MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State women's cross country begins its 2025 campaign at the Augustana Twilight on Friday, September 5 at 8:30 p.m. CT. The 5K race takes place under the lights at Yankton Trail Park, and the event attracted 75 high schools and 35 collegiate programs last fall, including five Division I schools, nine Division II schools, six Division III schools, 11 NAIA schools and four NJCAA schools.
 
All ten teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference were represented in one of the largest races in the region in 2024.
 
The Mavericks, picked to finish fourth in the 2025 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll returned 17 runners from last season, including USTFCCCA All-Region and Second Team All-NSIC selection Madison Matzek (Prescott, Wis.). Matzek placed 26^th at the Augie Twilight in 2024.
 
Senior Alexi MacDonald (Rice Lake, Wis.) was also named Second Team All-NSIC and placed 34^th at the event a year ago. The Mavericks are buoyed by transfers Amanda Overgaauw and Ashley Overgaauw (Lake Wilson, Minn.). Both competed for two seasons for Augustana. Amanda finished 72^nd at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships last fall and Ashley placed 38^th.
 
Head Coach Jen Blue was hired in 2000-01 and has helped the Mavericks develop into one of the top programs in the upper Midwest. MSU women's cross country last qualified for the NCAA National meet in 2022 (16^th). Last season, she guided the squad to fifth place at the NSIC Championships and ninth at NCAA Regionals in Joplin, Mo.