Cross Country | 9/10/2021 10:30:00 PM

Women's results
Men's results
MOORHEAD, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's cross country team finished third at the Dragon Twilight meet, which was held Friday evening at the Bluestem Center for the Arts in Moorhead. The Dragon men finished in fifth place among the collegiate teams and sixth overall.

The Dragon men's alumni team was second behind UMary, led by former All-American Nadir Yusuf, who was the top overall finisher. Spencer Ruebke also posted a top 10 finish for the alumni. The alumni team featured nine runners who recently completed their Dragon careers.

For both current Dragon teams, it was the first collegiate cross country race for several runners.

"It's a starting point," MSUM head coach cross country/track and field coach Ryan Milner said. "We have to get better from here, and that was the thing we knew going in. This is getting a base line and working from this point forward."

MSUM freshman Payton Lane had an excellent run in her first collegiate cross country race, taking fourth in 14:46.7. She was the only non-UMary runner in the top eight.

Freshman Hope Pringle, also competing in her first collegiate cross country race, was 22nd in 15:36.7. 

Junior McKenzie Maki was 30th overall in 15:51.7 while freshman Ava Marburger was 32nd in 15:56.9. Freshman Grace Dorsher was 34th in 15:58.4. Freshman Aislin Anderson was 38th in 16:06.7 while freshman Zoe Douglas was 55th in 17:04.0.

The MSUM had won the Dragon Twilight every year of its existence but that streak ended this year with UMary winning.
 

Among the collegiate runners, sophomore Braxton Bruer was MSUM's top male finisher, taking 21st overall with a 7K time of 20:01.1. 

Senior Drew Mears was 23rd in 20:08.7, freshman Adnew Stueven was 28th in 20:16.6. Freshman Carson Hespe was 35th in 20:29.1. 

Freshman Derek Hanson was 44th in 21:05.6 while freshman Joseph Espinoza was 49th in 21:12.1.

MSUM is at the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 24 at the University of Minnesota.