WINONA, Minn. (Blugolds.com) - Thomas Breitbach (Jr.-Muskego, Wis.) broke a 23-year old school record and automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships this weekend. The UW-Eau Claire men's track and field team also competed at two other events.

Breitbach won the 10,000-meter run with a time of 29:49.69 at the Gina Relays in Hillsdale, Mich. to break the Blugolds' old school record by more than 29 seconds. The old record of 30:18.16 was set by Dan Held on May 6, 1988. Breitbach's time was also the second best in the nation to date this season.

Eau Claire also had runners in competition at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. The Blugolds competed in the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and 1,600-meter sprint medley relays over the past two days.

The majority of Eau Claire's team competed at the Saint Mary's University Open in Winona, Minn. today.

The Blugolds found the most success in the field as they won two events while recording six finishes of third place or better.

Tony Sigrist (Jr.-Byron, Minn.) reached a provisional qualifying distance in the hammer throw as he took second with a mark of 54.16 meters (177-08). Tyler Genovese (Jr.-Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) was third in the same event.

Genovese took first in the discus throw with a distance of 47.93 meters (157-03) and Sigrist was third with a toss of 44.90 meters (147-04).

Also winning an event was Joe Lilek (Jr.-Tomahawk, Wis.) in the shot put with a throw of 14.70 meters (48-02.75).

Jon Gillespie (So.-Altoona, Wis.) was third in the triple jump with a leap of 13.51 meters (44-04).

On the track, Eric Pronschinske (So.-Arcadia, Wis.) had the best finish as he took second in the 800-meter run with a time of 1.59.38.

Jeremy Kieser (So.-Verona, Wis.) was third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:34.31.

Next weekend, the Blugolds will compete in the WIAC Championships hosted by UW-Platteville. Events are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday. Eau Claire finished fifth of nine teams last season.