BROOKINGS, S.D.—Three women placed in the top-10 to lead South Dakota at the SDSU Classic held Friday evening at Edgebrook Golf Course.
 
Seventh-year senior Abby Ripperda, who received a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA following a season-ending injury last fall, led the Coyotes in her season opener. She placed third in the race with a time of 18:02.60 for 5,000 meters.
 
Freshman Madison Brouwer finished just behind her in fourth place with a time of 18:05.83. Brouwer was the Coyotes' top finisher last week at the Augustana Twilight. Fourth-year junior Abrielle Jirele joined them in the top-10, placing seventh with a time of 18:14.20. Tonight was Jirele's season debut as well. The trio's times were the eighth, ninth and 10th fastest by a Coyote at Edgebrook Golf Course.
 
For the second-straight week, sophomore Carson Lauterbach led the men's squad. He completed the 8,000-meter course in 26:17.61 and took 30th place.
 
In team scoring on the night, South Dakota finished third on the women's side and eighth on the men's side.
 
Joining the trio of Ripperda, Brouwer and Jirele in the women's starting five were fourth-year junior Abbie Schmidt and fifth-year senior Ella Byers. Schmidt finishes among the Coyote scorers for the second-straight week, finishing 26th overall with a time of 18:51.41. Byers was just behind in 28th place with a 19:08.13 clocking for her season opener.
 
Freshman Alexis Pagel and fifth-year senior Haley Miller were the Coyotes' pushers. Pagel took 32nd in 19:14.12 and Miller was 33rd in 19:17.24.
 
Finishing behind Lauterbach was junior Riley Ruhaak in 36th place with a time of 26:35.70. Junior Mason Sindelar, senior John Swotek and freshman Grant Dixon wrapped up the scoring five. Sindelar clocked 27:03.15 for his season opener and finished in 51st place. Swotek and Dixon both finished in the scoring five for the second-straight week. Swotek was 57th in 27:29.28 and Dixon was 59th in 27:46.52.
 
Pushing the Coyote men were sophomore Seth Fey and junior Jarek Glenn. Fey clocked 27:53.28 for 60th and Glenn was 64th in 28:05.15.
 
The Coyote cross country squad returns to action on Sept. 22 with the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn.