University of St. Thomas Athletics
Friday, September 1
Sioux Falls, S.D. / Yankton Park Trails
8:40 p.m. Central
vs
Augustana Twilight
Photo by: Jurgens Photo
Tommie Cross Country complete successful opener at Augustana Twilight
9/1/2023 11:27:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- St. Thomas men's and women's cross country programs completed successful season openers Friday night at the Augustana Twilight in Sioux Falls, S.D. The men's squad took second of 32 programs in the four mile race while the women finished fourth of 29 teams during the 5K event.
All four of the men's returners who have previously run a four-mile race set personal records. The remaining 10 St. Thomas runners ran the first four mile event of their careers. Sophomore Caden Nordberg, who finished 27th at the Summit League Championships a season ago, finished seventh overall and led the Tommies with a time of 19:38.79.
The women's 10 returners who competed Friday all set personal records in the 5K race. Junior Molly Desotell, an All-Summit League First Team honoree last season, paced the Tommies with a ninth-place finish and personal record time of 19:04.64.
WOMEN'S 5K RUN
The Tommies took fourth overall during the 5K race with 141 points and an average time of 18:42.14, finishing behind the host Augustana in third, South Dakota State in second, and Nebraska in first. Two Tommies finished among the top 25 overall in Desotell (9th) and junior Ava Pankratz in 25th, as she ran a personal record 18:36.53.
Freshman Natalie Cocking was the highest finishing underclassmen for the Tommies, taking 36th overall with a time of 18:50.24. Junior Gabriella Witschen placed 43rd followed by freshman Elsie Kmecak in 44th and Christina Bolcer in 46th.
MEN'S 4 MILE RUN
St. Thomas took second with 68 points and an average time of 19:58.37, finishing behind only South Dakota State with 62 points and a time of 19:43.00. Junior Charlie Caven finished five spots behind Nordberg in 12th with a personal record time of 19:48.16. A trio of Tommies placed 20th through 22nd, including senior Colton Halla (20:05.69), junior Tony Weeks (20:08.73), and freshman Max Westerlund (20:10.45).
QUOTEABLES
Thoughts from women's head coach Ashley Lucas following Friday's season opener:
"It was an awesome night to open the season! Today, I told the women to be controlled in the first half and then move up in the second, and I feel like they did that well. Natalie (Cocking) and Elsie (Kmecak) had great collegiate debuts and the team is headed in a very positive direction. Now we get a nice training block on as we prepare for the Roy Griak."
Thoughts from men's head coach Pete Wareham following the second place finish:
"We were excited to get out there and race, and our guys had a great opener. We graduated several key runners but the returners and new guys were impressive. I think we can build out the season from here.
"I was looking for our guys to establish a competitive mindset and I think we were able to do that. We will spend the next weeks focusing on solid training and then compete at the Roy Griak meet, which is extremely competitive."
UP NEXT
Both St. Thomas men's and women's cross country will race next on Friday, Sept. 22 at the Roy Griak Invitational hosted by Minnesota. The Tommie men open the meet with the 8K race at 10 a.m. followed by the women in the 6K at 10:45 a.m. at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in St. Paul.
FOLLOW ALONG
For more information on St. Thomas Women's Cross Country, follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @TommieWXCTF. For more information on St. Thomas Men's Cross Country, follow along on Instagram at @TommieMTFXC.
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
All four of the men's returners who have previously run a four-mile race set personal records. The remaining 10 St. Thomas runners ran the first four mile event of their careers. Sophomore Caden Nordberg, who finished 27th at the Summit League Championships a season ago, finished seventh overall and led the Tommies with a time of 19:38.79.
The women's 10 returners who competed Friday all set personal records in the 5K race. Junior Molly Desotell, an All-Summit League First Team honoree last season, paced the Tommies with a ninth-place finish and personal record time of 19:04.64.
WOMEN'S 5K RUN
The Tommies took fourth overall during the 5K race with 141 points and an average time of 18:42.14, finishing behind the host Augustana in third, South Dakota State in second, and Nebraska in first. Two Tommies finished among the top 25 overall in Desotell (9th) and junior Ava Pankratz in 25th, as she ran a personal record 18:36.53.
Freshman Natalie Cocking was the highest finishing underclassmen for the Tommies, taking 36th overall with a time of 18:50.24. Junior Gabriella Witschen placed 43rd followed by freshman Elsie Kmecak in 44th and Christina Bolcer in 46th.
MEN'S 4 MILE RUN
St. Thomas took second with 68 points and an average time of 19:58.37, finishing behind only South Dakota State with 62 points and a time of 19:43.00. Junior Charlie Caven finished five spots behind Nordberg in 12th with a personal record time of 19:48.16. A trio of Tommies placed 20th through 22nd, including senior Colton Halla (20:05.69), junior Tony Weeks (20:08.73), and freshman Max Westerlund (20:10.45).
QUOTEABLES
Thoughts from women's head coach Ashley Lucas following Friday's season opener:
"It was an awesome night to open the season! Today, I told the women to be controlled in the first half and then move up in the second, and I feel like they did that well. Natalie (Cocking) and Elsie (Kmecak) had great collegiate debuts and the team is headed in a very positive direction. Now we get a nice training block on as we prepare for the Roy Griak."
Thoughts from men's head coach Pete Wareham following the second place finish:
"We were excited to get out there and race, and our guys had a great opener. We graduated several key runners but the returners and new guys were impressive. I think we can build out the season from here.
"I was looking for our guys to establish a competitive mindset and I think we were able to do that. We will spend the next weeks focusing on solid training and then compete at the Roy Griak meet, which is extremely competitive."
UP NEXT
Both St. Thomas men's and women's cross country will race next on Friday, Sept. 22 at the Roy Griak Invitational hosted by Minnesota. The Tommie men open the meet with the 8K race at 10 a.m. followed by the women in the 6K at 10:45 a.m. at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in St. Paul.
FOLLOW ALONG
For more information on St. Thomas Women's Cross Country, follow along on Twitter and Instagram at @TommieWXCTF. For more information on St. Thomas Men's Cross Country, follow along on Instagram at @TommieMTFXC.
-- St. Thomas Athletics --
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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