WARRENVILLE, Ill. – Nine of 10 Concordia University Wisconsin Men's Cross Country runners set new personal records competing at the Benedictine Eagle Invitational Friday afternoon. The Falcons impressive day came at a meet featuring 15 teams, hosted at St. James Farm Forest Preserve.
The biggest time improvement came from freshman Tanner Rutkowski (Wauwatosa, Wis.). Running in just his second 8K, Rutkowski posted a 27:29.62, over three minutes better than his previous time two weeks ago at the Roy Griak Invitational. Rutkowski was the third Falcon to finish the race Friday.
Senior Robert Meilbeck (Winthrop Harbor, Ill.) was the top CUW finisher, completing the course in 26:54.58. Meilbeck placed 29th out of 186 competitors. Following him was sophomore Michael Taylor (Denmark, Wis.) who clocked in at 27:02.70. He posted a 43-second PR and placed 36th.
Two Falcons bested their previous PRs by over a minute in sophomore Zach Ziemann (Jackson, Wis. - pictured) and freshman Brandon Goesch (Germantown, Wis.). Ziemann ran a 28:12.91, while Goesch posted a time of 28:57.88.
Also running PRs on Friday was junior Johann Hinck (Cedarburg, Wis.), freshman Tyler Neuwirth (Mukwonago, Wis.), senior Christopher Biesboer (Elmhurst, Ill.) and freshman Brennan Linse (Jefferson, Wis.). Hinck was the fourth Falcon to finish, completing the course in 27:57.16, while Neuwirth was next in line with a 27:59.47. Biesboer posted his best time of 28:18.79 with Linse coming in right behind him at 28:19.09.
As a team CUW finished sixth, including placing second among five Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference schools. North Central won the team title, recording 31 points and easily out-distancing Aurora who scored 80.
The Falcons will be back in action next weekend when they take part in the Brooks Invite, hosted by UW-Oshkosh. The meet will be run at Lake Breeze Golf Course and is set to begin at 11:00 a.m.
