SDSU posts pair of third-place finishes at UMC

Saturday, October 25

Crookston, Minn.

11 a.m./9 a.m.

South Dakota State University

Minnesota-Crookston (English)

10/30/2008 1:00:00 AM | Equestrian

By: SDSU Sports Info

CROOKSTON, Minn. ? The South Dakota State University English equestrian squad turned in a pair of third-place finishes last weekend at a two-day IHSA competition hosted by the University of Minnesota-Crookston.

The Jackrabbits tallied 23 points each day, finishing behind host UMC and Wisconsin on Saturday and UMC and North Dakota State on Sunday.

SDSU received first-place finishes from Marian Micahlson in open equitation over fences and Allison Carie in intermediate equitation over fences during Saturday's competition. Michalson entered the event among the points leaders in her division and inched closer to qualifying for regional competition following a runner-up finish in the event on Sunday, as well as a third-place finish in open equitation on the flat.

Carie added a third-place finish in open equitation on the flat during Saturday's competition.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Lindsay Harr finished second in her section of intermediate equitation on the flat and Ashton Dearing was runner-up in her section of novice equitation over fences. Katelyn Knudsen added a second-place effort in walk-trot-canter equitation.

In competition on Sunday, Leslie Sauter qualified for regionals with a third-place finish in intermediate equitation over fences.

Melissa Zajac was the lone Jackrabbit winner on Sunday, claiming her first collegiate title in open equitation on the flat.

Other top performances by SDSU riders on Sunday included runner-up finishes by Laura Hoff and Harr in their respective sections of intermediate equitation on the flat and freshman Victoria Pecak's second-place effort in intermediate equitation over fences. Two other freshmen, Megan Schiferl and Ashton Dearing, each placed third in novice equitation over fences and novice equitation on the flat, respectively.

SDSU will host an IHSA regional competition Nov. 15 and 16 at the Swiftel Center. The Hunter Seat competition begins at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, while the Western competition is slated for a 9:30 a.m. start on Sunday, Nov. 16. Nearly 200 riders, including about a dozen from SDSU, are scheduled to compete over the two days.