SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State University women's and men's cross country teams opened the 2024 season on Friday night competing at the Augustana Twilight at Yankton Trail Park.
 
The SMSU women's team finished 14^th out of 20 teams with 393 points, while the men's team placed 23^rd overall out of 30 teams with 711 points. The women's meet featured two Division I schools with the University of Nebraska capturing the women's team title with 33 points, while Iowa Western Community College won the men's meet with 53 points, finishing ahead of South Dakota State and Nebraska.
 
Macie Langstraat led the Mustangs with a 64^th place finish out of 239 athletes as she covered the 5K race with a time of 19:08. Madison Marco placed 70^th with a time of 19:14, followed by Kyra Kusnierek at 19:46 to finish in 97^th. Catherine Ihrke placed 147^th at 20:28, with Carissa Andres earning a 173^rd place time of 21:05. Kaitlin Olson ran 21:06 to finish 174^th overall, while Natalie Jorschumb closed at 21:29 to finish 190^th to round out SMSU's team scoring.
 
Carter Schwalbe was the highest finisher for the men's team in the four-mile race crossing the line at 20:37 to place 120^th out of 375 athletes. Seth Torgerson finished 164^th with a time of 21:05, Logan Roelofs was 197^th at 21:21 and Roel Palomo ran 21:41 to finish 218^th. Daniel Olson placed 338^th with a time of 23:45, while Ian Kalin finished 365^th at 25:17.
 
SMSU returns to action next Friday, Sept. 13, competing at the MSU Moorhead Dragon Twilight.