The South Dakota cross country team will open its 2003 season at the Iowa State Open on Friday, Sept. 12 in Ames, Iowa. Teams from Iowa State, Iowa, Drake, Truman State, BuenaVista, Wartburg, Graceland and Upper Iowa will participate in the meet at the Iowa State Cross Country Course (corner of Hayward Avenue and Mortensen Road) in Ames, Iowa.

About the meet

The women's meet is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. on the 6,000-meter course. The men's 8,000 meter run begins at 6 p.m. Results will be posted at www.usdcoyotes.com and www.cyclones.com

A tradition of excellence

South Dakota won a national title (men's team) in 1997 and finished third in 1998. The men's squad has qualified for nationals nine of the last 10 years. In the past decade, USD has won four men NCC titles, three North Central Regional men's titles,and a year ago, claimed their first-ever women's NCC title. In addition the program's achievements include six top-10 finishes (men's team) at nationals. USD has had 19 All-Americans during the past 10 years.

Women's team aims for second straight conference title

A year ago, the Coyote women's team won its first-ever North Central Conference title. With the majority of that team returning, the prospects are high again for the South Dakota women's team that is ranked #23 in the country.

"We should be better this year," said Kinnunen. "Our team is running much faster already this fall than we did at the end of last season," he said.

Leading the way will be senior Jennifer Feely (Fairmont, Minn.), who has claimed the No. 1 spot. The other returnees include junior Amber Friedrich (Algona, Iowa), No. 2; Jen Buller (Yankton, S.D.), No. 3; freshman Amy Steckelberg (Yankton, S.D.), No. 4; and sophomore Amy Nielsen (Mason City, Iowa), No. 5.

"Clearly our goal is to win the NCC for the second straight year, something that has never been accomplished by the women's program previously. I also think we can be a top-10 team. We have much better depth this season," added Kinnunen.

Depth will be provided by sophomore Mary Bennett (Scotland, S.D.), and freshman Amanda Roeman (Dell Rapids, S.D.), who was the 2003 South Dakota Class A State Track Meet champion in the 3200 meters.

A year ago, USD won the NCC title with 57 points, placing four runners in the top 12. Kinnunen was named NCC Women's Coach of the Year. Friedrich finished sixth (22.17), Feeley, 12th (2:50.14); Nielsen, 24th (23:28.84) and Bennett, 34th (23:46.95) at the conference championships. Due to injuries, the Coyotes did not fare as well as expected at the North Central Regional meet. USD was seventh with 236 points. Friedrich finished 20th (22.56.73) and Feely was 27th (23.16.80).

Men's team aims for top three finish in NCC

Coach Rob Kinnunen believes that the men's team has a chance to be one of the region's best programs and expects a top three finish in the conference.

USD will be led by sophomore Tony Turgeon (Sioux Falls, S.D.), who placed 82nd in the nation (33:32.6) a year ago. He also finished 25th (32:41.33) at the North Central Region and 14th at the NCC meet.

Supporting Turgeon will be Matt Dewald (Yankton, S.D.) at the No. 2 spot as well as juniors Bret Fransen (Edgerton, Minn.), Brenden Huber (Huron S.D.), senior Harvey Coble (Council Bluffs, Iowa) and freshman Tyler Wetering (Sioux Falls, S.D.).

"I expect Tony and Matt to be our top two runners and I believe they are as good as we had here recently," said Kinnunen. The Coyotes lost four seniors but Kinnunen feels that his squad will be solid. "We are in a rebuilding posture," said Kinnunen, "but we have several individuals that can step up," he said. Wetering is one of the newcomers expected to contribute immediately. Wetering, who won the South Dakota Class AA Cross Country meet a year ago, had an outstanding state track meet, earning MVP honors in Class AA. Kinnunen says he has already earned one of the top-five spots on the Coyote cross country squad. A year ago, USD finished second at the NCC meet with 52 points. The Coyotes were fifth at the North Central Regional with 168 points and 16th at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships (377 points).

Coble finished 127th in 34:36.8 at the D-II meet, 51st (33:25.04) at the region meet and 11th (25:29.57) at the NCC championships. Fransen was 125th (34:30.0) at nationals, 74th (34:12.11) at the regional meet and 39th (34:12.11) at the NCC meet.