Huskies Compete well in Blugold Invitational

Huskies Compete well in Blugold Invitational

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - Michigan Tech men's cross country placed eighth and women's cross country finished 10th at the Blugold Invitational Friday evening, hosted by University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire at Whitetail Golf Course. The Huskies featured a smaller group of student-athletes after competing at the Roy Griak Invitational less than a week ago but still placed in the top ten teams in both races.

Isaac Steers finished 42nd out of a 412 racer field with an 8K time of 26:26.08. Not far behind was Logan Lukonic (45th, 26:32.46), Ben Holland (47th, 26:33.36), Stanley Elder (52nd, 26:38.44), and Kyle Samluk (56th, 26:43.15). Steers, Holland, Stanley, and Samluk all set personal best times for the distance Friday.

"I'm pretty stoked that we were still able to take eighth place on the men's side and 10th for the women, because this was a pretty stacked race," commented head coach Kristina Owen. "Our guys team is so deep and tightly packed this year. There were just 17 seconds between our top-five guys at this race. Isaac definitely had the race of the day. He started conservative and then picked up a few of his teammates. They ran together in a pack, moving up through the field."
 
Miranda Meyers was the Huskies top finisher on the women's team with a 6K run of 23:39.67. After Meyers, Abby Martin (53rd, 24:08.31), Mady Van Wieren (24:37.47), Jenna Disser (99th, 24:57.77), and Bailie Falla (138th, 25:38.11) rounded out the top-five. Meyers, Disser, and Falla nabbed new personal bests.
 
"Miranda was the leader of our women's team today," Owen said. "She took off like lightning and then settled down past 2K, ending in 33rd position in a time of 23:39.67 for 6k."
 
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater finished with a score of 38 to win the men's race, followed by Carlton, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, St. Olaf, and Wisconsin Eau-Claire. Wisconsin-Eau Claire won their own race in the women's 6K with a score of 70. Carlton, St. Olaf, Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and St. Benedict rounded out the top-five.
 
The Huskies are back in action Saturday, October 9 at the Lewis Crossover. The men's 8K starts at 9:45 am. The women's 6K is set for 10:30 a.m. Michigan Tech is likely to bring a full slate of runners.