TIGERS WRAP UP 2021 CROSS COUNTRY SEASON AT GPAC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Orange City, Iowa – On a pleasantly warm fall morning, the Dakota Wesleyan University men's and women's cross country teams threw on the spikes and competed at the 2021 Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships on Saturday morning from Landsmeer Golf Course in Orange City, Iowa. After the results were finalized and the scores tallied, the Dakota Wesleyan women's squad notched an 11^th-place team finish in the 5K race while the men's team registered a ninth-place finish in the 8K.

Morgan Oedekoven, who clocked a time of 22:25.18, led the lady Tigers crossing the finish line in 54^th place. On her heels just inside the top-60 as well was junior Annika Vermeulen her traversed the course in a time of 22:52.05.

A trio of Tigers rounded out the scoring for the Blue and Gray including freshman Hallie Schmidt with a time of 27:02.21, Baylee Field in 30:31.79 and Delanie Larson in 30:57.44. 

In the men's race, Dakota Wesleyan freshman Caleb Sayler led DWU once again clocking a time of 28:57.25 good enough for 35^th place. Just off of Sayler's shoulder was junior duo Wyatt Baldauf and Justin Sorensen finishing in 42^nd and 46^th, respectively.

Sophomore Hunter Shanks and senior Zach Fieber completed the Dakota Wesleyan men's scoring as Shanks registered a time of 30:51.11 while Fieber navigated the 8K course in 69^th place.

 Both squads conclude the 2021 cross country campaign and will turn their attention to the 2021-22 indoor track and field season. DWU is scheduled to commence the indoor season next month beginning with the SDSU Holiday Invite on Friday, Dec. 3 in Brookings, S.D.

DWU Men's and Women's Full Results

Women's 5K Race:

54^th – Morgan Oedekoven – 22:25.18

57th – Annika Vermeulen – 22:52.05

72^nd – Hallie Schmidt – 27:02.21

76^th – Baylee Field – 30:31.79

77^th – Delanie Larson – 30:57.44

Men's 8K Race:

35^th – Caleb Sayler – 28:57.25

42^nd – Wyatt Baldauf – 29:19.85

46^th – Justin Sorensen – 29:27.52

60^th – Hunter Shanks – 30:51.11

69^th – Zach Fieber – 33:34.21