Sept. 14, 2006

2006 Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational
Hosted by University of Nebraska
Saturday, Sept. 16, 2006 - 9:00 a.m. MT
Lincoln, Nebraska (Pioneers Park)

This Week
The University of Northern Colorado men's and women's cross country team's travel to Lincoln, Nebraska to participate in the 17th annual Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational, put on by the University of Nebraska. The event features over 30 teams.

Last Time Out
Running for the first time since the program was eliminated following the 1983 season, the new squad of Bears men's runners finished behind a field that included meet champion Air Force, Wyoming, Colorado State, Metro State and UC-Colorado Springs.

Junior Charles Hillig Jr. was the Bears top finisher, placing 14th overall with a time of 23:00. Hillig has been a two-year member of the Northern Colorado track & field team and ran unattached in several cross country races last season. Michael Trahan was next for the Bears with a 42nd overall place (24:02). He was followed by Alex Grimm (46th, 24:19), Shawn Monk (56th, 24:49), Ryan Woodman (65th, 25:35), Matt Provencio (66th, 25:50), Keegan Specht (70th, 26:18), Jorel Torres (71st, 26:27), Chris Turner (74th, 27:50) and Zane Whobrey (75th, 29:07).

Air Force's Matt Williams was the overall winner with a time of 22:12.

The women's team which features eight athletes this year, all new to the team, was fifth behind champion CSU, UC-Colorado Springs, Wyoming and Air Force. The Bears finished ahead of Metro State.

Individually, freshman Denise Kintzley had the most impressive finish for the Bears on Friday, finishing ninth overall (15:37). She was followed by Kellie Callahan (19th, 15:56), Katie Wiederholt (25th, 16:24), Colleen Sanderlin (26th, 16:35), Allison McIntire (38th, 17:32), Rachel Forrest (41st, 18:01) and Erin Apsey (42nd, 18:13).

UCCS's Shannon Payne was the overall women's champion (14:48).

New Program
This is the first year of competition for the men's team after the program became dormant following the 1983 season.

With Northern Colorado officially becoming a member of the Big Sky Conference on July 1, the Department of Athletics had to add each men's cross country and men's and women's indoor track and field as programs.

Next Up
Both teams will travel to Colorado Springs for the Colorado College Invitational, Saturday, September 23rd at 9 a.m.