October 2, 2025

MADISON, S.D. – The Dakota State University Trojan cross country teams return to action Saturday morning for the first time since Sept. 13 in the Sunflower Open, held in Sioux Center, Iowa.  The Trojans are scheduled to run in the Briar Cliff (Iowa) Open, located at Adams Preserve and Homestead (272 Westshore Drive) in North Sioux City, S.D.

The Briar Cliff Open was originally scheduled to start at 10 a.m. but has moved back to 9:30 a.m. with the men's 8K race.  The women's 6K race will follow at approximately 10:15 a.m.  Heat concerns prompted the starting time to an earlier time.

Sunflower Open Highlights

• Both Dakota State women's and men's teams finished second behind the NAIA's nationally ranked host-team Dordt (Iowa) in the Sunflower Open on Sept. 13.
• The Trojan women's team scored 50 points.  Brooke Beaucaire led DSU with a time of 19 minutes, 7.27 seconds to place second.  Paige Willnerd followed up with 12^th place finish in 19 minutes, 32.79 seconds.  Lindsey Roth was 16^th in 20 minutes, .67 seconds, Madelyn Sylva 17^th in 20 minutes, 4.56 seconds, and Valerija Curikova 18^th in 20 minutes, 5.30 seconds.
• DSU men's squad scored 46 points in the team standings to place second, highlighted by a pair of runners in the top 10.  Evan Armstrong was 5^th with his career best time of 26 minutes, 32.16 seconds, followed by Marc Corpus 7^th in 26 minutes, 40.16 seconds.
• Lane Henrichs also placed 17^th for the Trojans in 27 minutes, 29.13 seconds, followed by Blake Schmiedt 21^st in 27 minutes, 45.82 seconds.  Tyler Nicke was 25^th with a time of 27 minutes, 54.88 seconds, Benjamin Strunk 26^th in 28 minutes, 4.16 seconds, and Jonah Thiele 29^th in 28 minutes, 14.79 seconds.

Dakota State in the NAIA national poll

• Dakota State made their third consecutive appearance in the 2025 NAIA Women's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 national poll.  The Trojans began their season by tallying seven points and listed in the receiving votes section.
• The Trojans increased their total points in the first edition of the NAIA Women's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 national poll on Sept. 25.  DSU earned 80 points at No. 26 ranking, which is just one spot shy of cracking inside the NAAI's Top 25.
• Dakota State extended their streak to their third straight appearance to the national women's cross-country poll, announced Thursday.  The Trojans tallied 78 points and remained at No. 26, listing in the receiving votes section.
• The Trojan men's cross-country team is ranked fourth in the Frontier Conference behind No. 13 Carroll (Mont.), No. 18 Rocky Mountain (Mont.), and Montana Tech.
• The Frontier Conference will be holding their cross-country virtual media day on Wednesday, Oct. 8.  Stay tuned to the fcsports.org for the schedule.

Upcoming Meets
Dakota State continues their busy action next Saturday.  The Trojans return to Sioux Center, Iowa, for the second time this season, running in the Holiday Inn Express Classic hosted by NAIA's nationally ranked Dordt (Iowa).

1. Holiday Inn Express Classic – Oct. 11 in Sioux Center, Iowa.
2. Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic – Oct. 25 in Ashland, Nebraska.
3. Frontier Conference Championships – Nov. 7 at Amend Park, Billings, Mont.
4. NAIA Cross Country National Championships – Nov. 21 at Apalachee Regional Park, Tallahassee, Fla.

2025 Dakota State University Top Times

Women's (5K)

• Brooke Beaucaire – 18 minutes, 25.20 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight – Sept. 5
• Valerija Curikova – 19 minutes, 16.82 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight – Sept. 5
• Kierra Miller – 20 minutes, 31.20 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight – Sept. 5
• Lindsey Roth – 18 minutes, 43.57 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight – Sept. 5
• Anna Schneider – 20 minutes, 6.05 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight – Sept. 5
• Madelyn Sylva – 19 minutes, 15.01 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight – Sept. 5
• Paige Willnerd – 19 minutes, 6.12 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight – Sept. 5

Men's (8K)

• Kaiden Akey – 35 minutes, 28.9 seconds – Sunflower Open – Sept. 13
• Evan Armstrong – 26 minutes, 32.2 seconds – Sunflower Open – Sept. 13
• Solomon Carter – 29 minutes, 30.0 seconds – Sunflower Open – Sept. 13
• Marc Corpus – 26 minutes, 40.2 seconds – Sunflower Open – Sept. 13
• Lucas Harr – 32 minutes, 22.7 seconds – Sunflower Open – Sept. 13
• Lane Henrichs – 27 minutes, 29.2 seconds – Sunflower Open – Sept. 13
• Tyler Nicke – 27 minutes, 54.9 seconds – Sunflower Open – Sept. 13
• Logan Recoy – 29 minutes, 50.1 seconds – Sunflower Open – Sept. 13
• Blake Schmiedt – 27 minutes, 45.9 seconds – Sunflower Open – Sept. 13
• Benjamin Strunk – 27 minutes, 54.9 seconds – Sunflower Open – Sept. 13
• Jonah Thiele – 28 minutes, 14,8 seconds – Sunflower Open – Sept. 13
• Joshua Tucker – 28 minutes, 56.4 seconds – Sunflower Open – Sept. 13