The UW-Whitewater Men’s Cross Country team started their season Saturday with an alumni meet at the UW-Whitewater cross country course. They will open their season officially this upcoming weekend away at the UW-River Falls Invitational.
The UW-Whitewater men’s cross-country team looks set to build and improve in the 2023 season. Looking back to last season, the Warhawks had numerous team accolades. Some highlights are 2022 WIAC runner-ups, 2022 North regional champions, and top 10 finish at nationals. These achievements undoubtedly have high aspirations for the 2023 season.
Beginning this season, the Warhawks are ranked seventh nationally in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association coaches poll. The ranking is three spots higher than their tenth-place ranking at the end of last year. The rank is also two spots higher than their ranking of ninth in the preseason ranking in 2022.
Head coach Jeff Miller returns for his 42nd season of cross-country team coaching. With all members of the 2022 team returning for another year, the Warhawks are looking for a good year. “We have high expectations for this year to be as good as we have ever been,” said Coach Miller. The Warhawks will look to win the WIAC conference and strive for more later in the season at the NCAA region and the NCAA championship meet.
National runner-up Christian Patzka echoed Miller’s comments. “The team expects to be better and improve upon their result last year,” said Patzka. Patzka is also excited about the team’s depth with the freshman class and transfers. “They all bring different strengths to the team and be able to improve the team as the season goes on,” Patzka said.
The Warhawks’ first home meet will be the Tom Hoffman Invitational on Saturday, September 16th. The Wiac conference meet will be at UW-River Falls on Saturday, October 28th. The NCAA North Region qualifying meet will follow on Saturday, November 11th, at UW-Eau Claire. Finally, the NCAA championship meet on Saturday, November 18th, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, hosted by Dickson College.
