ASHLAND, Neb. – South Dakota cross country is set to open its' 2025 season Friday night at the Platte River Rumble in Ashland, Nebraska.
 
The Coyotes will race in the Platte River Rumble "Gold" race for the second consecutive season. The race is held at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park in Ashland. The race is schedule for a 6 p.m. start for the women's 5k and a 6:45 p.m. start for the men's 6k.
 
THE YOTES
South Dakota was picked fourth in the women's Summit League preseason poll and fifth in the men's preseason poll last week. USD's athletes to watch are Geneva Timmerman and Abrielle Jirele on the women's side and Natnael Kifle and Isaac Ochoa on the men's side. Three of the four Yotes named athletes to watch are former all-conference runners.
 
At last year's Platte River Rumble "Gold" race, both the men and women placed second. In the women's race, Madison Brouwer placed sixth in 18:10.6 and Peyton Svehla took 11^th in 18:23.0. The top six Coyotes placed inside the top 20. In the men's race, Kifle was the individual champion, running 18:00.7. Ochoa placed fifth in 18:10.2. Piercze Marshall added a ninth place 18:15.5 time. USD had four runners inside the top 10.
 
RACE INFO
The women's 5k consists of a 1k loop, a 2k loop, and a hybrid 2k loop to finish. The men's 6k will have the same starting 1k lap, followed by a pair of 2k laps, and will finish with a 1k lap. The course map and meet info can be found here.

Team's competing in Friday's race alongside USD include: Creighton, Highland CC, Indian Hills CC, Iowa Western, Kansas State, Missouri Western, Nebraska, Nebraska-Kearney, Northwest Missouri State, Omaha, and Southeast CC.
 
Live results provided by Black Squirrel Timing can be found online. This is the first of four regular season races for South Dakota, who will be back in action September 19 at the Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn. For their second race of the year. The Summit League Championships will be hosted by Omaha this fall, scheduled for Nov. 1.  
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