The Northwestern men’s cross country team took home a first place finish at the Herb Blakely Invitational in Madison on Setpember 13th. The team totalled 20 points — a full 22 ahead of second place —thanks in part to having six runners place in the top 10.
Senior Skyler Giddings finished third with an 8 kilometer time of 26:58. Junior Caleb VanderBaan finished 5th with 27:01. Sophomore Will Norris (5th-27:14), senior Logan Hovland (6th-27:23), freshman Hans Epp (7th-27:25) and freshman Peter Smith (9th-27:42) rounded out the top 10.
The women’s team finished second with 33 points — a mere three away from first place — at the same invitational.
Running the 5K, senior Amber Sandbulte finished with a 20:02 split and placed second. Right behind her, freshman Katie Bosch finished third with 20:05. In sixth place, junior Kellie Thurman finished sixth with a 20:48. Senior Heather Heilman (10th-21:41) rounded out the top ten.
The Raiders return to action on Sept. 27th at the Roy Griak Invitatonal at the University of Minnesota. Running begins at 9:50 a.m.