SAUK RAPIDS, Minn. - The Augustana men's and women's cross country teams weathered the wet a muddy course at the Bob Waxlax Invite held at the Wapicada Golf Course in Sauk Rapids, Minn. and took convincing first place team finishes.

The men's team finished with 16 points and the women's team finished with 21 points, as both teams had each point-scorer finish in the top-10 in both races. Both teams employed pack style races and worked their race plan very well.

"It was a great tune up meet for our teams as we now head into championship season," head coach Tracy Hellman stated of his team's performances on Friday. "I thought both teams did a great job of packing up and working together. Jesus Urtusuastegui really looked good and established himself up front past halfway. I thought Austin Miller had a breakout race and it was fun to see our guys have different lineup this meet. For the ladies, Emily Tromp had a great race and is gaining confidence each practice and meet. I also thought that Carly Rahn ran really well.  Both teams still have work to do, but I am encouraged by both teams and the potential we can half now that championship season is here."

In the women's race, sophomore Emily Tromp took first for the first time as a Viking. Tromp finished the 6k course with a time of 22:55.7. Cassidy Soli (third), Leah Seivert (fourth), Claire Boersma (sixth) and Rachel Rairdon (seventh) rounded out the team scoring, with Carly Rahn (eighth) and Courtney Hottovy (ninth) also finishing in the top-10.

Seivert ran her first race of the season and the two-time All-American finished with a time of 23:22.8. Freshman Rahn finished in the top-10 for the first time in her collegiate career.

In the men's race, it was all Jesus Urtusuastegui, who took first and never looked back with a time of 25:51.3. Rounding out the team scoring for Augustana was Logan Burns (second), Aaron Runge (third), Nate Souther (fifth) and Austin Miller (seventh).

Miller posted his first career top-10 finish and ran to a PR 8k time of 26:21.4.

Augustana will get a week off before beginning its postseason schedule at the NSIC Championships held in Moorhead, Minn.