September 4, 2026

THIS WEEK
MADISON, S.D. - The Dakota State University women's and men's cross-country teams begin their 2026 campaigns Friday evening.  DSU opens the season at the 15^th annual Augustana (S.D.) Twilight at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls.

Note the meet time schedule changes due to heat.  The Trojan men's squad will run in the 5K course at 9:15 p.m., followed by the women's 5K meet at 9:45 p.m.

The Augustana Twilight annually attracts competitors from throughout the region, ranging from NCAA Division I programs to NAIA and junior college teams. More than 5,000 runners, coaches and spectators attended the event, which features races from the middle school level through college.

Dakota State enters the second season under head cross country coach Alex Glover. He is assisted by Taylor Hauge and graduate assistant Caleb Sayler.

TROJAN WOMEN LOOK TO CLIMB FRONTIER STANDINGS
Dakota State's women return three seniors from a squad that finished fourth at the 2025 Frontier Conference Championships in Billings, Mont.

The Trojans collected 74 points in this year's preseason coaches' poll, trailing only defending conference champion Carroll (Mont.) and Montana Tech. Carroll received nine first-place votes and 100 points, while Montana Tech collected the remaining first-place vote and 91 points.

DSU was three points ahead of fourth-place Rocky Mountain (Mont.) in the preseason poll.

The Trojans will be led by an experienced senior group of Valerija Curikova, Kierra Miller, and Anna Schneider.

Curikova headlines Dakota State's returning group after earning All-Frontier Conference honors last fall. She finished inside the top 10 at the 2025 conference championship, collecting the third cross country All-Conference honor of her Trojan career.

A former NAIA All-American, Curikova posted one of Dakota State's fastest 6K times during the 2025 season, clocking 22 minutes, 49.11 seconds at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic.

Dakota State adds four freshmen to its women's roster this season — Emmerson Eppard, Jewel Gannon, Erin Harms and Talya Vincent — giving the Trojans a blend of veteran leadership and newcomers.

The Trojans will attempt to move further up the league standings in 2026. Carroll is the preseason favorite after winning last year's conference championship, while Montana Tech is projected second.

EXPERIENCED MEN AIM FOR JUMP IN FRONTIER STANDINGS
The Trojans were selected third in the Frontier Conference preseason coaches' poll with 77 points, just one point ahead of fourth-place Bellevue (Neb.).

Defending champion Rocky Mountain was picked first with six first-place votes and 92 points. Carroll received three first-place votes and was second with 91 points.

Dakota State brings back a deep group of veterans, including graduate student Reese Henrie and seniors Evan Armstrong, Hunter Dimick, Lane Henrichs, Franklin Johns, Grayson Madsen, Tyler Nicke, Jonah Thiele and Joshua Tucker.

The junior class features Kaiden Akey, David Brock, Holden Jelen, Mohamed Muse, Logan Recoy and Benjamin Strunk, while Solomon Carter and Finley McConniel return as sophomores.

Dakota State also welcomes freshmen Baylor Burns, TayShaun Cudmore, Jeremy Feistner, Ben Gerlach, Brendan Gillaspie and Spencer Olsen to the program.

The Trojans placed fifth in their first Frontier Conference championship last fall, scoring 137 points at Amend Park in Billings. All five of Dakota State's scoring runners finished among the top 40.

FIVE REGULAR-SEASON MEETS PREPARE TROJANS FOR POSTSEASON
Dakota State has five regular-season meets scheduled before returning to Billings for the Frontier Conference Championships.

Following Friday night's Augustana Twilight, the Trojans travel to Sioux Center, Iowa, Sept. 12 for the Dordt Sunflower Open. The women's 5K begins at 10 a.m., followed by the men's 8K at 10:40 a.m.

DSU returns to Sioux Falls Sept. 25 for the Augustana Invitational at Yankton Trail Park. The men compete in the 8K at 10:15 a.m., followed by the women's 6K at 11 a.m.

After a two-week break, Dakota State makes its second trip to Sioux Center Oct. 10 for the Dordt Holiday Inn Express Classic. The women run at 10 a.m., followed by the men at 10:40 a.m.

The regular season concludes Oct. 24 at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic at Mahoney State Park in Ashland, Neb. The women's race is scheduled for 10 a.m., followed by the men at 10:45 a.m. The meet traditionally provides the Trojans with a strong field of NAIA competition immediately before the postseason.

The 2026 Frontier Conference Cross Country Championships returns to Amend Park in Billings, Mont., on Nov. 6.  The NAIA Cross Country National Championships are set on Nov. 20 in Vancouver, Wash.

2026 DAKOTA STATE CROSS COUNTRY RETURNING TOP TIMES
Women's (6K)

• Valerija Curikova – 22 minutes, 49.11 seconds – Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic – Oct. 25
• Kierra Miller – 23 minutes, 21.9 seconds – Holiday Inn Express Clinic – Oct. 11
• Anna Schneider – 25 minutes, 9.95 seconds – Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic – Oct. 25

Men's (8K)

• Kaiden Akey – 31 minutes, 26.88 seconds – Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic – Oct. 25
• Evan Armstrong – 25 minutes, 53.99 seconds – Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic – Oct. 25
• David Brock – 29 minutes, 42 seconds – Holiday Inn Express Clinic – Oct. 11
• Solomon Carter – 27 minutes, 14.18 seconds – Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic – Oct. 25
• Hunter Dimick – 35 minutes, 31.3 seconds – Frontier Conference Championships – Nov. 7
• Lane Henrichs – 25 minutes, 41.44 seconds – Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic – Oct. 25
• Reese Henrie – 28 minutes, 35.01 seconds – Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic – Oct. 25
• Holden Jelen – 27 minutes, 53.24 seconds – Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic – Oct. 25
• Finley McConniel – 27 minutes, 4.21 seconds – Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic – Oct. 25
• Tyler Nicke – 26 minutes, 49.4 seconds – Holiday Inn Express Clinic – Oct. 11
• Logan Recoy – 29 minutes, 50.1 seconds – Sunflower Open – Sept. 13
• Benjamin Strunk – 26 minutes, 38.7 seconds – Holiday Inn Express Clinic – Oct. 11
• Jonah Thiele – 27 minutes, 19.36 seconds – Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic – Oct. 25
• Joshua Tucker – 26 minutes, 44.33 seconds – Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic – Oct. 25

UP NEXT
Dakota State heads to Sioux Center, Iowa, for the Dordt Sunflower Open on Saturday, Sept. 12.