SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – Minnesota State men's cross country came in fifth place with a team score of 124 at the Holiday Inn Express Classic Saturday morning at Dordt University Prairie. The 8K course featured 16 teams, including several Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foes.
 
Freshman Luis Pfister (Ottobeuren, Germany) crossed the line in 10^th place to lead the team with a personal best time of 24:48.59. Freshman Jack Kendall (Virginia, Minn.) also managed a top-20 time when he placed 18^th in 25:11.49.
 
Dale Johnson won the race for South Dakota State with a time of 24:06.44, but Augustana topped the team chart with a score of 30 and five runners inside the top-10. South Dakota State was second (40), followed by Doane (107), Dordt (120) and Minnesota State (124).

"We ran well as a team despite having a few guys battling injuries and sickness over the last couple weeks," said head coach Ben Held. "We are looking forward to competing well at the conference meet."
 
The event was the final tune-up for the Mavericks before the NSIC Championships on Friday, October 24 at 1:15 p.m. at Wayne Country Club (Wayne, Neb.). The Mavericks finished sixth last fall.
 
Others to finish on Saturday included Dominic Ripperda (27^th, 25:34.07), Jacob Bennett (35^th, 25:40.56), Grant Mayers (36^th, 25:43.42), Audi Thom (40^th, 25:51.00), Erek Ross (47^th, 25:59.70), Jon Owen (50^th, 26:05.86), Luke Scholtes (56^th, 26:09.71) and Jaden Miller (85^th, 26:42.54).