Luther College All-American Invitational Results

Decorah, Iowa - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men's cross country squad opened its 2012 season with a second-place finish at the 41st Annual Luther College All-American Invitational. The Eagles totaled 59 team points while Loras College (Iowa) took the team title with 35 points. A total of eight teams competed. UW-L had three runners place in the top-10.

Nate Routhier was the Eagles' top finisher, placing fifth overall (21:08.1) on the four-mile course. UW-L's Gerald Kerska was sixth (21:09.4) while Tom Linner placed ninth (21:18.3).

UW-L's Matt Eidenschink finished 15th (21:38.1) overall while Alex Barbeln was 28th (22:00.1) and Mike Keller 42nd (22:19.4). Mike Glaser placed 48th (22:30.6), Ali Khalili 72nd (23:19.2) and Spencer Mertes 78th (23:30.3). A total of 131 runners competed.

"I asked our guys to use this race as a good workout," said UW-L first-year head coach Derek Stanley.  "We incorporated the same strategy as the women's team, holding back in the first two miles, and these guys responded in the last two miles to earn a decent team finish."

UW-L returns to action Saturday, September 15 at the Iowa State University Invitational.