73rd Midwest Cross Country Invitational

Saturday, September 25, 2010 at Janesville's Blackhawk Golf Course. Results

Above: Some of the 462 runners in the JV race. Above photo by Joe La Chance [Janesville Parker Girls Coach]

University Lake School's Molly Seidel is shown above about to cross the finish line [13.55.50] to win the varsity portion of the Midwest Invitational. The Midwest began in 1931 and has been held every year with the exception of the World War II years of 1942-48. Girls began competing in the event in 1979. The meet is believed to be the oldest high school cross country meet in the USA. Neenah the Week 4 number 1 ranked team won the meet with 64 points followed by Madison West [83], Arrowhead [129], Dodgeville-Mineral Point [137] and Verona [164]. Thirty varsity girls teams competed at this years Midwest Meet which included 9-10 races, JV races, and races involving middle schools.
Every team has a pre-meet ritual. This is determined by tradition and the leaders of each team. The #1 ranked team as of Week 4 is pictured above. The Neenah 'Rockets' took first at the 2010 Midwest Invitational. Claire Knaus, the Parker sisters Alison, Jeninifer, and Jessica, and Austin Anderson combined to finish 5th, 7th, 11th, 12th, and 29th for a score of 64 and the team championship of the 73rd Midwest Invitational.

The Mukwonago varsity runners are pictured on the left meeting prior to the start of the varsity race

The Verona Wildcats are pictured below striding prior to the start of the race.

Above: Start of the varsity race. Winner Molly Seidel [green uniform, University Lake School] is shown above

Above and below: Middle of the race. Above L-R: Kaylee Flannagan [Lake Park, IL], Ali Parker [Neenah], Molly Seidel [University Lake School], Liz Berkholtz [Sun Prairie], Tricia Serres [Platteville], and Jackie Dubnicka [Arrowhead Warhawks]. Seidel's time of 13.55.5 tied the course record set by Lindsay Flannagan of Lake Park [IL] in 2008.

Hartland Arrowhead runner Taylor McDowell ['Warhawks'] and some of the 222 girls varsity runners at the Midwest Invitational.

Above L-R: ULS junior Molly Seidel [1st] and second place runner Tricia Serres [Jr, Platteville]

Above L-R: Olivia Pratt [JR, Madison West, 3rd], Jackie Dubnicka [FR, Arrowhead, 4th], and Lake Park [IL] sophomore Kaylee Flannagan [5th].

Above L-R: Claire Knaus [SO, Neenah, 6th], Liz Berkholtz [SR, Sun Prairie, 7th], and Alison Parker [SO, Neenah, 8th]

Above L-R: Taylor Bauer [JR, Fort Atkinson, 9th] and Elena Barham [JR, Madison West, 10th]

Above L-R: Taylor McDowell [JR, Arrowhead, 11th] and Jennifer Parker [FR, Neenah, 12th].

Right L-R: Gina Sereno [SO, Madison West, 14th] and Jessica Parker [FR, Neenah, 13th]

With 50 meters to go runners push their minds and bodies to the limit