WHITEWATER, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire men's cross country team took fifth place out of nine teams today at the 2009 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship.

The Blugolds finished with 135 points while UW-La Crosse won the team title with 26, the 30th title in program history. UW-Platteville and UW-Stevens Point finished tied for second place with 64 points.

Leading Eau Claire today was Josh Wieland (Jr.-Menomonie, Wis.), who took 21st place in a time of 26:21. Brent Kann (Sr.-Rice Lake, Wis.) finished with a time of 26:24 to take 23rd overall.

In 25th place today was Chris Wirtz (Sr.-Weston, Wis./D.C. Everest), who finished with a time of 26:27. Ben Pearson (Sr.-Clinton, Wis.) was 31st overall with a time of 26:37 and Max Renner (Jr.-Green Bay, Wis./East) finished 38th with a time of 26:45.

Next Friday the Blugolds will compete in Luther College's JV Cup. The following Saturday (Nov. 14) the Blugolds will compete in the NCAA Midwest Regional in Winneconne.