Coyote runners head to Minnesota
The University of South Dakota men and women’s cross-country teams will be heading to the Roy Griak Invitational Saturday in Minneapolis, Minn. for the second meet of their season.
Both the men and women have high expectations for the season, as they are both predicted to finish second in the Summit League Conference this season. The Roy Griak Invitational is one of the largest meets in the country and will be a great place to get an outlook for both teams’ seasons.
The USD women’s team started off its 2013 campaign by placing second at the Bison Open Aug. 30. The women are currently ranked 12th in the Midwest region rankings, after moving up three spots because of their placement at the Bison Open. The Coyotes had three top 10 finishers at the meet with sophomores Katie Wetzstein, Megan Hilson and Amber Eichkorn placing third, fourth and seventh, respectively.
Senior Jeff Mettler said he is looking to start off his senior year on a high note.
“Our focus this meet is on team chemistry and just the team aspect,” Mettler said.
Sophomore Mubarik Musa looks to make an impact at the Roy Griak after his second place finish at North Dakota State’s Bison Open. Musa echoed Mettler, and said the focus this year is on the “team aspect.”
“Our goal is certainly to compete at the meet,” Musa said. “We also want to see where our strengths and weaknesses are.”
Musa also said this week is just the start of accomplishing the goals he has set out for the year.
“I personally want to compete and score for the team,” Musa said. “I also want to run against some of the best teams and runners in the nation.”
The Coyote men’s team is also expected to get contributions from seniors Taylor Chapman, Alex Hohenthaner and Benson Lang’at.
The women are looking to make another move up the rankings after Saturday’s meet, and are led by seniors Jilanne Doom, Megan Hilson, Kristin Steffen and Britni Waller.
The next meet for the cross country teams’ after making the rounds in Minneapolic will be a conference meet in Brookings for the South Dakota State Classic Oct. 4.
