UW-Eau Claire cross country hosted the Blugold Invitational at the Whitetail Golf Course on Friday, Oct. 4 in Colfax, Wis.

It was a good race for the program as the women claimed first place in the 6k with 58 points, while the men’s team took second place in the 8k with 57 points. The women’s team average race time was 23:06 and the men’s average was 25:16.

Keeley Behr, a third-year runner for the team, said the team felt secure in their place after Friday’s race.

“Felt really good. We were really happy with how we did and we’re sitting in a good position and we’re excited to see the national rankings,” Behr said. “Winning this meet was definitely a good step in the right direction.”

The weather on Friday’s game was at 60 degrees Fahrenheit with the sun out, good racing weather according to Behr. The course featured rolling hills throughout the middle of the race and the last mile. 

Assistant Coach and Blugold alumni Connor Dolan said, “The toughest aspect of the course is definitely the final mile, it’s rolling uphill the whole way. The course rewards the patient.”

All-American fourth-year runner Mason Shea, who was in the lead around 6 kilometers and would eventually go on to win, was in a great position heading into the last mile.

“I made a push with about a mile left and I knew I had quite a bit left in my legs. I felt strong,” Shea said. “Reassuring myself that I was in a good position physically and mentally to make that last hard push.”

Shea ran a time of 24:37, which was a collegiate personal best for him in the 8k. Shea, who had run the course multiple times throughout college, knew what the course would look like for runners on Friday.

“Talking with my coach before, we knew that it’s kind of a second-half of the race course. It’s a fast course but it’s going to keep you honest. If you go out too hard, you’re really gonna struggle on the back half,” Shea said.

The women’s team had eight runners within the top 40 while the men’s team had seven runners in the top 40. Alongside top performances, the program saw a lot of consistency throughout the race.

Dolan talked about the team’s effort to work together in practice and how that contributed to race day.

“They have really been working on setting any differences aside and becoming part of a whole in a way. That means in races, packing on working together and functioning as a team rather than a bunch of different individuals,” Dolan said. “That’s really been a big part of our racing plan each week.”

Behr led the women’s team with a fourth-place finish and a time of 22:28, as well as an average mile time of 6:01. 

“We really emphasize running with our training groups and I think we did a great job of that, especially our second through eighth runners. They went out together, they worked together really well and they closed strongly and that paid off,” Behr said.

Behr was able to chip 35 seconds off of her previous time at the St. Olaf Invitational on Sept. 21. Behr wanted to work on some things for Friday’s race and was able to capitalize.

“After St. Olaf, I wanted to work on staying engaged throughout my race. Sometimes it’s easy to just settle into a pace and stop pushing,” Behr said. “I really worked on trying my best to stay attached to the other runners I was around through miles two and three.”

After about three kilometers and just under two miles into the race Behr found herself alone in the race and not in a pack. Behr made sure she involved herself in the Blugolds pack to gain momentum.

“Was a little difficult to make sure I didn’t slow down too much, but I think I did a good job of working back towards them and not completely dropping off of the group,” Behr said.

Dolan also pinned third-year runner Ryann Wagner, and said she set the standard for the team. While the Blugolds have had a lot of individual success, they have prioritized working together to place better as a team.

“I think what’s impressed me most is the teamwork that I’ve been seeing in each race. Both the men’s and women’s team have been doing a great job working together,” Dolan said. “It’s shown with the women winning Blugold and the men consistently in the top two in the last few races.”

Alongside Shea on the men’s team, Trevor LaMirande and Jack Hesse-Withbroe placed 11th and 12th respectively and ran with average mile times just north of five minutes.

The Blugolds will be back in action when they travel to run in the Augustana Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 19.

Benes can be reached at [email protected].