Dakota.

At the time, both were seriously considering separate colleges in warmer climates. But Gophers coach Gary Wilson impressed the pair, and both signed letters of intent with Minnesota the following month.

Unbeknownst to the women, Wilson coordinated their visit in an effort to convince each one to join the other at Minnesota.

The thought kept reoccurring in Minnesota men's cross country runner Toby Henkels' mind as he lay in his hospital bed on a fateful day in 2000.

The Worthington, Minn., native had just competed in his first cross country meet since making the transition from track when he passed out from heat stroke at the race's end.

As Henkels regained consciousness, his career in cross country was on the verge of ending before it even really started.

The strategy for Minnesota women's cross country team at Saturday's Memorial "Oz" Run was simple: let Wisconsin dictate tempo for the first 3,000 meters, then take the lead for the final 3,000 meters.

Somewhere along the way the Gophers' plan fell short, as Badgers runners took the top four spots and won the meet with 18 points. Minnesota finished second with 40 points at Les Bolstad Golf Course.

Division II's Bethel College and Minnesota State Mankato also competed in the event and finished with 116 and 85 points, respectively.

Minnesota women's cross country runner Jill Field's face broke into a big smile before trying to describe her role on the team.

As one of three senior captains, Field is looking to break into the top seven runners - and a spot at the Big Ten Championship meet - during her final year of eligibility.

"The last few years I figured I would be a middle of the pack runner," Field said after pausing for a moment. "I want to do the best I can, but I also want to be a motivator and help the team do well."