Hasz holds off Indiana’s Hertenstein, who finishes runner-up for second year in a row; Michigan State, despite returning only three athletes from last season’s lineup, defends title by placing five runners in top 16 for eighth overall crown

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor/Laura Duffy photos

Minnesota senior Bethany Hasz used a late surge Saturday to pull away from Indiana junior Bailey Hertenstein, capturing the first Big Ten women’s individual cross country title for the Golden Gophers since Eileen Donaghy in 1987 at the Blue River Course in Shelbyville, Ind.

Hasz covered the 6-kilometer layout in 20 minutes, 13.2 seconds, with Hertenstein struggling to keep pace in the final 50 meters and taking runner-up for the second year in a row, clocking 20:15.2.

Hasz, who redshirted the 2019 cross country season, improved from 20th in her Big Ten finals debut in 2016 to 10th in 2017 to fifth in 2018, before becoming only the program’s second individual conference champion to go along with team titles in 2007-08.

Michigan State continued its team success by repeating as champions for the third time in program history, including the first since 2013-14, and capturing an eighth title overall.

Led by junior Jenna Magness taking third (20:30.1) and senior India Johnson (20:34.9) finishing fourth, the Spartans had five scorers in the top 16 to produce a 48-point effort, the lowest total by any program since Michigan State’s 26-point performance in 2014, which remains the record for fewest points by a championship team since the women’s distance was adjusted from 5 kilometers to 6 kilometers in 2003.

Wisconsin still holds the overall women’s championship record by placing five in the top nine overall and accumulating 22 points in 1985.

Lynsie Gram (20:48.4) was 11th, Makayla Perez (21:01.2) took 14th and Katie Osika (21:03.3) placed 16th for Michigan State, which prevailed again, despite returning only three runners from last year’s conference championship lineup.

Ohio State sophomore Allie Guagenti elevated from 48th as a freshman to fifth Saturday, clocking 20:40.

Nebraska junior Erika Freyhof, who remained even with Hasz through 4 kilometers, secured sixth in 20:41.2, improving from 23rd last season.

Brogan MacDougall, a Canadian standout making her debut for Wisconsin after transferring from Queen’s University in Ontario during the summer, finished seventh for the Badgers in 20:44.1.

Abby Kohut-Jackson supported Hasz by finishing eighth for Minnesota in 20:45.2, helping the Golden Gophers place second overall with 76 points, just ahead of Illinois’ 79-point effort, led by a ninth-place individual finish from Rebecca Craddock in 20:45.5.

Sarah Schmitt (20:46.5) gave Indiana a pair of top-10 performers, as the Hoosiers were fourth overall with 101 points.

Ohio State, which placed fifth with 110 points, had the top freshman in Andrea Kuhn taking 21st overall in 21:11.8.