SIOUX FALLS -- The #9 ranked University of Sioux Falls men's cross country team had four runners among the top 11 to win the men's collegiate division team title at the Augustana Twilight Invite held on Friday night at Yankton Trails Park in Sioux Falls. The Cougar's women's team also stepped up with a strong performance, moving from 13th a year ago to seventh this year. 

In a collegiate race of 266 competitors and 22 men's teams, it was the Cougars squad that shined  the brightest at the unique cross country race, which was held for the fifth straight year under the lights at Yankton Trails Park. USF finished first in the team points race with 56 which was 18 points better than #3 ranked Augustana, the meet host which was second with 74. Also in the top 10 in the men's team competition was Iowa Central, 131; Morningside, 138; Carleton, 145; Minnesota State, 152; Northwestern, 163; Iowa Western CC, 230; Midland (Neb.), 251 and Dordt, 280.

The performances of both squads had USF head cross country coaching Grant Watley beaming with pride. “I'm really proud of how our men and women competed today. They did a great job of working through a couple tough weeks of training and it's exciting to see all that hard work pay off,” said Watley.

The Cougars, which finished second a year ago at the Twilight Meet, were led by the core of a team that finished second in the NSIC and Central Region and a program-best eighth nationally in 2014. Sophomore Jase Kraft was fourth overall in the collegiate division, covering the four mile race in 19:25.85. Senior Ethan Tabbert was ninth (19:58.12) with senior DII All-American Matthew Horan finishing 10^th (19:58.64) and sophomore Jacob Benson, 11^th (20:06.60). Also in the top 50 were a trio of freshman, including Mason Phillips, 22^nd (20:23.75); Billy Beseman, 32^nd (20:41.58) and Steven Brown, 48^th (20:52.71).

“For the men's team to open up the year with the big victory at a big meet like this is awesome,” said Watley. “It's really exciting to see everything come together for the guys on the team. We have more depth than we ever had on this team and I think we're going to surprise a lot of people about what we can do in the post Brockmueller era,” added Watley, noting the loss of two standouts in twin brothers Billy and Bobby Brockmueller, who graduated last spring.

The USF women's team was seventh in the team competition by placing five runners in the top 51 in the collegiate division, which included 20 collegiate teams and 211 collegiate runners. Sophomore Kiana Hein was 27^th (18:22.30) with sophomore Tenley Schwartz, 33^rd (18:29.70). In addition, freshman Keegan Day was 37^th (18:35.50), junior Jordin Kopplow, 40^th (18:37.20) and junior Kylie Herlihy, 51^st (18:52.80). Junior Rachel Huffman was 57^th (19:00.50 and freshman Becca Geortzen, 59^th (19.03.50).

Watley noted the improvement of the Cougars' women's squad, which he said was “remarkably better than in the past.”

“We have some really nice depth and that's what we were really looking to see in today's race. Kiana Hein has been a solid runner who has really improved due to hard work this summer. It is exciting to see that work pay off,” added Watley. 

The top team teams in the women's collegiate division include Augustana, 1^st, 46; Dordt, 2^nd, 89; Carleton, 3^rd, 99; Doane, 4^th, 146; Morningside, 5^th, 169; Minnesota State, 6^th, 172; Sioux Falls, 7^th, 188; Mount Marty, 8^th, 262; Iowa Central CC, 9^th, 306; Simpson, 10^th, 316.

Next up for the USF cross country will be a road trip to Missouri Southern Stampede in Joplin, Mo., on Saturday, Sept. 19.