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Three local runners to compete for UWW
monroe cc legler
Monroe senior Kyle Legler runs toward the finish during the Bruess Invitational at Twining Park Aug. 27. Legler placed second. - photo by Marissa Weiher

WHITEWATER — The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s and women’s cross country teams begin their 2019 season this Saturday with the annual Tom Hoffman Invitational on the UW-Whitewater Cross Country Course.

The Warhawk men are coming off a seventh-place finish at last year’s Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships and a 10th-place showing at the NCAA Midwest Regional. David Fassbender (Slinger) qualified individually for the NCAA Championships and placed 21st to become the program’s first All-American since 2016 and second in the last decade.

Head coach Jeff Miller starts his 38th year at the helm of the men’s program and his 36th overseeing the women’s program. He is the only coach in the history of the women’s team.

This Saturday’s Tom Hoffman Invitational, named for former All-American Tom Hoffman, begins with the women’s 6-kilometer race at 10 a.m. and continues with the men’s 8K at 10:45 a.m.

The Warhawks visit a pair of WIAC opponents over the next three weeks, visiting Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne for the UW-Oshkosh Titan Fall Classic on Sept. 20 and Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax for the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational on Oct. 4.

Other returners with personal best times under 26 minutes include juniors Conner Hackett (Darlington) and Kyle Neuroth (Muskego).

Neuroth, whose personal best is 25:43.6, was regularly among the top three finishers on the team last fall. He just missed out on All-Region accolades after placing 40th at the NCAA Regional. Hackett, who owns a personal record 25:47.2, placed among the team’s top five three times last season, including a top 100 finish at the regional race.

Newcomers to the program include freshmen Justin Krause (Pewaukee), Kyle Legler (Monroe), Andrew Lohse (Dixon, Ill.), Lucas Miller (Randolph), Matthew Peloso (Downers Grove, Ill.), Prue Thomas (Bolingbrook, Ill.) and Sam Uhrich (Beaver Dam).

Megan Anderson, a graduate of Albany High School, will compete for the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s cross country team during the 2019 season.

Anderson, a freshman at UW-Whitewater, is majoring in Early Childhood Education.