JOPLIN, Mo. – The Southwest Minnesota State University men’s cross country team closed out the 2018 season on Saturday at the NCAA Central Region Championships held at the Tom Rutledge Cross Country Course and hosted by Missouri Southern State University.

SMSU’s Bashir Aidrus, a 2017 NCAA national qualifier and All-American, suffered an injury during the race and did not finish.

Dylan Pierson was SMSU’s top finisher, covering the 10,000 meter course in a time of 34:34 to finish in 152nd place. Kaden Cameron ran 34:39 to finish 156th, Ben Broze finished in 157th place with a time of 34:40, John Wyatt Reece ran 32:24 to place 168th, Brett Attenberger crossed the line in 170th with a time of 35:36, while Clayton Hartle finished with a time of 38:35 to place 188th.

SMSU closed the race with 788 team points for 28th place.

Gidieon Kimutai from Missouri Southern captured the men’s individual title with a time of 29:48.

Missouri Southern won the team title with 55 points, finishing ahead of second place Augustana’s 73 points.

WOMEN

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s cross country team also closed its season on Saturday.

Skyler Jacobson ran the 6,000 meter race with a time of 24:36 to finish in 140th place to pace all SMSU runners. Emily Daniels ran 24:54 to finish 152nd, Abby Schotter finished in 185th place with a time of 25:34, Avery Lester ran 25:38 to place 187th, Emily Gillingham finished in 203rd with a time of 26:15, while Kristen Weber finished with a time of 26:26 to place 207th. SMSU’s Kayla Jansky was injured during the race and did not finish.

As a team, SMSU recorded 867 points for 31st place.

Jaiden Schuette from UMary won the individual title with a time of 20:52.

UMary won the team title with 29 points, while Augustana finished second with 64 points.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications