Pre-National Results | AAE Results | Photos
It was a nearly perfect day for racing with temps in the low 40's, sunshine and a light breeze for both races, which helped make both races very fast. The Blugolds ran their top ten men in the Pre-National race and the rest of the team competed in the AAE Invitational race.
The Blugolds proved that their No. 1 team ranking is legitimate by finishing first of 45 teams in the Pre-National Invitational in a field that included 13 nationally ranked programs from across the country. Eau Claire placed their top three runners in the top four of the race that had 402 competitors.
Junior Josh Thorson (Jr.-Plymouth, MN/Wayzata) led the way by winning in an 8K time of 24:18. Darin Lau (So.-Eau Claire, WI/Immanuel Lutheran) and Ryan Mugan (Howards Grove, WI) worked together the last half of the race and this strategy paid off with them finishing third and fourth overall in 24:39 and 24:40, respectively.
Rounding out the top five were Nick Petersson (Jr.-Brookfield, WI/Central) - 37th (25:17) and Christian Leitner (Redwing, MN) - 54th (25:33).
UW-Eau Claire showed their great depth by placing third of 31 teams and second best collegiate team in the AAE Open Race. Sophomore Wyatt Elmer (Mankato, MN/Loyola) led the way placing 12th of 309 runners in an 8K personal best time of 26:04. Matt Cooper (Jr.-Ashwaubenon, WI) worked together with Elmer the final third of the race and placed 14th in 26:07. Rounding out the top five for the Blugolds were Sam Kuhlmann (Fr.-Shorewood, WI) - 17th (26:11), Riley Huffman (So.-Oshkosh, WI/North) - 19th (26:17) and Tyler Kobilarcsik (Fr.-Chanhassen, MN) - 27th (26:31).
The team will be competing at the "City Wells" 5K in Eau Claire this Friday, October 23rd with the women's race starting at 4 p.m. followed by the men at 4:45 p.m.
