MOORHEAD, Minn. – Racing under the lights at the Dragon Twilight Meet, the spotlight was firmly on the 5
th ranked University of Mary women's cross country team. Defending national champion
Alexis Zeis and the Marauders didn't disappoint, as Zeis claimed top individual honors in the Randy Smith 4K and Mary won the team title.
The Mary men also had a successful night, placing second in the Fred Dahnke 6K run behind only the host and 20
th ranked MSU Moorhead. Five Marauders placed in the top 14.
'We felt the women ran a respectable race against some very formidable opponents tonight," said head coach
Dennis Newell. "We saw some positive things and it all started with the women's positive attitudes, support for each other throughout the entire experience, the hard efforts that were laid down on the course, and the obvious passion that was displayed in those efforts. I was very proud of this group of women."
Undefeated last year on her way to the NCAA Division II national championship, Zeis ran the Tri-City Storm Soccer Complex course in a scintillating 13:12.3. The junior from Bismarck, ND, claimed the title by 12.1 seconds over Emilee Trost of Minnesota Duluth, a fellow All-American and the seventh place finisher at the 2015 women's cross country national championships.
Marauders newcomer
Ida Narbuvoll placed third overall with a clocking of 13:3.7. A sophomore from Norway, Narbuvoll transferred to Mary from Edinboro after finishing 37
th at nationals last year.
A pack of Marauders claimed slots seven through ten. Freshman
Kate Fox posted a strong debut for the Marauders, placing seventh with a time of 14:31.9. Junior
Kaycie Stewart was less than two seconds behind, running the course in 14:33.0. Sophomore
Jaiden Schuette placed ninth on a time of 14:38.
Katelynn Engh, one of two seniors on the team, was tenth in a clocking of 14:40.l.
Rounding out the Marauders top seven runners was
Rebekkah Bond. The junior traversed the trail in 14:54.0 for 15
th place. Bond, also a transfer from Edinboro, ran at the 2016 national championships.
The Marauders easily outdistanced the second place Bulldogs 28-42. Minnesota Duluth is ranked 11
th in the country.
Kevin Carpenter was the top Marauders finisher on the men's side. The junior from Colville, WA, placed sixth overall with a clocking of 19:13.1, He was the top finisher of any athlete not from MSUM.
The host Dragons, ranked 20
th in the country, boasted the top five finishers in the Fred Dahnke 6K. MSUM scored a perfect 15 points to easily outdistance the Marauders, who posted 53 points.
"The men showed a grit against one of the top ranked teams in the NCAA tonight," said Newell. "We learned a lot about where we currently are and where we want to go. We need to move forward with the work and the discipline to execute the plan properly."
Tyler Erickson finished right behind Carpenter. Also a junior, the Roseau, MN, native was eighth overall in a time of 19:15.7.
A pack of Marauders rounded out the scoring when they crossed the finish line in spots 12-14. A sophomore from Minot, ND,
Teegan Olson claimed 12
th overall in 19:22.6.
Derek Myers, a sophomore from Gillette, WY, ran the course in 19:33.7. Just a hair behind was the team's lone senior.
Steven Gordon placed 14
th overall (19:35.5).
Next up for both the Mary men's and women's cross country team is the prestigious Roy Griak Invitational in Falcon Heights, Minnesota, on Sept. 24.
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