Four MU Runners Earn All-BIG EAST Honors at Conference Championships

KENOSHA, Wisconsin – The Marquette men's cross country team tied its best-ever finish at the BIG EAST Championships today, placing fourth with a program-best 99 points on Saturday at the Wayne E. Dannehl Cross Country Course in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The women's team placed sixth for the second straight year with 149 points.

The meet, hosted by Marquette on the University of Parkside's campus, played slow today because of mud and snow on the course.

"Although we prepared for this, it was still a bit of a shock when we started running," senior Ryan Burd said. "You lose a lot of traction and speed going up the hill. Despite that, it was a gritty race and we were able to run through it."

For the first time in program history, the MU men had three All-BIG EAST honorees, led by senior Ryan Burd, who placed 15^th with a time of 26:27.7. Fellow seniors Daniel Pederson (26:36.7) and Brad Eagan (26:39.6) took 18^th and 19^th, respectively. Burd and Eagan earned their first all-conference nod as Golden Eagles while Pederson took home his third straight All-BIG EAST award.

"It makes me happy to know that I really stuck my head in there and competed every year with all the talented runners in this conference," Pederson said. "We have guys on this team who are going to run hard and compete every year, so it was nice to see our efforts pay off today."

All of the top seven MU men finished in the top 30 overall.

Senior captain Caitlin McGauley (22:41.8) paced the women's team to its second straight sixth place finish at the conference championships by taking 19^th, earning her first ever All-BIG EAST honor. Sophomore Lauren Neiheisel (23:05.8) and junior Emily Foley (23:14.2) placed 26^th and 29^th, respectively, placing three MU women in the top 30 overall.

Senior Caitlin McGauley (@McGauleyCaitlin) takes 19th at the BIG EAST Championships to earn all-conference honors!

The MU women placed sixth overall.#WeAreMarquette | #MarquetteXC pic.twitter.com/mGsFm6G2KO
— Marquette TF/XC (@MUTFXC) November 2, 2019

"Today was tough and the conditions were about as bad as they could be," McGauley said. "But I'm really proud of how the team ran today and earning All-BIG EAST means a lot to me. It was a goal I set for myself and wanted to achieve all season."

McGauley is the first MU women's runner to earn All-BIG EAST honors since Brittney Feivor (17^th) and Jennifer Parker (20^th) did in 2016.

Freshmen Kate Jochims (23:26.6) and Hannah Ray (24:08.9) placed fourth and seventh among the Golden Eagle women in their first postseason race as collegiate runners. Senior Kalina Gardiner (23:58.5) continued to battle through injury as she placed fifth on MU and 43^rd overall while sophomore Kendall Pfrimmer (24:05.3) continued her successful season and placed 46^th.

"The result today feels amazing," Burd said. "The last time we hosted the BIG EAST Championships we had two all-conference finishers, which was big for us. To have four today and finish the way we did, it's hard to ask for more."

Senior Ryan Burd was one of three MU men to garner all-conference honors (top 20) at the BIG EAST Championships. He recaps today's memorable race at Parkside. pic.twitter.com/1Rhk03G6sT
— Marquette TF/XC (@MUTFXC) November 2, 2019

UP NEXT:
MU's qualifiers will head to the NCAA Great Lakes Regional on Saturday, Nov. 9 in Madison, Wisconsin.

MEN'S RACE:
4^th of 10 (88 Runners)
15. Ryan Burd: 26:27.7
18. Daniel Pederson: 26:36.7
19. Brad Eagan: 26:39.6
23. Alex Gill: 26:53.5
24. August Beyer: 26:55.7
27. Jordan Janusiak: 26:58.8
30. Greg Van Hollen: 27:13.0

WOMEN'S RACE:
6^th of 10 (91 Runners)
19. Caitlin McGauley: 22:41.8
26. Lauren Neiheisel: 23:05.8
29. Emily Foley: 23:14.2
32. Kate Jochims: 23:26.6
43. Kalina Gardiner: 23:58.5
46. Kendall Pfrimmer: 24:05.3
47. Hannah Ray: 24:08.9

Keep up with the Marquette cross country program through social media by following on Twitter (@MUTFXC) and Instagram (@MUTFXC) and `liking' on Facebook (/MUTFXC).