SDSU-USD men harriers had some familiar company at SDSU Classic

Zach Anderson

Zach Anderson

The SDSU men’s cross country team placed fifth at the SDSU Classic, thanks to a seventh-place finish by sophomore Marshall Kambestad and a 10th-place finish by freshman Michael Krsnak at the SDSU Classic. The 8K race took place on Hobo Day (Oct. 4) in Brookings on a chilly mid-morning.

Kambestad finished the 8,000-meter race in a time of 25 minutes and 50 seconds, and Krsnak paced himself to a time of 26:05.

SDSU Alumnus Brad Lowery won the men’s race in 24:47 to lead the SDSU Alumni team to a fourth-place finish. Andrew Van Nurden finished 11th with a time of 26:05.

Nebraska had three runners in the top ten, led by David Adams, who finished fourth with a time of 25:34. Todd Gulizia came in sixth with a time of 25:47, and Mikel Thomas placed ninth with a time of 25:47 to help Nebraska win the team title. Kyle Custer placed 12th in 26:07 for the Huskers, while Peter Falcon came in 15th in 26:25.

NDSU came in second, while Minnesota State, Mankato took third.

Some of the teams that came to compete at the Classic represented a pack of former members of the North Central Conference. In all, six former members competed in the 8k: SDSU, North Dakota State, the University of South Dakota, St. Cloud State and Minnesota State, Mankato. MSU got the better of the former conference teams with a second-place finish, thanks to James Krajsa’s third-place finish in a time of 25:20.

The race was the first meeting between USD and SDSU since both of them became Division I teams; their team areas were located right next to each other. SDSU trumped USD in the race with its fifth-place finish. USD placed sixth.

Other SDSU finishers include: Brad Anderson in 30th with a time of 27:00, Joe Roby in 37th in 27:10, Kyle Schmidt in 53rd with a time of 27:31 and Lars Mattison in 66th in 28:14. Todd Vlieger came in 74th with a time of 28:27.

Kelly Hall finished 84th for SDSU in 29:07, Neil Albares in 86th in 28:11 and Alex Lohr in 118th with a time of 31:15.

#1.882375:1608807269.jpg:Cross.Country.JJ.CMYK.jpg:Jackrabbits’ sophomore Marshall Kambestad kicks it in at the SDSU classic. Kambestad earned 10th place in the 8k course at Edgebrook Golf Course. SDSU placed fifth place overall in the team’s race.:Jordan Jones