QUICK HITS: Mettler sets USD course record at Roy Griak Invite

MINNEAPOLIS —— Jeff Mettler recorded an 11th place finish to highlight South Dakota cross country at the Roy Griak

Invitational.

Mettler finished the race in 25:04 to set a new USD course record at the meet by 11 seconds, and finished 46 seconds behind race winner Kelly Wiebe of the University of Regina (24:18).  In the team standings, the men finished 13th in the 15 team field, while the women placed last out of 17.

Mubarik Musa was the second-best finisher for the men in 50th-place and clocked in at 26:04.  Alex Hohenthaner finished in 26:23 for 68th, Ethan Marquardt finished in 26:38 for 75th, and Brant Haase finished 85th in 27:00.  The men had 289 points in the event.

Minnesota won the men’s event with 67 points, while Iowa State finished second with 84.  The University of Guelph (Canada) rounded out the top-three with 117 points.

The women were led by Ali Gress in 71st place in a time of 23:20, with Jessica Brandli) running the second best time for the Coyotes in 87th at 23:47.  Britni Waller placed 93rd (23:54), Carol Miller placed 102nd (24:20), and Amber Eickhorn placed 105th (24:24) to round out the women’s score.

There were 10 teams that were ranked in U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association regional polls in the women’s race.

The Coyotes will take a week off before hosting the Tim Yong Invitational in Vermillion on Oct. 13.