Men's Cross Country Earns First National Title

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Posted: Nov 21, 2015

WINNECONNE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) –It was a historic day for the The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's cross country team who won the first team title in program history at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships hosted by UW-Oshkosh at Lake Breeze Golf Course in Winneconne, WI on Saturday.

Results | Photos | Press Conference (Coach Schwamberger begins at 5:37)

It was a chilly day with a light breeze and temperature in the low 30's. Fortunately, the snow stayed to the south of the race course, which allowed for near perfect course conditions for a November cross country meet in Wisconsin.

Josh Thorson (Jr.-Plymouth, MN/Wayzata HS), Ryan Mugan (Sr.-Howards Grove, WI), and Darin Lau (Eau Claire, WI/Immanuel Lutheran) led the way for the Blugolds finishing in the top 14 and earning All-American (top 35) honors.

Thorson ran a patient race relaxing in the lead pack until the final kilometer when he broke away from the group to finish 2^nd of 278 competitors with an 8K time of 24:15. Thorson finished 3^rd at last year's championships.

Mugan became the first 3-time Cross Country All-American in school history finishing 11^th overall in 24:36 while Lau improved upon his 31^st place All-American finish from one year ago placing 14^th with an 8K time of 24:42.

Christian Leitner (Sr.-Redwing, MN) ran an intelligent race running conservatively through the 5K mark to make sure he was in the best position to give the team their best opportunity for the national title. Leitner just missed All-American honors placing 38^th with a time of 25:06, greatly improving upon his 132^nd place finish one year ago.

Junior Nick Petersson (Brookfield, WI/Central) was a key component of the men's National Title as he put himself in a great position and was able to hang on the final 1K as the Blugolds 5^th and final scorer placing 112^th overall with an 8K time of 25:35.

Matt Cooper (Jr.-Ashwaubenon,WI) and Brendon Paucek (Jr.-Jefferson, WI) were the Blugolds 6^th and 7^th runners working together throughout the entire race to place 193^rd and 200^th with times of 26:01 and 26:05 respectively.