September 10, 2026
THIS WEEK
MADISON, S.D. - The Dakota State University women's and men's cross-country squad continue their action Saturday morning as they run in the Dordt (Iowa) Sunflower Open, presented by Rankin / Veenstra Wealth Management in Sioux Center, Iowa. The cross-country meet will take place on the campus of Dordt (Cross Country Course).
The women's 5K race is scheduled to start at 10 a.m., followed by the men's 6K race at 10:45 a.m. The cross-country meet will be live stream via Dordt Network, along with live results via on Dakota Timing.
LAST TIME OUT
Dakota State opened the 2026 cross country season last Friday night at the Augustana (S.D.) Twilight at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls, competing against a large field that included NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NAIA and junior college programs. Both collegiate races were contested 5 kilometers after the schedule was adjusted twice because of the heat.
Dakota State women: The Trojans placed 16th with 479 points, with their five scoring runners combining for 1:40:28 and averaging 20:05.6. Senior
Valerija Curikova highlighted the season opener, finishing 29th overall in a career-best 18:23.3, the seventh-fastest women's 5K time in Dakota State history. Senior
Anna Schneider followed in 19:58.6, while
Kierra Miller clocked 20:29.8. Freshmen
Jewel Gannon (20:36.1),
Talya Vincent (21:00.3) and
Erin Harms (21:20.3) each made their collegiate cross-country debuts. NCAA Division I South Dakota won the women's team title with 33 points.
Dakota State men: The Trojans finished 18th in the 30-plus-team field with 580 points, averaging 16:45.1 among their five scoring runners. Freshman
TayShaun Cudmore led DSU in his collegiate cross-country debut with a 16:29.1 5K, placing 132nd overall.
Holden Jelen followed in 16:36.4, with freshmen
Baylor Burns (16:50.8) and
Ben Gerlach (16:57.4) joining
Benjamin Strunk (16:52.0) among DSU's top five.
Brendan Gillaspie (17:11.4) and
Joshua Tucker (17:11.6) were separated by just two-tenths of a second. South Dakota State won the men's team title with 30 points.
2026 DAKOTA STATE CROSS COUNTRY TOP TIMES
Women's (5K)
- Valerija Curikova – 18 minutes, 23.3 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Anna Schneider – 19 minutes, 58.6 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Kierra Miller – 20 minutes, 29.8 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Jewel Gannon – 20 minutes, 36.1 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Talya Vincent – 21 minutes, .3 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Erin Harms – 21 minutes, 20.3 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
Men's (5K)
- TayShaun Cudmore – 16 minutes, 29.1 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Holden Jelen – 16 minutes, 36.4 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Baylor Burns – 16 minutes, 50.8 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Benjamin Strunk – 16 minutes, 52 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Ben Gerlach – 16 minutes, 57.4 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Brendan Gillaspie – 17 minutes, 11.4 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Joshua Tucker – 17 minutes, 11.6 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Spencer Olsen – 17 minutes, 19.4 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Finley McConniel – 17 minutes, 23.1 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Jonah Thiele – 17 minutes, 28.4 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Reese Henrie – 18 minutes, 19.7 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- David McKinley – 18 minutes, 30.9 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Jeremy Feistner – 18 minutes, 35.9 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
- Kaiden Akey – 21 minutes, 18.4 seconds – Augustana (S.D.) Twilight Meet – Sept. 4
UP NEXT
Dakota State takes a week off before returning to action on Friday, Sept. 25. The Trojans return to Sioux Falls, S.D., for the NCAA Division II Augustana Invitational at 10:15 a.m.
