TJ Leverentz/Winonan

The Winona State University women’s cross-country team took a 3rd place finish at the St. Mary’s University No Limit Invitational Sept. 27, where the men’s team also competed, posting a 4th place finish. The women also competed at the Roy Griak Invitational Sept. 28, finishing 10th.

The women’s team competed at the SMU No Limit Invitational Sept. 27, where three runners finished in the top 20.

Kelsey Schaefer earned a third place finish of 25:12 to lead the Warriors to a third place finish. Nikita Fetter came in with a time of 25:56, which earned her a 17th place finish, and Taylor Rambo crossed the line in 25:58, finishing 18th.

“St. Mary’s is a brutal course,” head coach Brett Ayers said, “I want our runners to relax before our big race in Eau Claire next weekend.”

The month of October is shaping up to be a crucial stretch for the Warriors, with the Eau Claire Invite on Oct. 4 and the NSIC Championship Oct 26.

The men also competed at the SMU No Limits Invitational, where their best runners sat out.  Shane Carlson led the way, finishing third with a time of 27:32. David Lund, Clay Scott and Nathan Mollen also helped lead the Warriors to a fourth place finish with finishes in the top 25.

The men’s schedule picks up in October, where the Warriors will encounter more conference teams and will travel a significant amount.  “It will be exciting to watch the men as we get into October,” Ayers said.

The men will compete in Eau Claire Oct. 4. The Warriors will then travel to West Salem, Wis. before they begin the postseason with the NSIC Championships in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Warrior Jessica Young led the women’s team to a 10th place finish at the Roy Griak Invitational Sept. 28.

Young finished 21st overall and teammate Jordan Skelly finished 38th with 23:38.

“Jessica has had a solid year for us,” Ayers said. Young has been the top finisher for the Warriors in every meet she has started.

“The team and I have been training a lot this season.  We’ve put in a lot of miles over the summer,” Young said. For the remainder of the season she said hopes to give 110 percent effort and be the best runner she can be.

Despite Young’s success this season, the Warriors have dropped from 9th to 22nd in the rankings. “It’s a weird system; a team that has barely raced all season jumped in front of us,” Ayers said.

Another factor that may have contributed to the drop is injuries.

“We have had five girls out with injuries, so our freshmen have had to step up,” Ayers said. He said he is expecting to gain a couple of runners by the Oct. 4 meet in Eau Claire.

Up next for the women is the Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugold Invitational Oct. 4 in Colfax, Wis.

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