TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire men's cross country team competed at nationals for the first time since 2021 when it hit the course for the 2024 NCAA Division III Championships on Saturday. Competing as a team, the Blugolds placed 19th out of 32 teams.
Mason Shea (Sr. – River Falls, Wis.) spearheaded the charge, earning All-America honors for the second consecutive season. He placed 39th with a time of 24:44.7, which was 25 seconds faster than the run that netted him All-America status last season.
Shea is now the seventh runner in Blugold men's cross country history to become a two-time All-American.
Jack Hesse-Withbroe (Jr. – Stillwater, Minn.) was next in for UW-Eau Claire. He placed 108th overall in 25:14.9.
Sam Verkerke (Sr. – White Bear Lake, Minn.) took 159th overall in 25:32.1.
Eric Kordus (Sr. – Mosinee, Wis.) placed 183rd in 25:41.3, and
Trevor LaMirande (Sr. – Dresser, Wis./St. Croix Falls) rounded out the Blugolds' scorers in 188th in 25:43.5.
Additionally,
Carl Lundgren (Sr. – Auburndale, Wis.) took 199th in 25:47.2 and
Jesse Peterson (Sr. – St. Paul, Minn./Highland Park) was 223nd in 25:56.9.
The Blugolds' 19th-place finish was their best since 2018, when they placed 11th at nationals.
UW-La Crosse won the national championship with 77 team points.
