INSIDE WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY BY BRIAN MASON
@Badger_Track SCHEDULE
Last Two Sept. 15 Warhawk Invite 1st/20 pts. Sept. 22 Virginia Invite
1st/35 pts.
This Week Saturday Louisville Classic 8:30 a.m. Loyola Lakefront 11:45 a.m. Invitational
Coming Up Oct. 12
Wisconsin adidas Invitational
Noon
with a time of 17:43.8. That perfor- mance earned Beutler Big Ten Run- ner of the Week honors. The Badgers hope to make it back
Badgers already laying
utive meet to open the sea- son at the Panorama Farms Invitational by placing four runners in the top 10 among a strong field at the 5-kilome- ter event in Earlysville, Va. Saturday was the first day
W
team's performances count- ed toward at-large qualify-
60 ยป VARSITY SEPTEMBER 27, 2012
isconsin went on to win its third-consec-
to the NCAA championship this sea- son, and Beutler's veteran leadership and experience is just what the Bad- gers need to continue their success. Wisconsin has another opportuni- ty to score points Saturday when the Badgers head to Louisville, Ky., for the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic. "This weekend is an important
groundwork for NCAAs Never too early to build case for at-large bid
ing for the NCAA champi- onship. You gain points for "wins" over other teams run- ning their "A" lineups, and the Badgers have started the season strong after beating several teams, including No. 15-ranked Virginia. Senior Ashley Beutler led
the way for Wisconsin, fin- ishing in fourth place overall
one," Stintzi said. "We get a chance to run on the NCAA championship course, and that's certainly a good opportunity for us." Saturday's meet will certainly be a
test for the Badgers, as seven ranked teams are scheduled to compete, including No. 1 Washington, No. 8 Vanderbilt and No. 10 Arkansas. "We're going to face quite a few ranked teams again this week, which gives us the chance to pick up some team points that we'll need down the road as we try to qualify for the NCAA meet," Stintzi said. "It's important for us to make the most of it."