XC RETURNS HOME FOR SDSU CLASSIC

Friday, September 9

Brookings, SD

6 P.M.

South Dakota State University

SDSU Classic

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia

9/8/2022 4:56:00 PM | Cross Country, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

MEET 2: South Dakota State at SDSU Classic

When	Friday, Sept. 9 \| Women's Race at 6:00 p.m. \| Men's Race at 6:30 p.m.
Where	Edgebrook Golf Course \| Brookings, South Dakota
TV	None
Results	http://results.dakotatiming.com.
Meet Notes	Meet Information Page
Social Media	Twitter \| Facebook \| #LastPlay

BROOKINGS, SD – The South Dakota State University men's and women's cross country teams will return home to host the annual SDSU Classic on Friday, September 9.

Competition at the Edgebrook Golf Course starts with the women's 5k at 6 p.m. followed by the Jay Dirksen men's 8k at 6:30 p.m. Awards will conclude the event at 7:15 p.m. for the first 10 finishers.

The SDSU men look to repeat as champions of the meet, as the women hope to improve upon their second place finish last season.

LAST TIME OUT:

WOMEN
Four Jackrabbits placed in the top 25 of the women's 5k, led by a second-place showing from Leah Hansen, as SDSU took first place overall at the Augustana Twilight on Friday night.

Leah Hansen, a junior from Willmar, Minn., edged out a runner from Minnesota State at the finish line to take second overall in 17:30.57 for a new personal best.

Mya Kizer was next for SDSU, taking 12^th in 18:15.06 in her first meet as a Jack for a PR. Caitlin Bright followed just behind in 16^th place with a personal-best time of 18:32.83 as Kayla Christopherson finished 24^th in 18:48.95.

Three more Jackrabbits finished in the top 50, led by Nicole Greyer's 37^th place finish in 19:04.99. Emma Ecker took 40^th in 19:06.44 for a personal best while Claire Beckman also earned a PR in 19:06.71 for 41^st.

Grace Waage finished in 51^st place with a personal best time of 19:19.99 as freshman Nina Dawson clocked a 19:29.24 for 60^th and and a new PR in her first appearance as a Jackrabbit. Malorie Schmoll took 63^rd in 19:31.24 (PR), Kadense Dooley ran in for 69^th with a time of 19:33.63 for a new career best and Emma Gonzalez crossed the line in 19:35.84 for a personal best and 71^st place.

Other finishers include: Bridget Henne (91^st, 19:57.92), Jaide Geurts (93^rd, 19:59.95, PR), Harley Fischer (95^th, 20:00.11, PR), Sierra Watterud (111^th, 20:13.02, PR), Abby Deutsch (115^th, 20:14.28, PR), Hannah Neusch (131^st, 20:35.35), Hannah Nelson (145^th, 20:48.22) and Hannah Spoden (216^th, 21:57.96, PR)

MEN
Ben Olson, Daniel Burkhalter and Josh Becker swept the top three spots and helped secure the team title for SDSU at the Augustana Twilight on Friday night.

Olson was first across the finish line in a field of 323 athletes, clocking a 19:08.21. Burkhalter was not far behind, taking second in 19:17.92. Becker rounded out the top three with a 19:19.72 showing for third.

Cormick Logue and Mason McDonald also finished in the top 15, taking sixth (19:26.65) and 12^th (19:46.83), respectively.

Carter Knaus clocked a 19:52.54 for 19^th place while Max Selbach took 27^th in 20:02.50. Noah Stewart earned 52^nd in 20:29.27 and Nathan Notgrass rounded out the Jacks in 95^th with a time of 20:59.17.

REGIONAL RANKINGS: The preseason Division I cross country rankings deterred by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association were announced earlier last week with the Jackrabbit men sitting in 5^th place in the Midwest Region as the SDSU women placed 13^th.

SDSU MEN AND WOMEN PICKED FIRST IN PRESEASON POLL: SDSU swept the 2022 preseason coaches' rankings for the cross country season following a 2021 campaign that saw the Jackrabbit women win the team title for the second straight time and the men win for a sixth straight time.

2022 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL

South Dakota State (7) – 49
North Dakota State – 37
St. Thomas – 36
North Dakota (1) – 33
South Dakota – 30
Kansas City – 15
Western Illinois – 13
Oral Roberts – 11

2022 SUMMIT LEAGUE WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY PRESEASON POLL

South Dakota State (8) – 64
North Dakota State (1) – 56
South Dakota – 47
North Dakota – 42
St. Thomas – 40
Kansas City – 25
Omaha – 20
Western Illinois – 17
Oral Roberts – 13

ATHLETES TO WATCH: Three Jackrabbits – two men and one woman – were recognized as Summit League Athletes to Watch

Joseph Minor-Williams, South Dakota State
Sr. | Minneapolis, Minn.

Garnered All-League first team honors with a sixth-place finish at the League championships, clocking an 8K time of 24:58.28
Took 41^st overall at the NCAA Midwest Regional after clocking a 10K personal-best time of 31:28.5 to help the Jacks to an eighth-place team finish

Ben Olson, South Dakota State
Sr. | Coon Rapids, Minn.

Earned All-League first team accolades after finishing runner-up behind teammate Gabe Peters at the 2021 League championships
Clocked a personal-best 8K time of 24:38.3 at the League championships
Finished 37^th overall at the NCAA Midwest Regional in the 10K with a time of 31:22.2

Leah Hansen, South Dakota State
Jr. | Willmar, Minn.

Repeated as the League's individual champion leading the Jackrabbits to their second women's title in a row
Won the League championships in a 6K time of 21:03.78
Helped the Jacks to a 13^th place finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional after finishing 21^stoverall with a 6K time of 21:15.67

A LOOK AHEAD: The Jackrabbits will have a week off from competition before heading to Falcon Heights, MN for the Roy Griak Invitational on September 23. Start time is set for 10 a.m. on Friday.

-GoJacks.com-

When	Friday, Sept. 2 \| Women's Race at 8:30 p.m. \| Men's Race at 9 p.m.
Where	Yankton Trails Park \| Sioux Falls, South Dakota
TV	None
Results	http://results.dakotatiming.com.
Meet Notes	Meet Information Page
Social Media	Twitter \| Facebook \| #LastPlay