NEW ORLEANS—South Dakota women's cross country moved into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) regional rankings this week, coming in at No. 11 in the Midwest region.
 
The Coyotes posted at a ninth-place finish at the competitive Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday. The 202-person field included four nationally ranked teams and 13 regionally ranked teams.
 
Fourth-year junior Abrielle Jirele posted the fastest time in South Dakota's Division I era on the Les Bolstad course, clocking 21:41.9 for 16th place in the 6,000-meter race. She was joined in the scoring five by seventh-year senior Abby Ripperda, freshman Madison Brouwer, fifth-year senior Ella Byers and freshman Alexis Pagel.
 
This marks South Dakota's first time in the USTFCCCA's regional rankings since Sept. 14, 2022.
 
Next up for the Coyotes is the Bradley Pink Classic on Oct. 13 at Newman Golf Course in Peoria, Illinois.