Some 42 teams took part in Saturday’s AAI Invitational in Winneconne, Wis., and the University of Minnesota Duluth outran all but one of them — the reigning NCAA Division II champions.In what stands as the largest meet on the Bulldogs’ 2014 schedule, UMD compiled a team score of 98 points. That total was bettered only by Grand Valley State University in a field that included team from the NCAA Division II and III, NAIA and junior college ranks. Johns Hopkins University was third (106 points), Massachusetts Institute of Technology fourth (127) and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference colleague Augustana College fifth (135 pts.)

“I was very happy with our team finish today,” said UMD head coach Joanna Warmington. “This will only help us run stronger come conference and regional time. Individually, we had some people move up, but our team is still learning how to pack together and where they need to place themselves so they can be in contention by the end of the race.”Sophomore Samantha Rivard was the Bulldogs’ top finisher (for the fourth time in as many races this fall), taking third overall with a 6K clocking of 20:59. Three spots back was freshman Emilee Trost (21:10) while sophomore Breanna Colbensen (21:54) and junior Hannah Olson (22:01) were 26th and 30th, respectively. Senior Alexandra Rudin was UMD’s final point producer, placing 36th among 559 competitors.

The Bulldogs, who were ranked third in this week’s United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Divison II Poll, will engage in their final pre-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championship meet of the year this Friday (Oct. 24) at St. Cloud State University’s Bob Waxlax Invitational.