University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, September 13
Riverside, Calif.
10:05 AM
University of Minnesota
at
UC Riverside Invitational
Gophers Win UC Riverside Invitational
9/13/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Cross Country
Sept. 13, 2014
Link: 2014 UCR Invitational Results
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (GopherSports.com) - Behind six runners in the top 25 including runner-up Aaron Bartnik, the University of Minnesota men's cross country team picked up its first team title of the season on Saturday at the UC Riverside Invitational.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (GopherSports.com) - Behind six runners in the top 25 including runner-up Aaron Bartnik, the University of Minnesota men's cross country team picked up its first team title of the season on Saturday at the UC Riverside Invitational.
The Gophers totaled 43 team points in the winning effort at the UC Riverside Ag/Ops Course in Riverside, Calif., ahead of regionally ranked Southern Utah in second at 48 points. All eight Gophers runners posted career-best times for an eight-kilometer course at the race.
"We had a great race today across the board, and I was very pleased with the way we competed as a team and as individuals," Minnesota Director of Men's Track & Field and cross country Steve Plasencia said. "The guys dealt with the warmer weather, and they ran a very smart race today from start to finish. Now we get to head into the Griak in two weeks coming off a nice win."
"We had a great race today across the board, and I was very pleased with the way we competed as a team and as individuals," Minnesota Director of Men's Track & Field and cross country Steve Plasencia said. "The guys dealt with the warmer weather, and they ran a very smart race today from start to finish. Now we get to head into the Griak in two weeks coming off a nice win."
Bartnik, who returned from a lengthy injury late last year, opened his 2014 season by crushing his previous eight-kilometer record. The junior from Eden Prairie ran a 24:07.1 on Saturday in his second-place finish - behind Central Arizona's Harry Mulenga at 23:56.1.
Likewise for Charlie Lawrence, who set a new personal record in his first official race as a Gopher. The redshirt freshman from Foley, Minn., finished fifth overall at the UC Riverside Invitational- both time and finish were a personal best for Lawrence.
Junior Christian Skaret and senior Blayne Dulian finished ninth and 11th, respectively, in similar record-setting performances. Skaret clocked a 24:20.9 while Dulian came in quickly afterwards at 24:25.9. Redshirt freshman Wayde Hall closed out the team's scoring in 16th with a time of 24:41.9 -- also a new personal record in his first official race with the Maroon & Gold.
True freshman Obsa Ali finished 25th overall with a time of 24:54.2 while Matt Welch came in 45th at 25:21.2 and Eric Colvin finished 70th at 25:42.0 (also a personal record for the redshirt freshman).
The Gopher return to action with the 29th Annual Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn.
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Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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