Wieferich Aiming for National Championship This Week

For Immediate Release

May 21, 2007

Written by Hugh Howard
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Katie Wieferich

Katie Wieferich (Marietta, Ohio / Marietta) will close her standout running career at The College of Wooster this week, with hopes of winning a title at the NCAA Div. III Track & Field Championships, which are being held in Oshkosh, Wis. Already a three-time All-American, Wieferich will compete in two events, the 10,000 meters Thursday at 7:50 p.m. Central Daylight Time, and after a day of rest, the 5000 meters at 4:20 p.m. CDT Saturday.

Wieferich competed in the same two events at nationals last year, placing third in the 10,000 (35:53.55) and fifth in the 5000 (17:21.54). She has lowered each of those times during 2007, covering the 10,000 in 35:41.05 at the All-Ohio Championships for NCAA Div. I schools on April 20 and the 5000 in 16:44.68 at the North Coast Athletic Conference Championships May 4. Both were school-record and winning efforts.

With the fourth-best time in Div. III in the 10,000 and the third-fastest in the 5000 this season, long-time Wooster head coach Dennis Rice believes Wieferich will be in the mix for a national championship.

“I think this is really going to be an exciting opportunity for Katie,” he said. “Going into the 10,000, I think there (is) going to be a cluster. Then, whoever makes the big move with 2000 to go will challenge for the national title. Katie’s seeded fourth, but any of the top-six women could win.”

Rice added, “In the 5000 meter run, she’ll be going in with the second-seeded time, but the girl who’s No. 1 (Sarah Zerzan of Williamette University) will be fresh because she’s not competing in any other events. I think Katie’s going to have a great opportunity, but a lot has to do with how she recovers from the 10,000.”

In addition to her double All-American effort at last season’s NCAA track meet, Wieferich finished 14th at the 2006 Div. III Cross Country Championships for another All-American honor. She traveled through the muddy 6K course in 23:24, just five seconds outside the top-10, while Zerzan won the title (22:31).

Wieferich’s career also includes being the Great Lakes Runner of the Year for cross country last fall after winning the regional meet and earning the NCAC Middle Distance/Distance Runner-of-the-Year award at three conference meets (2007 outdoor, 2006 outdoor, 2006 indoor). A star in the classroom as well, she was a second-team Academic All-American® last season and will be in the running for another such honor again later this spring.