JACKS SET FOR ROY GRIAK INVITE

Friday, September 23

Falcon Heights, MN

10:30 A.M.

South Dakota State University

Roy Griak Invitational

Photo by: SDSU Sports Information

9/22/2022 3:46:00 PM | Cross Country, Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

MEET 3: South Dakota State at Roy Griak Invitational

When	Friday, Sept. 23 \| Men's Race at 10:30 a.m. \| Women's Race at 11:15 a.m.
Where	Les Bolstad Golf Course \| Falcon Heights, MN
TV	None
Results	Live Scoring
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 return to action at the Roy Griak Invitational on Friday in Falcon Height, Minn.

First will be the Merril Fischbein Men's Gold Competition (8k) at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Jack Johnson Women's Gold Competition (6k) at 11:15 a.m. on the Les Bolstad Golf Course.

Participating Division I teams include league opponents, like North Dakota State and the University of North Dakota, as well as regional powerhouses like Iowa State, who currently sits in the top five of the USTFCCCA Rankings.

LAST TIME OUT:

WOMEN
The South Dakota State women's cross country team dominated their lone home meet of the season, placing eight in the top 12 enroute to a first place team finish on Friday night.

Leah Hansen and Mya Kizer led the way for the Jackrabbits, taking first and second place, respectively.

Hansen won the individual title with a time of 18:03.12 as Kizer followed right behind in 18:22.67.

Next for SDSU was a trio of runners led by Kayla Christopherson, who took fifth place in 18:56.65. Caitlin Bright was sixth with a time of 19:02.72 and Emma Ecker finished seventh with a personal-best time of 19:06.21.

Grace Waage also earned a PR, crossing the finish line in 19:11.48 for ninth place while Malorie Schmoll grabbed 10^th in a personal-best 19:13.99. Claire Beckman rounded out the top 12 with a time of 19:16.31 for 12^th place.

Tessa Nelson made her Jackrabbit debut with a 16^th place overall finish in 19:28.94 for a PR. Jaide Guerts was close behind, taking 18^th in a personal-best 19:33.79 as Nina Dawson took 19^th in 19:34.39.

Kadense Dooley finished 21^st in 19:38.19, Abby Deutsch took 23^rd in 19:42.95 for a personal best, Harley Fischer ran a 19:44.45 for a PR and 25^th place and Emma Gonzalez was 28^th with a time of 19:50.61

Bridget Henne crossed the finish line in 20:14.05 for 31^st place, while Sierra Watterud (35^th, 20:27.46) and Hannah Neusch (37^th, 20:30.42) were close behind. Hannah Nelson finished 44^th with a time of 21:16.26, Hannah Spoden took 48^th in a personal-best 21:44.50 and, rounding out the SDSU finishers, was Michaela Kelley in 21:52.95 for 51^st.

MEN
The South Dakota State men's cross country team claimed the team title at the SDSU Classic on Friday as they placed six runners in the top 12.

Thomas Breuckman was first to finish for the Jackrabbits, claiming a runner-up finish in 25:07.90. Ben Olson was next across the line, taking third place in 25:13.37.

Max Selbach grabbed a fifth-place finish in 25:23.40 as Mason McDonald took seventh in 25:27.40 for a personal best. Cormick Logue ran a 25:39.94 for 11^th place and a PR as Carter Knaus was just behind, taking 12^th in 25:41.78 for a personal best.

In 16^th place was Joseph Minor-Williams, who clocked a 25:54.39. Cody Larson earned himself a PR in 25:56.79 for 20^th place and Ben Anteau also record a PR, taking 23^rd in 26:09.00. Josh Becker finished 24^th in 26:16.26 and Nathan Notgrass rounded out the SDSU runners with a time of 27:05.85 for 33^rd.

REGIONAL RANKINGS: The Week two Division I cross country rankings decided by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association were announced earlier this week with the Jackrabbit men maintaining 10^th place in the Midwest Region as the SDSU women held 11^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 travel to Sioux City, Iowa for the Briar Cliff Invite on Saturday, Oct 1. Start time is set for 10:30 a.m.