MINNEAPOLIS (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's cross country team raced its way to a first place team finish, beating out 31 other teams at the 26^th Annual Roy Griak Invitational hosted by University of Minnesota.

Competing in the Maroon Division III class at Les Bolstad Golf Course, the Blugolds took first place overall with a team score of 82. Emory University (Ga.) and Lewis & Clark College (Ore.) took second and third with 110 and 114 points, respectively.

The top five Blugold competitors all finished in the top 25 of the individual standings. Ashlyn Mauer (Jr.-Sheboygan Falls, Wis.) led the way for Eau Claire, finishing the course in 23:05.4 for 10^th in the individual standings. Steph Sjostrom (Jr.-Champlin, Minn./Park) and Madi Sawyer (So.- Champlin, Minn./Park) also cracked the top-15. Sjostrom placed 11^th with a time of 23:06.3 while Sawyer completed the race in 23:08.7, good enough for 13^th.

Alyssa Sybilrud (Sr.-Savage, Minn./Burnsville) and Lucy Ramquist (Fr.-River Falls, Wis.) rounded out Eau Claire's top-five racers. Sybilrud recorded the 23^rd-quickest time of 23:21.6. Ramquist finished in 23:32.9 for 25^th.

The Blugolds look to continue their early season success next Friday with the Blugold Open at Whitetail Golf Course. Competition is set to start at 4 p.m.

-AH-