VERMILLION, S.D. – The South Dakota cross country program is set for a busy fall as they will compete in Omaha, Neb. twice, including the Summit League Championships, and make trips to Columbia, Mo. and Minneapolis, Minn. This fall.
 
South Dakota opens its' season at the Platte River Rumble "Gold" race in Omaha on Sept. 5. Last season, the Coyote men and women both placed second as teams. Three of the top five men's finishers were Coyotes last season, including Matnael Kifle's first place run of 18:00.7 and Isaac Ochoa's fifth-place time of 18:10.2. On the women's side, Madison Brouwer placed sixth running 18:10.6.
 
South Dakota will also run at the Griak Invitational in Minneapolis on Sept. 19 and the SDSU Classic on Oct. 3. The Yotes will make an appearance at the Pre-Nationals race, held by Missouri in Columbia on Oct. 18. Last season, the Yotes ran at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia as well. This year's NCAA Championships are scheduled to be held there as well.
 
Pre-Nationals is the final regular season race for the Yotes, who will turn their attention to the Summit League Championships, scheduled for Nov. 1 in Omaha. The Coyote men took third and the women fourth at the conference meet held at the Bluffs in Vermillion last fall.
 
The NCAA Midwest Regional is scheduled for Nov. 14 in Stillwater, Okla. and the NCAA Championships are scheduled for Nov. 22 in Columbia, Mo.
 
The Coyotes return three all-conference runners from a season ago, two men and one woman. On the men's side, Natnael Kifle and Isaac Ochoa were second team all-conference runners, while on the women's side Madison Brouwer was a first-teamer.