September 27, 2024
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Dakota State (S.D.) men's runners produced personal record times Friday morning at the NCAA Division I cross-country meet, the Gans Creek Classic hosted by the University of Missouri. The cross-country racecourse, Gans Creek, is also the site for the upcoming 2024 NAIA Men's Cross Country National Championships on Nov. 22.
The Trojans also had a runner listed in the school record book 'Top 30' time in the 8K racecourse, featuring nearly 400 runners in the field from all collegiate levels (NCAA Division I to junior colleges).
Dakota State finished 23
rd overall as a team with a low score of 634 points (NCAA Division II Truman, Mo., scored the same points, 634 points, and finished 22
nd). Iowa Western CC claimed the team title after scoring 38 points. Geofrey Ronoah of Iowa Western captured the individual title with a time of 23 minutes, 25 seconds.
Caleb Sayler led the Trojans with a personal record time of 25 minutes, 28.4 seconds for a 74
th place finish. He was the top North Star Athletic Association runner in the race. His time is the 14
th fastest time in the DSU men's 8K school record book.
The next six Trojan runners also produced personal record times, led by
Evan Armstrong with a time of 26 minutes, 45.4 seconds to place 203
rd.
Lane Henrichs added a time of 27:11.9 to place 241
st, followed by
Blake Schmiedt in 27:14.5 for 244
th place finish.
Benjamin Strunk registered a time of 27 minutes, 30.5 seconds, followed by
Joshua Tucker in 27 minutes, 34.7, and
Tyler Nicke in 27 minutes, 39.5 seconds.
Curtis Johnson posted his season best time of 27 minutes, 59.1 seconds for Dakota State.
Jonah Thiele recorded a personal best time of 27:59.9.
Roger Oliete Tejedor earned a season best time of 28 minutes, 43.1 seconds.
Yohannes Kassa clocked a time of 29 minutes, 3.2 seconds for the Trojans.
Logan Recoy followed up with a time of 29 minutes, 12.1 seconds,
Grayson Madsen in 30 minutes, 18.9 seconds,
Lucas Harr in 31:48.5, and
Kaiden Akey in 32:36.6.
DSU's
Taylor Myers cross-country meet, the Akiah McMillian Invitational in Newburry, S.C., scheduled for Saturday has been canceled, due to Hurricane Helene. He will be running in the Newberry Invitational next Saturday (Oct. 5).
Dakota State returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 12, as the head to Sioux Center, Iowa, for the second time this season. The Trojans run in the Defenders Holiday Inn Express Classic, hosted by Dordt (Iowa). The men's race is slated to start at 10:45 a.m.
