Collegiate cross country took place under the lights to start the 2024 season for Wayne State.
From the Yankton Trails in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Wildcats competed in the Augustana Twilight last Friday evening.
The Wayne State College women finished 15th with 409 points while the Wildcat men took 16th with 507 points.
Women’s results.
Nebraska won the women’s division with 33 points, South Dakota State followed in second (43), Augustana took third (64) as Iowa Central Community College and Minnesota State-Mankato both tied for fourth with 139 points. There were 20 women’s cross country programs with team scores.
Sophomore Berlyn Schutz from Nebraska won the women’s 5K in a time of 16:20.78 among the 239 runners.
Wayne State College was led by freshman Allie Czapla in 72nd place (19:17.16) followed by fellow freshman Kaitlyn Bloomenrader in 80th (19:30.18).
Other results came from junior Sydney Escritt (127th – 20:12.31); sophomore Callie Kirchner (131st – 20:15.91); junior Maelee Beacom (155th – 20:36.50); junior Madeline Kunz (156th – 20:37.83); sophomore Jozlyn Barnes (165th – 21:01.15); senior Taylor Thorp (187th – 21:25.85); freshman Madi McKie (193rd – 21:33.33) and junior Nikola Prochazkova (214th – 22:10.97).
Men’s results.
Iowa Western Community College won the men’s division with 53 points, South Dakota State followed in second (55), Nebraska took third (56), Augustana placed fourth (133) and South Dakota State – unattached rounded out the top five teams with 239 points. There were 30 men’s cross country programs who provided team scoring.
Freshman Geofrey Ronoh from Iowa Western Community College won the men’s four-mile in a time of 17:58.65 among the 375 runners.
Wayne State College was led by junior Quentin Dreyer in 58th place (19:52.41) while freshman Ethan Walters followed in 114th (20:32.60).
Other results came from junior Brody Lucas (133rd – 20:47.85); senior Brandon Mitzel (167th – 21:07.31); senior Andrew Wyllie (174th – 21:09.29); sophomore Brady Franzen (186th – 21:15.18); freshman William Keller (195th – 21:20.95); freshman Gannon Walsh (224th – 21:46.09); freshman Akron Jostand (245th – 22:06.51); junior Ethan Ramos (310th – 23:06.52) and freshman Simeon Weers (331st – 23:34.82).
The Wayne State College women’s and men’s cross country program will next compete on Saturday, Sept. 21 during the Woody Greeno/Dirksen Invitational at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. The men’s race will open the day at 10 a.m. followed by the women’s race at 10:50 a.m.
