The No. 2 ranked Badger men added to their Big Ten title with a regional victory at the NCAA Division I Great Lakes Regional Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. this weekend. The UW women’s team placed sixth at the event.

The men’s win was the 19th title for the Badgers and earned the Badgers an automatic bid to the NCAA championships in Waterloo, Iowa. Michigan also earned an automatic bid, finishing four points behind Wisconsin in second place.

Four UW men placed within the top 25 to earn All-Region honors. Two-time second-team All Big-Ten and 2002 All-American Bobby Lockhart was the first Badger to cross the finish line, placing ninth with a time of 30:49.7. Reigning Big Ten athlete of the year Simon Bairu and freshman of the year Chris Solinksy followed closely behind, finishing 11th (30:50.5) and 13th (30:51.5), respectively. Rounding out Wisconsin’s top five runners was Josh Spiker in 16th (30:54.2) and Tim Nelson in 23rd (31:08.2). Other Wisconsin finishers included Ben Gregory who took 37th in 31:19.5, and Joe Eckerly was 42nd in 31:25.6.

The Wisconsin women matched their 2002 NCAA Regional finish, placing sixth in a field of 30. Leading the Badger scorecard and earning All-Region honors was senior Megan Guiney, finishing 10th in 21:04.4. Rounding out the top five UW finishers were Hilary Edmondson (36th, 21:55.), Sarah Koplin (45th, 22:07.5), A Havahla Haynes (50th, 22:13.9) and Linsey Blaisdell (62nd, 22:24.8). Also finishing for Wisconsin were Michelle Lilienthal in 64th (22:26.0) and Sarah Konkel in 139th (23.41.1). Without earning in automatic bid, the Badger women will wait to see if they are invited to the NCAA Championships. ?compiled by staff reports