Minnesota’s men’s cross country team is ranked 25th in the United States Cross Country Coaches Association preseason poll.
Last season, the Gophers finished tied for 18th at the NCAA Championships. The other Big Ten teams ranked in the preseason poll are: No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 16 Iowa, No. 17 Indiana, No. 27 Michigan and co-No. 30 Michigan State.
Williams runner of the week
Minnesota women’s cross country senior Lauren Williams was named co-Big Ten Runner of the Week on Tuesday. She shared the award with Michigan sophomore Alyson Kohlmeier.
Williams, named Minnesota’s most valuable runner last season, won the Oz Memorial Run this past Saturday with a time of 22 minutes, 22.8 seconds.
The Gophers are off this week. Their next competition is on Sept. 24 for the Roy Griak Invitational at the Les Bolstad Golf Course.
Hockey all-stars
Minnesota women’s hockey players Ashley Albrecht, Chelsey Brodt and Bobbi Ross were named to the WCHA all-star team that will play two exhibitions against the U.S. national team.
The Sept. 30 exhibition will be played at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, and Oct. 1, the teams will play at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center in Duluth, Minn.
The U.S. national team features former Minnesota players Natalie Darwitz, Kelly Stephens, Krissy Wendell, Winny Brodt and Courtney Kennedy.
Hall of fame calling
Former Minnesota men’s hockey player Murray Williamson will be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minn., on Nov. 5.
Williamson, an Eveleth native, played for Minnesota from 1955-59. In four years with the Gophers, he scored 32 goals and logged 47 assists. He was named team MVP following his senior season.
Williamson also coached the U.S. national team at the 1972 Olympics, where the team won a silver medal. Williamson will become the 13th former Gopher enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Swimming inductees
Three former members of Minnesota’s swimming and diving teams will be inducted to the Minnesota Aquatics Hall of Fame. Women’s swimmer Gretchen Hegener will be enshrined along with men’s swimmer Paul Nelsen and men’s diver P.J.
Bogart on Sept. 23 at the University Aquatic Center.
Hegener earned a school-record seven All-America honors. She is also the only Minnesota women’s swimmer to win a national championship, winning the 1997 NCAA title in the 100-yard breaststroke.
Bogart was a three-time NCAA champion. He won Big Ten diver of the year honors each year from 1993-96, and still holds the Minnesota school record in the 1-meter, the 3-meter and platform diving.
Nelsen was a 10-time All-American from 1990-94. His individual All-Americans came in the 200 and 400 individual medley, and also won All-American honors in the 800 freestyle relay and the 400 medley relay.
