The women’s cross country team finished sixth place overall at the St. Olaf Invitational in Northfield, Minn. on Saturday, Sept. 16. With a total of 321 runners, the first female for Winona State University to cross the finish line was senior Raissa Hanson with a time of 22:42.9. She took fifth place overall, averaging a time of 3:42 minutes per kilometer.

The next runner to finish the race was sophomore Nikki Staffen, with a time of 23:33.8. Shortly after Staffen came senior McKenzie Fortier, with a time of 23:54.3, and not even a second later came sophomore Olivia Anger, with a time of 23:55.1. Next was Emily Tyrell, with a time of 24:10.9, followed nine seconds later by Anna Rogahn with a time of 24:19.6

Achieving fourth place in their Augustana University Twilight meet in Sioux Falls, S.D., and sixth place at the St. Olaf Invitational in Northfield, Minn., the team has had a hopeful start to the season.

“We look forward to what the season will bring,” Hanson said.

After their Augustana University Twilight meet, the women’s cross country team achieved the 25th rank in the NCAA Division II U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Poll.

Earlier this month on September 6, Hanson was recognized as the NCIS Cross Country Athlete of the Week.

“It is very rewarding to be recognized for all my hard work,” Hanson said. “Although I had a good first race, I, as well as our team, need to continue to work hard each day in order to reach our fullest potential.”

The next meet for the women’s cross country team will be the Blugold Invitational, hosted by University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. It will be on Friday, Sept. 29 with the women running at 4:15 p.m.

The Winona State men’s cross country team took sixth place overall at the St. Olaf Invitational on Saturday. With a total of 271 runners in the race, the team finished with three runners in the top thirty. The first to cross the finish line for Winona State was senior Charles Schauer, with a time of 26:45.1, taking 17th place overall. Schauer averaged a pace of 3:02 minutes per kilometer.

The next runner to finish for Winona State was senior Reed Parent, with a time of 27:04.9, taking 25th place overall and averaging a pace of 3:23 minutes per kilometer. The third Warrior to cross the finish line was junior Jesse Frank, who ran a time of 27:15.7 and finished in 28th place, followed 20 seconds later by first year Kyle Turba in 42nd place, with a time of 27:35.5.

Finishing in 10th place at their last meet at Augustana College and finishing 6th at the St. Olaf invitational in Northfield, Minn., the team has had a promising start to the season. Their next meet is the Blugold Invitational hosted by University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Friday, Sept. 9. The men will run at 5 p.m..