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November 23, 2004
Junior Jeff Metzdorff qualifies for NCAA championships; team finishes in eighth place
The men’s cross country team wrapped up their 2004 season on a good note with an eighth-place finish at the Central Region Championships, resulting in two all-region competitors and one national qualifier.
Junior captain Jeff Metzdorff again led the Pipers against a 22-team field. Metzdorff covered the eight-kilometer course in a personal best time of 25:44, good enough for 13th place overall and a NCAA Championship berth.
“Jeff ran an outstanding race,” head coach Paul Schmaedeke said. “He hung in the race very well throughout and ran a very strong last half-mile to finish where he did.”
Sophomore Tony Klappa also stepped up to have a great race at the regional championship, placing 31st. This finish was good enough for All-Region honors. Klappa ran the course in 26:24, a personal best time. A week prior to the region meet, Klappa put forth an outstanding performance in the annual Burning
Spear Mile race, where he finished in a Hamline record time of 4:17.4
Travis Bristow, a sophomore for the Pipers, was the third finisher for the team. Bristow ran a 26:43, good for 42nd place.
“Travis definitely had his best race of the year,” Schmaedeke said.
First-years Dan Steinbrecher and Brandon Gleason, Hamline’s fourth and fifth runners, respectively, rounded out the scoring. Steinbrecher finished the race in 27:15, with Gleason not far behind in 27:29.
“Both of these runners have had fantastic first years of cross country on the collegiate level. I look forward to their continued improvement,” Schmaedeke said.
The 2004 season was a great step in the right direction for the Hamline men’s cross country team.
They placed fifth at the MIAC Championships, one spot higher from 2003. They had one all-conference runner (Metzdorff) and one honorable-mention runner (Klappa).
They improved from 10th to eighth at the Central Regional championships, and this meet included two all-region performances and one NCAA Championship berth.
With no graduating seniors, the Pipers look for improved performance next year.
Posted by msveum at November 23, 2004 11:23 AM
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