VERMILLION, S.D. (November 2, 2001) -- For only the second time in history, The University of South Dakota women's cross country team will be running at the NCAA Division II national meet after a fourth-place showing at the North Central Regional meet held on Saturday, November 3, in Omaha, Neb. The women's team scored 154 at the meet. For the first time in nine years, the men's cross country team did not qualify for the national meet after placing seventh with a score of 212.

Western State dominated both the men's and the women's meets, with Western State taking the top five places in the men's meet, and three out of the top four placing in the women's. The top six teams for the women will advance, while the top five teams will advance for the men. The NCAA Division II meet is scheduled for Saturday, November 17, in Slippery Rock, Pa.

South Dakota women's results

Leading the way for the Coyote women was freshman Amber Friedrich (Algona, Iowa) who placed 18th at the meet with a clocking of 23:05.1. Also for South Dakota was junior Molly Wedel (Spencer, Iowa) who came in at 23:11.1 for 22nd. Senior Aimee Dunlop (Woodbine, Iowa) was 28th (23:34.40), while sophomore Jennie Buller was right behind for 29th (23:35.8). Sophomore Jennifer Feeley (Fairmont, Minn.) was 58th with a time of 24:37.6 for the Coyotes.

Women-Top 10: Western State, 33; Adams State, 52; North Dakota, 125; South Dakota 154; Northern Colorado 163; North Dakota State, 204; Colorado-Colorado Springs, 208; Nebraska Omaha, 254; Minnesota-Duluth, 288; South Dakota State, 290.

South Dakota men's results

For the men, junior Adam Lindahl (Eden Prairie, Minn.) placed 24th with a time of 32:03.7. Junior Jacob Christensen (Hill City, S.D.) and freshman Brendan Huber (Huron, S.D.) were less than one-half of a second apart, with Christensen placing 35th (32:41.3) and Huber taking 36th (32.41.8). Junior Andy Nelson (Eden Prairie, Minn.) was 49th with a time of 33:12.3, while junior Joel Solomonson was 68th (34:09.0).

Men-Top 10: Western State, 15; Adams State, 66, South Dakota State, 81; Minnesota State, Mankato, 140; Ft. Hays State, 171; Minnesota Duluth, 177; South Dakota 212; Colorado-Colorado Springs, 215; North Dakota State, 274; New Mexico Highlands, 292.