COLFAX, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire men's cross country team took fifth place out of nine teams at the 2011 WIAC Championship, hosted by UW-Stout, at Whitetail Golf Course today.

The Blugolds, who finished in sixth place at last year's championship, had 130 team points today. UW-Oshkosh won the title, its 10^th in program history, with 51 while UW-La Crosse was second with 64. UW-Platteville took third place with 81 points.

UW-Stout's Tim Nelson took the top spot on the 8,000-meter course with a time of 24:41.5 while Conor Rafferty (Jr.-Menomonee Falls, Wis.) led the Blugolds as he finished in 12^th place with a time of 25:28.1.

Aaron Easker (Jr.-Eland, Wis./Wittenberg-Birnamwood) came in next for Eau Claire with a time of 25:34.3 in 18^th place and Paul Hetke (Jr.-Chetek, Wis.) crossed the line next for Eau Claire with a time of 25:52.7 in 26^th place.

In 36^th place was Tyler Olson (Fr.-Maple Grove, Minn.) with a time of 26:09 and rounding out the top five for Eau Claire was Adam Moline (Fr.-Maple Grove, Minn./Wayzata), in 40^th place with a time of 26:18.2.

Michael Borden (Sr.-Holmen, Wis.), who finished the race in 43^rd place, was named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team, which honors a student-athlete from each school who displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season.

Next up, some members of the team will travel to Decorah, Iowa for the Luther College JV Cup next Friday. The following weekend, NCAA post-season events begin.

-KM-