Kiko Mendoza

Vermillion, S.D. – The South Dakota men’s and women’s cross country teams posted dominate performances to claim both team and individual titles at the Tim Young Open on the Don Baker Cross Country Course on Friday afternoon in Vermillion. The men were just two points away from a perfect scoring, notching 17 team points to earn first, while the women claimed the same point total to earn the title.

The USD men put six Coyotes in the top seven finishers, and were led by senior Rob Gregoire (Wakonda, S.D.), who ran the 8k course in 25:48 to finish first. Freshman Ethan Marquardt (Albert Lea, Minn.) followed in 26:18 for second, and fellow freshman Kiko Mendoza (Eagle Butte, S.D.) was third in 26:22. A Fighting Sioux claimed fourth, but he was followed by USD senior Sean Fitzsimmons (Yankton, S.D.) in 26:41.4, junior Andrew Duba (Sioux Falls, S.D.) in 26:41.7 and freshman Eric Thien (Tipton, Iowa) in 26:45. Sophomore Nick Beare (Sioux Falls, S.D.) rounded out USD’s top seven with a 27:23 for 10th place. All eight USD men that ran improved their time from the Don Baker Invitational, which was held on the same course on Sept. 5. Mendoza bettered his time by 1:37 and senior Jesse Sewell (Kahoka, Mo.) ran 1:16 faster.

The Coyote women were just as impressive, placing six runners in the top eight. Senior Ramsey Fitzsimmons (Yankton, S.D.) approached her course record with a 17:54, just 10 seconds off the 5k record. Freshman Sigornie Pfefferle (Grand Island, Neb.) followed in 19:07 for second and junior Sarah Wickman (Iowa City, Iowa) ran 19:13 for third. Once again a Fighting Sioux runner claimed fourth, but she was followed by USD freshman Carol Miller (Mead, Neb.) and sophomore Abigail Duling (Gregory, S.D.). Miller posted a 19:25, while Duling ran 19:28. Sophomore Kelsey Robish (Huron, S.D.) claimed a top-10 finish with 20:00 for eighth, and freshman Ali Gress (Papillion, Neb.) rounded out USD’s top seven with a 20:07 for 10th. Seven of the nine USD women that ran improved their time from the Don Baker.

USD middle distance runner Emma Erickson (Gayville, S.D.) won the women’s side of the Open/Alumni 3k race in 11:42. Full results from all three races can be found by clicking on the link above.

South Dakota travels next to the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville, Ark., on Oct. 17. The men race at 9:45 a.m., while the women race at 10:30 a.m.