Michigan Tech Cross Country Records 4th Place Finishes at Blugold Invite
COLFAX, Wis. – The Michigan Tech men's and women's cross country teams both placed fourth on Friday at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational in the third meet of the season for both teams. The Tech women ended the 6k race with a score of 109 by logging a combined time of 1:59:35. The men posted a final score of 119 with a combined time of 2:11.24 in the 8k race.
"On the men's side, give credit to UW Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, and St. Olaf for finishing one, two and three, but I thought we competed hard and ran pretty well," Michigan Tech Head Coach Joe Haggenmiller said. "A lot of our guys were very close to where they were last year at this meet and I think the process is in a good spot. We just have to take it one step at a time. I'm happy with the way the team competed."
Jason Saliga paced the MTU men with a time of 25:40.3, giving him an 11th place finish in the meet. Saliga just missed the top ten by less than three seconds as Ian Ewers of UW-La Crosse edged him out for 10th place. Kevin Tree of Lakehead University covered the 8k course in 24:42.9 to win the individual championship in a field comprised of 282 runners.
Matthew Pahl checked in at number 17 in the final standings by crossing the line with a time of 26:00.9. Daniel Kulas was 28th on Friday with a time of 26:20.8, Grant Brown ended the meet in 41st with a time of 26:38.7, and Brendan Klynstra completed the course in 43rd place with a time of 26:42.6 to wrap up the team scoring for the Huskies.
Chad Pollock (57th, 26:56.0) Kyle Hanson (64th, 27:11.3), Corey Zeutzius (69th, 27:14.6), Simon Eddy (71st, 27:15.2), and Nate Carey (75th, 27:18.7) rounded out the Michigan Tech top ten.
"On the women's side, I thought our team competed really well against a strong field of teams which included the University of Minnesota," Haggenmiller said. "I think we continued to take steps forward today and are headed in the right direction as we continue to progress through the season. I'm proud that Sophia (Farquhar) was up near the top of the standings competing with Minnesota's top runners. It was a great day to be a Husky."
Sophia Farquhar guided the Tech women with an outstanding sixth place finish. Farquhar logged a time of 23:04.6 and was less than a minute behind Ellen Snyder of Minnesota who won the individual championship with a time of 22:34.3. There were 210 runners who competed on the women's side in the Blugold Invitational Friday.
Emily Byrd had another solid week by finishing 21st Friday, crossing the line with a time of 23:44.9. Emily Vigil followed Byrd in 27th place courtesy of a 23:53.3 time while Robyn Holmes checked in at number 30 with a time of 23:59.1. Carly Huggins rounded out the top five for the Huskies, landing in the 59th spot overall after turning in a time of 24:52.7.
Amanda Kautzer (70th, 25:09.9), Madisyn Estkowski (88th, 25:35.3), Julia Manzano (93rd, 25:47.4), Robin Jackson (115th, 26:24.4), and Lily Kraft (135th, 27:11.9) completed the Tech top ten.
The University of Minnesota won the women's team championship and it was UW Eau Claire who prevailed with the team title on the men's side.
Both Michigan Tech cross country teams will be back on the course next Saturday at the Conference Crossover at Lewis in Romeoville, Ill.