Patzka Breaks School Record to Win Augustana Interregional; UWW Places 3rd overall
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men’s cross country teams competed in the Augustana Interregional alongside multiple regionally-ranked teams. The Warhawks finished 3rd overall in the men’s “Gold” race, led by Christian Patzka (Black Earth, Wis./Wisconsin Heights) and Gunner Schlender (Brillion, Wis./).
Patzka completed the 8k with a personal best of 23:52.7 to finish first overall. Patzka’s PR also breaks a 56-year old school record. In 1968, Tom Hoffman recorded a 23:55 in Salina, Kansas. Patzka joins Hoffman and David Fassbender (23:57 in 2021) to run under 24-minutes.
Gunner Schlender (Brillion, Wis./) joined Patzka in the top-5, with a 24:14 to place fourth overall.
Chris Allen (Downers Grove, Ill./North) also recorded a personal best, running a 24:53.5 to finish 38th overall.
Wrapping up the scorers in the Gold Race, Tucker Johnson (Poynette, Wis./), 25:30 and Alex Metko (Brillion, Wis./), 25:34.
Brandon Gang (Waukesha, Wis./West) and Keegan Bratt (Waukesha, Wis./West) also recorded personal bests in the Men’s “Gold” Gang finished in 25:46.9 and Bratt with 25:46.9.
Other Warhawks in the men’s gold race include Dan Anderson (Eau Claire, Wis./McDonell) (25:48), Tommy Conklin (West Bend, Wis./East) (25:49), Conner Murphy (26:03), Jonah Block (Whitefish Bay, Wis./) (26:37) and Brandon Massman (Belvidere, Ill./North) (26:45).
In the Men’s “Blue” race, the Warhawks finished 5th overall with 160 team points.
Featured in the “Blue” race, Matt Andreano, Andrew Beyer (Algonquin, Ill./Jacobs) and Aiden Johnson all competed personal bests. Andreano (26:10), Beyer (26:42), and Johnson (26:51) all finished in the top 55 runners. Joining them was Bryce Faith (Oconomowoc, Wis./) with a 26:45 for 49th overall.
Nick Wendl (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) (26:55), Landen Bratt (Waukesha, Wis./West) (26:56), Ryan Van Dam (Glen Ellen, Ill./Glenbard East) (27:08), Jordan Loferski (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Hamilton) (28:02), Adrian Ahuatl (St. Charles, Ill./East) (28:08), Will MacCudden (Slinger, Wis./) (28:23), James Belus (Oconomowoc, Wis./) (28:26) also competed in the “Blue” race.
The Warhawks return to their home course for the Warhawk Open next Friday, October 25. The men’s race is set to begin at 12:45 on the UWW Campus Course.
