Tigers host first meet since September 2010

The Dakota Wesleyan University cross country teams embraced running in their only home meet of the season in the DWU Invitational at Wild Oak Golf Course Saturday.

“It’s always nice to have a home race,” head coach Pat Belling said. “It’s good for the kids because their parents and friends can come out. It’s awesome to host a race, especially out here on this course.”

The Tigers haven’t hosted a meet since September 2010.

Senior David Elliot said he enjoyed support from classmates and faculty.

“It’s nice to have all the faces that would say good luck to you at school here cheering us on,” Elliot said. “Pretty much all of cross country is traveling, and when you host it you’re not as tense and more relaxed.”

The Tiger men’s and women’s teams placed fourth, and seven runners recorded personal bests including Justin Brueggemann, Jeff Sahli, Mike Claar, Skylar Forgey, Nicole Court-Menendez and Heather Banister.

Brueggemann led the Tiger men in the 8K race with a 10th-place finish with a time of 27 minutes, 59.85 seconds. Trace Tjeerdsma took 13th with a time of 28:32.44, Andrew Hernandez placed 14th running 28:55.00, Sahli ran in 29:32.50 for 18th, Elliot took 19th in 29:36.29 and Claar placed 21st with a time of 30:31.53.

Mount Marty’s Jordan Pater won the men’s race with a time of 25:39.29.

For the men, Mount Marty College claimed the team title with a 27, Wayne State took second with a 63, Midland University placed third with a 66 and DWU finished fourth with a 72.

Belling said the men’s team has worked on running together for a majority of the race.

Elliot agreed.

“We’ve been working on that all year,” Elliot said. “It’s our goal to stay together and it’s more intimidating if everyone passes one guy at the start.

“The course is a little more challenging than I thought it would be, but it’s a good time for that course. I came across the line tired and that’s what I try to do every time.”

Mount Marty also claimed the women’s team title with a 37 and was followed by Midland, Wayne State, DWU, who scored 87, and Iowa Lakes Community College.

Mount Marty’s Kaylee Fly claimed the women’s 5K race with a time of 19:03.70.

Freshman Haley Brunke was the top finisher for the Tiger women in fourth place in 20:03.33.

“I wanted a little bit of a faster time, but we’ve been working really hard in practice,” Brunke said. “It’s at the point in the season where we’re a little bit worn out and that work will start to pay off soon.”

Skylar Forgey placed 13th in 30:56.33 and Court-Menendez took 20th in 21:55.77. Jamie Geho had a time of 22:34.63 for 24th, Kayleen Gupman finished 27th in 23:00.19 and Banister took 31st in 23:36.48.

“I think all the kids ran really well,” Belling said. “I’m proud of how they did at our home meet.”

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