ETTRICK, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire men's cross country team, ranked second in the nation, took first place at the 2014 WIAC Championship at Ettrick Golf Course, winning the second conference title in school history, the first since 1980.
Results | WIAC Champiosnhip Website | Photos | Coach Interview
The Blugolds took the top two spots, led by Josh Thorson (So.-Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata), who won the WIAC individual title with a time of 24:24.50 on the 8,000-meter course. He is just the third individual in school history to take the top spot at the WIAC Championship, joining Dan Stack (1980 and 1981) and Jason Finch (1998). Thorson's time today was the second fastest in school history.
Taking second was Ryan Mugan (Jr.-Howards Grove, Wis.), who finished with a time of 24:31.70. A season ago at the WIAC Championship, Mugan took fifth place.
The Blugolds also had two other runners in the top nine, Christian Leitner (Jr.-Red Wing, Minn.), who came in sixth with a time of 24:43.80, and Darin Lau (Fr.-Eau Claire, Wis./Immanuel) with a time of 24:59 to take ninth place.
Rounding out the scorers was Steven Schimmel (Jr.-Stewartville, Minn./Mayo), who took 18th place with a time of 23:36.80.
As a team, the Blugolds scored 36 points to win the title. UW-La Crosse was second with 47 points and UW-Platteville took third with 99.
At the conclusion of the championship, Matt Cyra (So.-Eagle, Wis./Mukwonago) was named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
Next Friday the Blugolds will compete in the JV Cup at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. The following Saturday (Nov. 15), the Blugolds will be at Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne, Wis. for the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional, hosted by UW-Oshkosh.
-KAM-
