Griak Invitational Results

Minneapolis, Minn. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's cross country squad placed second at the Roy Griak Invitational Saturday afternoon at Les Bolstad Golf Course. The Eagles competed in the Maroon Division II race. UW-L finished with 102 team points while Augustana College (S.D.) took first with 53.

Central Missouri State University finished third (124 points) with Lakehead University (Canada) fourth (177) and University of California-San Diego fifth (191). Pittsburg State University (Kan.) was sixth (240) followed by Nebraska Kearney University in seventh (256), Southwest Baptist University (Mo.) eighth (325), Concordia University-Nebraska ninth (337) and University of Wisconsin-Parkside 10th (341). A total of 40 teams competed. 

"The main reason we moved the men to the Division II race was to get a look at different competition," said UW-L head coach Derek Stanley.  "The men executed what I believe to be an almost perfect strategy.  They got out controlled at the start and worked up through the race.  Almost all of our runners improved 50 or more places after the mile mark.  It was impressive to watch their maturity and confidence as they moved up through the crowd."

UW-L's David Stilin placed 10th overall with a time of 25:45.7 on the 8,000-meter course. Josh Dedering was 15th with a time of 25:55.0.  Other finishers in the top-50 for the Eagles included Tom Linner 27th (26:12.6), Alex Ciesielski 31st (26:14.8), Jacob Peterson 32nd (26:16.1) and Tyler Heinz 41st (26:24.4). 

"David (Stilin) and Josh (Dedering) demonstrated they have All-America potential," said Stanley. "Tom (Linner) stepped up his game today and showed value as our third runner."

Other runners for UW-L included Andrew Rohlman 53rd (26:35.2), Eric Lauria-Banta 66th (26:41.1), Matthew Eidenschink 95th (27:00.5), Eric Smits 123rd (27:16.1) and Gerald Kerska 210th (28:06.9). 

"Ciesielski had a strong performance showing his recovery from injury," said Stanley. "Peterson, Heinz and Rohlman did well to keep our top-seven close to each other to earn second-place."

A total of 450 runners finished the race. Adam Volkert of Pittsburg State (Kan.) took the individual title (25:10.5). 

UW-L returns to action Friday, October 4 at the UW-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational at 5 p.m.