Barker Shines for UWS Women

NSo NEWS – RELEASE

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Simply stated, the Yellowjacket women’s cross country team is having a special season.

Week in and week out, multiple Yellowjacket women are setting season records, lifetime records and climbing the Yellowjacket all-time leaderboard. Saturday was no exception as the Yellowjackets competed at the Augustana Interregional in Rock Island, Ill.

The day featured weather less than desirable for runners, as strong winds ruled the say on a course that was soft and muddy. Regardless, a pair of Yellowjackets set new personal records that pushed them even higher into the school’s all-time top ten.

As she has done throughout the 2023 season, Halle Barker (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) led the way for the Yellowjackets. The Superior native finished Saturday’s six-kilometer course with a time of 23:44.5. The mark cracked the top 100 in an absolutely stacked field of competitors, as she finished in 85th place. Further, Barker’s time was the fifth-fastest six-kilometer time in program history, pushing her one slot up the all-time top ten.

Not to be outdone, Cora Hudella (North Branch, Minn./North Branch Area) also had a big race Saturday. Hudella came across the line right behind Barker, finishing with a time of 23:59.1. Like Barker, the time also jumped Hudella up the all-time leader board, as she ran the sixth-fastest time in program history. It’s the second time this season Hudella has posted a top-ten time.

After the top two there were personal records galore for the Yellowjackets.

Tea Boerner (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna Senior) (25:02.7), Lilley Smith (Ironwood, Mich./Ironwood High School) (26:18.3), Aubrey Peterson (Kasson, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville) (27:21.8), Cieyana Carter (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) (28:29.3), Grace Hansen (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) (33:54.0), Emma Winberg (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) (34:25.2) and Jordan Rader (Eagle River, Alaska/Eagle River) (34:41.0) all established new personal records with their performances Saturday.

In addition, three Yellowjackets – Kimmie Downing (Ontario, Wis./Brookwood) (26:36.7), Meagan Berg (Tomahawk, Wis./Tomahawk) (27:17.2) and Brooke Petrich (Keewatin, Minn./Greenway) (31:32.6) all hit new season bests.

Kenzy Kreuzer (Stoddard, Wis./De Soto) also had a good day for the Yellowjackets, finishing with a time of 28:19.0.

In total, 12 of 13 runners for the Yellowjackets established new personal records or season bests on one of the best days of the 2023 season.

The University of Chicago won the team title Saturday, finishing the day with just 48 points. Wartburg was right behind them with 68 points. Those were the only teams in the 42-team field to finish the day with less than 100 points. The individual title went to Evelyn Battleson-Gunkel of the University of Chicago, who finished with a time of 21:24.7.

Next up for the Yellowjackets is the UMAC Championships Saturday, Oct. 28. The meet will be held at Winthrop Golf Course in Winthrop, Minn.