SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—South Dakota women's cross country captured its fifth-straight Augustana Twilight title on Friday night at Yankton Trail Park. Fifth-year junior Abby Ripperda finished runner-up in the women's race and fourth-year junior Merga Gemeda took second in the men's field.
 
The Coyote women edged out Nebraska and Augustana by 13 points. South Dakota totaled 70 points while the Huskers and Vikings each finished with 83. South Dakota State took fourth in the women's team race with 94 points.
 
South Dakota's men were the fourth collegiate team in the race with 145 points. The Jackrabbits took the men's team title.
 
Ripperda, a product of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, finished runner-up with a time of 18:15.90 for 5,000 meters. She was less than a second behind the meet winner, Leah Hansen of South Dakota State. Ripperda was the defending champion, winning the 2019 meet in 16:47.07.
 
Gemeda completed the men's four-mile course in 19:34.27 for second place. He led into the final loop, but it was Augustana's Ryan Hartman that came out on top.
 
Fourth-year junior Maddie Lavin, fresh off a trip to the Triathlon World Junior Championships, placed third in the women's field behind Ripperda. She clocked a time of 18:20.39.
 
The Coyote women's other three scorers finished in a pack. Third-year sophomore Ella Byers placed 22nd with a time of 18:55.36, freshman Melanie Pankow took 25th in 18:57.00 and second-year freshman McKenna Herrmann was 26th in 18:57.14.
 
Second-year freshman Abrielle Jirele and third-year sophomore Helen Gould were pushers for the Yotes. Jirele crossed the line in 31st and Gould was 40th.
 
Behind Gemeda in the men's race was third-year sophomore Charlie Babcock in 18th place. Babcock crossed the finish line in 20:18.52. He was followed by third-year sophomore Alec Atwood in 24th place with a time of 20:34.46.
 
Second-year freshman Jarek Glenn and freshman Mason Sindelar rounded out the Coyote scorers in their Coyote cross country debut. Glenn clocked 21:04.04 for 55th and Sindelar notched a time of 21:09.26 for 60th.
 
Third-year sophomore Jacob Waymire took 62nd and third-year sophomore Braden Peters was 108th to finish as the Coyote pushers.
 
South Dakota returns to action at the Woody Greeno Invitational on Sept. 18 in Lincoln, Nebraska.