NEW ORLEANS – For the first time since the 2014 season, the South Dakota men's cross country team has landed inside the top 15 of the USTFCCCA Midwest rankings, coming in at No. 15 this week.
 
In the first regular season Midwest Rankings, South Dakota comes in at No. 15 in the region, its highest ranking since week 4 of the 2014 season, when the Coyotes ranked No. 12. The last time the Coyotes were inside the top 15 was the final regular season poll of the 2014 season, where they were ranked No. 15.
 
The Coyotes are coming off a strong opening race showing at the Platte River Rumble-Gold race. Isaac Ochoa placed fifth, Natnael Kifle 12^th, and Piercze Marshall 15^th in Omaha against a field that included No. 14 Kansas State and both Nebraska and Creighton. Ochoa was the top runner from a Division I school with his fifth place finish.
 
The Yotes are back on the course this weekend, running in the Griak Invitational Friday morning in Minneapolis, Minn. USD is making its return to the Griak Invitational after not attending last season's race in the Twin Cities. The men's race is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday with the women's race to follow at approximately 10:45 a.m.
   
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