Men and women’s cross country compete at NSIC Championship

Five meets into the season, the Minnesota State women’s cross-country team finished fifth out of 15 teams in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Championship meet in Moorhead Saturday afternoon. The team advanced up one spot from last year’s sixth place finish at the NSIC meet-up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for a predicted steady season ahead.

Sophomore Alexis Zeis (20:49.5) was the medalist at the 6K event to place the University of Mary at No.1 and an overall 30-point team score. Junior Jaiden Schuette followed in second (21:01.2) for another notable recognition for the Marauders.

The Mavericks were led by senior Erin Baker, who pulled in a time of 22:08.9 and a 19th-place finish adding to the Mavs’ 138 team score. Baker has posted five-consecutive highest individual finishes for Minnesota State, including 28th at the Augustana Twilight, 25th at the Roy Griak Invitational, 72nd at the Lewis Conference Crossover and an impressive ninth place finish at the St. Olaf Invitational in Northfield.

Teammate Bobbi Patrick placed 27th (22:33.3) for MNSU’s second highest individual finish, while junior Lily Paul trailed in 28th (22:35.1). Sophomore Carisa Weyenberg (22:35.3) finished in 29th and junior Josie Braaten (22:50.2) took 35th.

Patrick, Weyenberg and Braaten have dominated the scoreboards, being the top-five scorers for Minnesota State the last five meets. Patrick carded a 15th place finish in a 6K at the St. Olaf Invitational, while Braaten ended in 30th. Weyenberg came in 31st at that same meet.

Other recognizable MNSU competitors at the NSIC meet included Megan Serratore, who placed 49th (23:39.1), Rachel Crawford finishing in at 52nd (23:47.5), Ivy Glade racing in at 69th (24:01.0) and MacKenzie Dockendorf (24:12.2) turning in at 77th. Senior Maddi Sjelin claimed a 80th place finish (24.17.6), while freshman Heidi Welu placed 94th, (24:58.1), and freshman Rebecca McDermott at 108th (25:39.5).

In the men’s division, Caleb Burke finished in 10th (25:03.8) for the Mavericks 5th place team finish and 139 score.

Sophomore Austin Yardley came in at 15th (25:13.3), Austin Pasch ended in 22nd (25:38.2) and Isiah Rabata placed in 38th (26:16.6). Derek Cruz carded in at 44th ( 26:24.8).
Other top finishers were Andrew Ruiz (47th, 26:32.6), Jacob Wahlers (55th, 26:51.1) and Julian Manley (66th, 26:54.3).

The Mavericks travel to Kearney, Nebraska for the NCAA Central Regional competition Nov. 4 at 11:00 a.m.