Great Lakes Cross Country Regional

The NCAA Great Lakes Cross Country Regional Championship was hosted by the University of Toledo Saturday.

All year I planned on driving the 35 minutes to Toledo to watch this regional. My plans changed about a month ago when I found out a local 5K was going to take place on the same day. I decided to stay in town and run my last race of the year. I'm a bit sad that I didn't go. I missed two great races.

The University of Michigan women's cross country team won the 2011 Great Lakes Regional championship with a total of 45 points. Finishing in second place with 77 points was Michigan State. The Wolverines were lead by the individual champion Danielle Tauro (20:27.9), Rebecca Addison (2nd place-20:34.8), Jillian Smith (5th place-20:39.8), Taylor Pogue (8th place-20:44.3) and Brook Handler (29th place-21:22.9).

The Wisconsin Badgers men's cross country team won their 10th straight regional championship. The Badgers won the team title with 50 points. Indiana Hoosiers were second behind the Badgers with 70 points and Michigan was third overall with 104 points.

All five of the Badger runners: Ryan Collins, Mohammed Ahmed, Reed Connor, Elliot Krause and Maverick Darling all crossed the finish line in unison in 30:28. They placed 8th, a three-way tie for 9th and 12th.

With the regional championship win for Michigan women's cross country and Wisconsin men's cross country teams they both earned an automatic birth into the NCAA National Cross Country Championship in Terre Haute, Indiana on November 21.