The University of Minnesota Duluth had one last tune up before next month's Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Championship and the Bulldogs took full advantage of it.

UMD came within one runner of registering a perfect team score en route to claiming the championship at the Bob Waxlax Invitational Friday afternoon in Sauk Rapids, Minn. It was the third team title this fall for the Bulldogs, who also placed first in the season's first two meets. UMD (16 pts.) was followed by Minnesota State University-Mankato (53 pts.), host St. Cloud State University (99 pts.), Southwest Minnesota State University (100 pts.) and Concordia University-St. Paul, in the five-school (all from the NSIC) event. 

Sophomore Samantha Rivard took individual honors (for the third time in 2014), crossing the finish line with a 6K time of 21:10. The next three placers were also Bulldogs -- freshman Emi Trost (21:25), sophomore Breanna Colbenson (22:06), senior Alexandra Rudin (22:17) -- while freshman Amber Seidenkranz was sixth (22:52).

"We ran well and practiced hard this week," said UMD head coach Joanna Warmington. "Now, it's time to turn our attention to the conference meet."

The 2014 NSIC Cross Country Championships are set for Nov. 8 in Wayne, Neb. and the Bulldogs are the defending titleholders.

2014 Bob Waxlax Invitational Results