BLUGOLD RESULTS

TEAM FINISH
The women’s team placed 14th out of 17 teams while the men’s team placed 16th out of 20 teams. The women's results are posted at http://www.pttiming.com/raceresults/100218-Womens.pdf the men's results are posted at http://www.pttiming.com/raceresults/100218-Mens.pdf.

TEAM STATS
WOMEN’S TEAM: The team’s top five runners had a total team time of 136:44 for an average of 27:21 per runner and had a spread of 2:04. The team’s top seven runners had a total team time of 193:58 for an average of 27:43 per runner for a spread of 2:35.

MEN’S TEAM: The team’s top five runners had a total team time of 147:28 for an average of 29:30 per runner and had a spread of 1:43. The team’s top seven runners had a total team time of 209:14 for an average of 29:53 per runner for a spread of 2:24.

SEASON BEST
WOMEN’S TEAM: This was the women’s first attempt at 6K so everyone ran a season best.

MEN’S TEAM: Josh Norton (1:16)

PERSONAL BEST
MEN’S TEAM: Josh Norton (1:16)

STUD OF THE MEET: Katie Wold & Josh Norton

SUMMARY
The UW-Stout Cross Country Teams traveled to the Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax for the annual Blugold Invitational. This year’s meet was moved up a week due to the movement of the Roy Griak meet, which is the premiere meet of the Midwest. The weather conditions were less than ideal for stellar performances as the day’s warm and humid conditions, not to mention the extremely gusty winds, took a toll on a number of the runners as most of the meet’s returning performers were 35-45 seconds slower than a year ago. Due to the string of three straight meets and the upcoming Griak meet, the team used this meet as an experience builder for the Griak and the remainder of the season as many of the team’s runners completed the course shy of the 6000/8000 meter race distances. The goal for many of our runners was to focus on completing about two-thirds of the race distance at their end of the season goal pace and trying to make a move during the middle portion of the race. The runners completing the full race distance were working to improve upon a personal weakness.

The women’s team did have eight runners, complete the full 6000 meter distance. Rachel Richardson led the team with a time of 26:15 and was followed by Karla Kultgen who completed the course in 26:53. The remaining team scorers included Bonnie Wold (27:22), Kelsey Mullen (27:55), and Angie Raasch (28:19). Erica Schweikert (28:24) and Katie Wold (28:50) were the team’s two pushers. Charity Cook completed the course as the team’s eight runner in a time of 29:22.

The men’s team had ten runners complete the course as some of them were in a run off for a spot at the 12th spot at next week’s Griak Invitational (men’s team may only enter 12 competitors). Jon Golem lead the team (28:42) and was followed closely by Austin Thorson (29:02). The team’s remaining scorers included Sam Rabideau (29:30), Zach Becker (29:49), and Luke Lippert (30:25). The team’s two pushers were Matt Steil (30:40) and Josh Norton (31:05) who ran a minute plus personal best in his second ever 8K race. Zach Foy (31:12), Justin Verhulst (31:20), and Mike Burke (31:32) were the team’s remaining competitors completing the full 8000 meter distance.

The Studs of the Meet were sophomore Katie Wold and freshmen Josh Norton. Katie just missed improving her time from a year ago in what were some very tough conditions this year versus the ideal conditions of last season. Josh Norton knocked off 1:16 from his time a week ago as he was the only UW-Stout runner to run a new personal best time.

Next up for the team, is the annual Roy Graik Invitational host by the University of Minnesota this Saturday at the Les Bolstad Golf Course located on the campus. The women’s 6000 meter race will begin at 9:00am and the men’s 8000 meter race will start at 10:30am.