Led by four first-team all-Summit League finishers, the South Dakota women’s cross country team captured its first league title and ended North Dakota State’s three-year streak on Saturday.
The men had three first-team all-Summit League honorees in their third-place finish behind IUPUI and South Dakota State.
Juniors Amber Eichkorn and Katie Wetzstein led a majority of the race before they were outkicked by North Dakota State’s Erin Teschuck to the finish. Eichkorn crossed the finish line at 21 minutes, 30 seconds for second and Wetzstein followed in third with a time of 21:48. Both finishes were worthy of first-team all-Summit League honors.
Freshman Bethany Kozak and junior Kelsey Barrett also earned first-team all-Summit League honors. Kozak ran in the chase pack for most of the race before breaking out to finish fifth with a time of 22:04. The freshman earned the Newcomer of the Championship award for her finish. Barrett passed four runners in the final kilometer to move into sixth place and record a time of 22:18.
Sophomore Nicole Schmidt rounded out South Dakota’s top five with a 12th place finish, worthy of second-team all-Summit League honors. Schmidt recorded a time of 22:45. Freshman Bailey Oettel, sophomore Jessica Feldman, senior Emily Feyereisen and freshman Erin Wetzstein also ran for the championship team.
Coach Dan Fitzsimmons was named the Summit League Women’s Coach of the Year as South Dakota won the team title with 29 points. North Dakota state was second with 60 and South Dakota State finished third with 63.
