MINNEAPOLIS (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire men's cross country team placed fifth out of 32 teams competing at the 26th annual Roy Griak Invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota.
UW schools took four of the top-five spots in the Maroon Division III competition. The Blugolds tallied 162 points for fifth place in the team standings. UW-Oshkosh won the event with 69 points. UW-La Crosse and UW-Platteville claimed second and third places, respectively.
Aaron Easker (Jr.-Eland, Wis./Wittenberg-Birnamwood) paced the Blugolds with a time of 26:05.2, placing him 11th in the individual standings. Conor Rafferty (Jr.-Menomonee Falls, Wis.) also cracked into the top 25 with a 24th place finish from his 26:28.1 time.
Paul Hetke (Jr.-Chetek, Wis.) nabbed 37th place with a result of 26:46.7. Matt Scott (So.-Kiel, Wis.) earned 45th from his 26:50.7 effort and Ryan Mugan (Fr.-Howards Grove, Wis.) finished in 26:59.3 for 53rd to round out the top five for the Blugolds.
Eau Claire will host its own Blugold Open Friday, Sept. 30 at the Whitetail Golf Course. Race time is set for 5 p.m.
-AH-
