AU’s Iler Captures Individual Title, Eagle Men and Women Each Place Fifth at GLIAC Cross Country Championships
October 23, 2004

By Paul Carmany, AU Sports Information

Nasty weather delayed the start of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Cross Country Championship Meet and muddied the grounds of the Rolling Hills Golf Course in Hudsonville, MI Saturday morning (Oct. 23).

There was no slowing down Ashland senior Nate Iler, though, as he captured the men’s individual title by 16 seconds on the 8K course, leading the Ashland men to fifth place out of a dozen squads. Grand Valley State, ranked sixth nationally, justified its status in the polls by winning its third consecutive GLIAC title with 36 points. Tenth-ranked Hillsdale was second with 57 points.

In the women’s 6K race, senior Colleen Wurzer came in 10th, helping AU to a fifth-place finish of their own in the 13-team contest. Northern Michigan’s Stephanie Howe broke the tape first, but it was Grand Valley State that captured its fourth straight team title on the women’s side, outdistancing the Wildcats 31-87.

Iler’s final time was 25:07.2 as he paced the 130-runner field in the men’s race. Sophomore Evan Thomas gave Ashland two of the top 10 finishers, placing 10th in 25:57. Another sophomore, Ryan Wilson, was next for AU, finishing 29th with a time of 26:49. Freshman Bryan Ropp (30th place, 26:51) and senior Wes Lewis (39th, 27:04) rounded out the Eagles’ top five as Ashland totaled 105 points.

Wurzer finished in 22:51, a time that put her in the top 10 of a 150-runner field. Sophomore Miranda Forgac came in 20th with a time of 23:17, while junior Erin Stauffer placed 24th in 23:24. The Eagles’ five scorers also included Jess Fleming (34th place, 23:36) and Kristin Ricketts (41st, 23:51), totaling a score of 122. AU’s score placed the Eagles 28 points ahead of Wayne State, a team that entered the day ranked 23rd nationally.

The Ashland men’s and women’s cross country teams will now look ahead to the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional Meet, to be held two weeks from today on Nov. 6. That race, which serves as a qualifier for the NCAA Division II National Meet, will be contested in Edwardsville, IL.