2008 Northern Athletics Conference Cross Country Weekly Awards

October 13-19

Men's Cross Country
Zach Shiels, Wisconsin Lutheran College
...6-0...Junior...Oswego, Ill. (Oswego)...
Shiels placed first overall in a field of 98 runners on Saturday at the Private College Championships, completing the 8K course in 26:01.

Other nominees: Andy Aschenden (Concordia University Wisconsin), Andrew Garvey (Edgewood College).

Women's Cross Country
Sarah Olson, Alverno College
...5-7...Sophomore...Oconomowoc, Wis. (Oconomowoc)...
Olson posted a career-best time of 19:38 in the 5K run, breaking her previous personal-best time of 19:57 set at the beginning of the season to reset the Alverno College school record for the distance. The time also earned her second place at the Private College Championships meet, as she was just 20 seconds behind the winner while finishing first out of all runners from Northern Athletics Conference schools.

Other nominees: Jen Murray (Benedictine University), Ashley Vana (Concordia University Wisconsin), Megan Vaccaro (Dominican University), Corrin Koslowski (Edgewood College), Katie Schommer (Wisconsin Lutheran College).

October 6-12

Women's Cross Country
Megan Vaccaro, Dominican University
...4-11...Junior...Oswego, Ill. (Oswego)...
Vaccaro continued her assault on both invitational courses as well as her opponents as she raced to the individual championship of the Benedictine University Cross Country Invitational on Friday, Oct. 10. Vaccaro's time of 23:33 over the 6K distance was impressive on a difficult course on a warm afternoon.

Other nominees: Hannah Miller (Benedictine University), Katie Schommer (Wisconsin Lutheran College).

September 29-October 5

Men's Cross Country
Zach Shiels, Wisconsin Lutheran College
...6-0...Senior...Johnson Creek, Wis. (Lakeside Lutheran)...
Shiels placed first out of 77 runners at the Warrior Invitational on Saturday, completing the 8k course in a time of 26:34. The Warriors placed third out of nine teams at the invite.

Other nominees: Derek Kieninger (Concordia University Chicago), Connor Boushon (Edgewood College).

Women's Cross Country
Sarah Olson, Alverno College
...5-7...Sophomore...Oconomowoc, Wis. (Oconomowoc)...
Olson captured the individual first place finish for the second consecutive weekend, finishing over one minute faster than her closest competitor with a time of 23:47.9 at the 6K Warrior Invitational. It was the second time in Alverno College history that a cross country runner has logged a first place finish, as Olson captured it for the first time in Beloit the previous week.

Other nominees: Hannah Miller (Benedictine University), Corrin Koslowski (Edgewood College), Katie Schommer (Wisconsin Lutheran College).

September 22-28

Men's Cross Country
Tony Hardin, Rockford College
...5-6...Senior...St. Peters, Mo. (Howell Central)...
Hardin finished 23rd out of 343 runners at the Augustana College Brissman/ Lundeen Invitational this past Saturday, Sept. 27. Hardin recorded a time of 26:34.4 in the 8K event.

Other nominees: Joe Lutzow (Concordia University Wisconsin).

Women's Cross Country
Sarah Olson, Alverno College
...5-7...Sophomore...Oconomowoc, Wis. (Oconomowoc)...
Olson captured the first-place spot at the Olde English Classic, coming in 35 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. The win marks the first-ever individual first-place finish for an Alverno College cross country runner since the program's inception in 2001.

Other nominees: Morgan Jacquette (Aurora University), Rchel Riske (Concordia University Chicago).

September 15-21

Men's Cross Country
Dominic Maio, MSOE
...5-9...Junior...Racine, Wis. (Prairie School)...
Maio took second at the Concordia Wisconsin Falcon Invitational this past Saturday with a time of 26:09.62 in the 8K event. The Raiders finished second in the team standings as well.

Other nominees: Andrew Garvey (Edgewood College).

Women's Cross Country
Megan Vaccaro, Dominican University
...4-11...Junior...Oswego, Ill. (Oswego)...
Vaccaro covered the 6K course at Concordia Wisconsin's Falcon Invite in a time of 23:31.22, finishing behind only one other NCAA Division III runner and two NCAA Division I competitors from the University of Wisconsin.

Other nominees: Kirstie Kraus (Edgewood College), Katie Schommer (Wisconsin Lutheran College).

September 8-14

Men's Cross Country
Andrew Garvey, Edgewood College
...5-9...Sophomore...McFarland, Wis. (McFarland)...
Garvey finished 13th in the college division and 27th overall at the Bradley University Open over the weekend. Garvey finished with an 8K time of 27:11 which was just four seconds off his personal best. He led the Eagles to a ninth place finish in the college division.

Other nominees: Kevin Peters (Aurora University).

Women's Cross Country
Megan Vaccaro, Dominican University
...4-11...Junior...Oswego, Ill. (Oswego)...
Vaccaro finished third at Aurora's Spartan Classic last Friday. She was the top NAC finisher at the race, recording a time of 24:11 on a wet course.

Other nominees: Morgan Jacquette (Aurora University), Christy Heintz (Edgewood College), Katie Schommer (Wisconsin Lutheran College).

September 1-7

Men's Cross Country
Dominic Maio, MSOE
...5-9...Senior...Racine, Wis. (Prairie School)...
Maio won the Carroll Invitational, outdistancing runners from UW-Oshkosh, IIT, Lake Forest, Carroll, Ripon and Maranatha Baptist. He is the first male runner in recent school history to win a meet, recording a time of 26:48.8 in the 8K event.

Other nominees: Tony Hardin (Rockford College).

Women's Cross Country
Rachel Riske, Concordia University Chicago
...5-8...Junior...Mount Prospect, Ill. (Hersey)...
Riske finished 8th out of 49 runners at the Wabonsee Invitational recording a time of 21:04.0. The Cougars finished 2nd of 11 team in the event.

Other nominees:

August 29-31

Men's Cross Country
Zach Shiels, Wisconsin Lutheran College
...6-0...Senior...Johnson Creek, Wis. (Lakeside Lutheran)...
Shiels placed second overall out of 100 runners that finished the race at the Tom Barry Invitational hosted by St. Norbert College on Saturday in Green Bay, Wis. He was the top collegiate finisher at the event, crossing the finish line of the 4 mile course in a personal best time of 21:07. He finished runner-up to St. Norbert College alum Jeff Pentek.

Other nominees: Jake Schlueter (Aurora University), Andrew Garvey (Edgewood College).

Women's Cross Country
Sarah Olson, Alverno College
...5-7...Sophomore...Oconomowoc, Wis. (Oconomowoc)...
Olson led the Inferno with a third place finish at this past Saturday's Tom Barry Invite hosted by St. Norbert College in Green Bay, Wis. The sophomore broke the school record she set herself last season for the 5K distance, recording a time of 19:57.

Other nominees: Morgan Jacquette (Aurora University), Christy Heintz (Edgewood College).