INSIDE
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY
BY AJ HARRISON
@BADGER_TRACK
SCHEDULE
COMING UP
Sept. 5
Badger Opener 7 p.m.
Sept. 14
Sycamore
10 a.m.
Invitational
Sept. 14
Warhawk
11:45 a.m.
Invitational
Sept. 27
Coast-To-Coast
Battle
Finnerty's finale: Rob
returns for cross country
Senior looks to end UW career on high note
fter months of waiting
to hear if he was granted a sixth year of eligibility for cross country, firstteam All-Big Ten runner Rob
Finnerty received his answer
while working UW's Camp of
Champions in late July.
"We were sitting down
at dinner in the cafeteria,"
Finnerty said. "(Head coach)
Mick (Byrne) comes over the
A
60
//
VARSITY August 29, 2013
loudspeaker and is speaking
to about 105 campers and my
teammates and says 'I want to
let everyone know that Rob
Finnerty got his sixth year."
Finnerty is one of six seniors on the team that looks to
continue a plethora of streaks.
The Badgers have won the past
14 Big Ten championships and
the past 11 NCAA Great Lakes
Region titles.
5 p.m.
Finnerty gained valuable experience
over the summer, becoming the eighth
UW runner to break the four-minute
mark in the mile. He also ran under 3:39
in the 1500 meters three times, and competed at the 2013 USA Outdoor Championships.
"Having someone with Rob's perspective and experience is huge for us going
in to the fall," Byrne said. "He is familiar
with how I do things, how our system
works, and the younger guys are very excited to have him back to lead the team."
Although the Badgers lost a trio of AllAmericans in Maverick Darling, Mohammed Ahmed and Reed Connor, Finnerty
and his teammates look to continue the
Wisconsin success.
Big things are expected for the Badgers this year, as the squad checks in at
seventh in the preseason U.S. Track &
Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Coaches' Poll.
"A big reason I wanted to come back
for cross country is because of the team
mindset," Finnerty said. "Individually, I
want to be in the top three at Big Tens
and I want to earn All-America honors at
nationals.
"But the big goal is always to put the
team first, to keep the streaks going at
Big Tens and regionals, and then podium
at NCAAs. I'm excited to work with my
teammates to continue the tradition."
