Complete UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational results
Wade Ekstrom (Sr., La Crescent, Minn.) ran his best race as a collegian, winning the 18-team, 270-runner Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational in Colfax, Wis. Ekstrom pulled away late from Ben Sathre of St. Thomas late to win by two seconds, finishing the 8000-meter course at Whitetail Golf Course in 25:26.56. He ran to a personal-best 8K clocking. Only two runners in Mac men's cross country history have run faster times.
The first Scot to win a major race this decade, Ekstrom passed his Tommie rival on a downhill with 1,200 meters to go, but was overtaken later with just 400 meters left. One second behind with 300 to go, again on a downhill, Ekstrom made his winning move and held off Sathre.
Macalester placed ninth in this 18-team event in what was the team's best effort of the campaign. UW-Eau Claire edged St. Thomas for the team title.
The team's second and third runners finished the race in the low 27-minute range.
Carl Biggers (So., Verona, Wis.) crossed the line in 27:04 to place 38th and
Ollie St. John (So., Washington, D.C. / Edmund Burke School) finished in 46th with a 27:15 time.
Nick Mangigian (Sr., Ann Arbor, Mich. / Greenhill) placed 140th (28:34) and
Adrian St. Francis (Fy., Sonoma, Calif. / Marin Academy) was 164th (28:58).
The Scots are off next weekend and will return to competition Oct. 17 at the Wisconsin-La Crosse Jim Drews Invitational, one of the biggest annual races in the Midwest.
