Spokane's Nick Hauger finishes sixth at Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational...

MADISON, Wisconsin—Spokane native Nick Hauger (left/file photo by Paul Merca) led the University of Portland to a third place team finish with his sixth place finish at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational Friday afternoon at the Zimmer Championship Course.

The graduate of Shadle Park HS finished seven seconds behind winner Morgan McDonald of Wisconsin, who ran 23:18, to Hauger’s 23:25.

The Pilots, who were ranked number 3 in the country entering this weekend, finished with a team score of 140, just behind host Wisconsin’s 135, and team champion and defending national champion Northern Arizona, who scored a low of 46 points.

After redshirting the 2017-18 season, Mt. Spokane HS graduate John Dressel of the University of Colorado finished 11th in 23:36, as his Buffaloes finished eighth in the team competition with 278 points.

Washington State, which entered the meet ranked number 15 in the national coaches’ poll, finished 11th with 334 points.

The Cougars were led by Chandler Teigen, who finished 28th in 23:50.  He was followed by Nathan Wadhwani in 57th in 24:05.

Also scoring for the Cougs were Amir Ado (69th) in 24:13, Paul Ryan (91st) in 24:25, and Justin Janke (99th) in 24:27.

In the women’s 6k race, the University of Colorado took home the team title with a score of 80 points, just ahead of runner-up Boise State’s 91, and defending national champion New Mexico’s 130 points.

Wisconsin’s Alicia Monson won the race, covering the course in 19:34, two seconds ahead of New Mexico’s Weini Kelati, and Lobo teammate and defending national champion Ednah Kurgat’s 19:39.

Former Washington standout Charlotte Prouse, who transferred to New Mexico last season, finished seventh in 19:55.

Washington State finished 31st in the 33-team field with a score of 809 points.

The top finisher for Washington State was freshman Emma Jenkins from Camas who placed 95th overall with a time of 21:11 in the race.

Following Jenkins was Kaili Keefe who posted a time of 21:39 for a finish of 145th overall. Desi Stinger placed 183rd (22:08), Kelsey Takeuchi at 191st (22:17), and Melissa Hruska in 195th place (22:19) to round out the Cougar scorers.

The Cougars ran without All-American Vallery Korir, who won the B race at this meet last year.

Washington State returns to Madison in two weeks to compete in the Pre-Nationals meet on the same course that will host the NCAA Championships in November.

Complete results of the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational are available here.

NOTE:  The University of Wisconsin, the University of Portland, and Washington State University contributed to this report.