NORTHFIELD, Minn. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire men's cross country went to the St. Olaf Invitational Saturday hoping to make a statement. Teams all over Division III cross country received the message loud and clear.
The third-ranked Blugolds took second overall behind NCAA Division II Sioux Falls, but in the process, they took down defending Division III national champion and top-ranked St. Olaf on the Oles home course.
Eau Claire finished with 56 points, seven behind Sioux Falls' 49 and five ahead of St. Olaf's 61.
Transfer Josh Thorson (So.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) took second overall to St. Olaf's Grant Wintheiser, who took third at last year's national meet. Thorson crossed the line of the 8,000-meter race in 24:56.2, a little under four seconds behind Wintheiser.
Freshman Darin Lau (Fr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Immanuel Lutheran) came in 10th with a time of 25:56.6 while his teammate, Ryan Mugan (Jr.-Howards Grove, Wis.) came in right behind him in 11th with a time of 25:57.3.
Christian Leitner (Jr.-Red Wing, Minn.) and Adam Moline (Sr.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) finished out the Blugold scoring pack. Leitner placed 15th in 26:16.7 while Moline took 18th in 26:24.6.
The Blugolds have a week off before returning to action Friday, Oct. 3 as they host the Blugold Invitational at Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax. Race time is set for 5 p.m.
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