Minn Landing three runners on the All-Big Ten First Team for the first time in school history, the No. 11 Minnesota women’s cross country team placed third in the 2005 Big Ten Conference Women’s Cross Country Championships at Minnesota’s Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn., on Sunday. Emily Brown, Lauren Williams and Ladia Albertson-Junkans posted top-seven finishes as the Golden Gophers tallied 82 team points.

Michigan, ranked third nationally, won its fourth consecutive title with 42 points, with No. 6 Illinois finishing second with 60.

“We ran hard today and overall we are pleased with our third-place finish,” said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. “Our top three once again did an outstanding job. It’s very exciting for our program to have three All-Big Ten runners.”

Illinois junior Cassie Hunt captured medalist honors holding off Michigan sophomore Alyson Kohlmeier down the final stretch to win by 10 yards. Hunt was clocked with a time of 21 minutes, 0.54 seconds.

Brown, Williams and Albertson-Junkans worked over the 6-kilometer course together, staying with the lead pack throughout the race. Brown out-sprinted Illinois’ Stephanie Simms to the finish line to place third in a time of 21:11.74, the Gophers’ fastest time in school history in a Big Ten meet. Williams, an All-Big Ten second-teamer in 14th place a year ago, improved her placing to fifth with a time of 21:12.99. Albertson-Junkans was sixth with a time of 21:13.19.

Completing the scoring for the Gophers were Harper McConnell in 21st place in a time of 21:55.79 and Katie Howery in 50th place in 22:56.44.

The Gophers’ third-place showing matches the highest Big Ten finish for Minnesota in the 25-year history of the event. Minnesota also placed third in 1983, ’87, ’93, ’98, ’99 and 2000. Overall, the Gophers have enjoyed consistent success in the Big Ten Championships, posting upper-echelon finishes in 18 of 25 meets.

The NCAA Midwest Region Championships in Iowa City, Iowa, is next on the Golden Gophers’ schedule in two weeks, on Nov. 12.

2005 Big Ten Conference Women’s Cross Country Championships Sunday, Oct. 30, 2005 Les Bolstad Golf Course – Falcon Heights, Minn. – 6K Team Results 1. Michigan 2-7-8-11-14-(17)-(19) 42 2. Illinois 1-4-13-18-24-(30)-(38) 60 3. Minnesota 3-5-6-21-47-(51)-(57) 82 4. Indiana 9-10-29-37-43-(68)-(71) 128 5. Michigan State 20-23-26-31-45-(48)-(61) 145 6. Wisconsin 15-28-33-34-36-(41)-(46) 146 7. Iowa 16-22-35-44-53-(54)-(74) 170 8. Purdue 12-27-40-49-52-(64)-(70) 180 9. Ohio State 25-39-60-66-67-(69)-(72) 257 10. Penn State 32-50-55-58-63-(65)-(73) 258 11. Northwestern 42-56-59-62-75-(76)-(77) 294 Top Individuals (Places 1-7 – All-Big Ten First Team, 8-14 All-Big Ten Second Team) 1. Cassie Hunt (Illinois) 21:00.54 2. Alyson Kohlmeier (Michigan) 21:02.74 3. Emily Brown (Minnesota) 21:11.74 4. Stephanie Simms (Illinois) 21:11.84 5. Lauren Williams (Minnesota) 21:12.99 6. Ladia Albertson-Junkans (Minnesota) 21:13.19 7. Erin Webster (Michigan) 21:22.04 8. Nicole Edwards (Michigan) 21:24.78 9. Jessica Gall (Indiana) 21:30.14 10. Lindsay Hattendorf (Indiana) 21:30.89 11. Rebecca Walter (Michigan) 21:32.79 12. Lindsay Zinn (Purdue) 21:33.54 13. Katie Engel (Illinois) 21:37.19 14. Arianne Field (Michigan) 21:38.94 Other Golden Gopher Finishes 21. Harper McConnell 21:55.79 50. (47) Katie Howery 22:56.44 54. (51) Jen Hess 23:07.79 61. (57) Julie Schwengler 23:25.49 67. Carie Steil 23:34.04 87. Danielle Ashford 24:50.59