EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The University of Minnesota Morris men's cross country team took on its largest field of the season on Friday at the Blugold Invite, hosted by UW-Eau Claire. The Cougars ended in 23rd place as a team with 698 points after running against some of the top programs in the North Region.

Grant Strukel led Minnesota Morris in the 8k event, finishing with a time of 28:26.85 that ranks as the 16th-fastest 8k time in school history, as well as the eighth-best time for a Cougar runner at UW-Eau Claire. Overall, Strukel finished 188th in the field for 125 points.

Next up for Minnesota Morris was Rory Shackelford. Shackelford was just off a previous PR in the 8k, ending in 217th place with a time of 28:40.63 (133 points). For the first time this season it wasn't Grady Larsen who finished as the top men's finisher for the Cougars. Larsen was 255th overall in the field with a time of 29:15.81 (140 points).

The next three runners, including the final two scorers for Minnesota Morris, came in rapid succession as each was able to break 30 minutes in the race. Anthony Rozycki was 299th overall in 29:56.47 (149 points), Joel Knopp was 301st overall in 29:58.52 (151 points), and Max Kivi was 302nd overall in 29:59.57.

The Cougars had 10 runners out on the course on Friday, with Greg Peterson (30:37.70), Calvin Nelson (31:16.92), Conner Fitzgerald (31:59.95), and Gabriel Brand (36:29.99) also crossing the finish line for Minnesota Morris. 

UMN Morris is back in action on Oct. 15, traveling to Crown College for the second time this season and running in the St. Boni Invite starting at 4 p.m.