WEST SALEM, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire men's cross country team finished in fourth place out of the 25 teams at the 2011 Jims Drews Invitational hosted by UW-La Crosse at Maple Grove Golf Course today.

Eau Claire finished with 165 points and an average time of 26:25.3 on the 8,000-meter course. UW-La Crosse won with 70 while Nebraska Wesleyan was second with 112 and Hamline University (Minn.) took third with 145.

Leading the Blugolds today was Aaron Easker (Jr.-Eland, Wis./Wittenberg-Birnamwood), who finished in sixth place with a time of 25:42.6

Conor Rafferty (Jr.-Menomonee Falls, Wis.) was the second Blugold to cross the line, taking 19^th place with a time of 26:10.8. Paul Hetke (Jr.-Chetek, Wis.) came in next in 48^th place with a time of 26:36.6.

Rounding out the top five for the Blugolds were Tyler Olson (Fr.-Maple Grove, Minn.) in 60^th with a time of 26:43.9 and Matt Wenaas (So.-Chippewa Falls, Wis./McDonell) with a time of 26:52.5 in 71st place.

Next Friday, the Blugolds will host the Lake Wissota Invitational. Action is set to get underway at 5 p.m.

-KM-