Former Carlton runner and CEC hockey player Liz Palkie has helped lead the University of Minnesota Duluth women's cross country team to a record-breaking season.
For the first time since 1994 and only the second time in school history, the Bulldogs have made it to the NCAA Division II championships after placing fourth in the Central Regional Meet in Kearney, Neb.
"Our team is awesome this year," said an excited Palkie on Monday. "We really started to come together about a month ago and have been getting better and better at every meet."
Palkie, who transferred to UMD after playing hockey for the Minnesota Gophers, is a big reason the team is in this position. Since her arrival at UMD, Palkie has led the track and cross country teams, but her team got a big boost this year with the arrival of freshman Morgan Place of Ellsworth, Wisc.
Place has consistently been UMD's top runner, helping take pressure off Palkie.
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"As individuals, everyone has been stepping up and we realize that the more we push ourselves, the more it pushes [everyone] and we have really been thriving on that," explained Palkie. "I am running close to what I expected of myself, and I am really happy with that. Our team has exceeded every expectation that I could have possibly imagined. Not only are we tough on race day, but we are unbreakable as a family and it has been so much fun."
The number one-ranked Adams College of Colorado won the Central Regional title in NCAA Division II. Adams College is also the five-time defending national champion. Second place was taken by Western Colorado and placing third was Augustana, South Dakota.
"The only meet we have left is the national meet," said Palkie. "We are really excited that we qualified and we expect to go there and make a name for ourselves and really enjoy the experience."
Overall, Palkie finished in a time of 21 minutes 10.2 seconds, which was good enough for ninth place overall.
"The only thing I can ask for the rest of the season is to stay healthy and really enjoy the last few weeks," commented Palkie. "It has finally sunk in that part of my collegiate career will be coming to a close, so I am savoring every moment I have left."
The NCAA Division II National Meet will be held Nov. 22 in Slippery Rock, Penn. The top five teams and the top two individuals not on a qualifying team advanced to the meet. Amazingly, the Central Regional featured not only the number one ranked team in Adams, but the number four team - Western and the number six team - Augustana. UMD is ranked No. 18 in the country this season.
"As a team we want to feel that we gave it everything we had in our last meet and left nothing on the course," stated Palkie. "Our hard work has paid off and we know we belong with the top runners in the nation."
