Gleason, Branigan qualify for nationals
Pipers finish strong at regionals.
Jason Armstrong
Issue date: 11/18/08 Section: Sports
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Senior Brandon Gleason and junior Margot Branigan will join the best athletes in all of Division III cross country this Saturday in Hanover, Ind., for a chance to bring home a national championship.
Gleason, who previously finished 97th overall at the 2006 national meet, placed third overall at the Division III Central Regional with a time of 25:38.4. This will mark his third trip to nationals for the cross country team.
The Pipers, who were at one point ranked tops in the region by an independent coaches poll, took ninth in the team competition.
Junior Ian Bauer crossed the finish line at 25:55.7, good enough for 13th place out of 177 runners in the eight-kilometer race.
Senior Kevin Groh finished 61st, first-year Ellis Richardson finished 66th, first-year Devin Monson in 68th and junior Jamison Hull in 78th.
Nebraska Wesleyan took home team honors, followed in second place by the MIAC's St. John's University.
St. Olaf, St. Thomas and Bethel also finished in the top 10.
On the women's side, Roseville-native Branigan was awarded an at-large bid to the national meet after finishing 10th overall at the regional.
Her time of 22:41.1 helped the Piper squad to a 10th place finish out of 26 teams at the meet.
Senior Freya Fitzer placed 58th with a time of 24:15.3.
Seniors Sara Burns and Katie Drinane crossed the finish line within a second of each other, and finished 74th and 75th respectively. Sophomore Jessica Kociscak came in 79th at 24:44.9.
Wartburg College won the team event. St. Thomas was the top MIAC squad, finishing in third place. Bethel, Carelton, St. Olaf and St. Benedict also placed in the top 10.
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