MOORHEAD, Minn. – Minnesota State Moorhead cross country began the 2026 season on Friday evening at the MSUM-hosted Dragon Twilight Invitational. Moorhead was led by top finishers
Katelyn Kennedy and
Salman Mohamed.
The women's Randy Smith 5000m would begin the college races with Moorhead's women earning a fourth-place team finish. Senior
Katelyn Kennedy was MSUM's top individual finisher, placing 15
th overall with a time of 19:40.8. Kennedy was the top NCAA Division II finisher in the field.
Emma Jamison and
Ava Dunnigan would see strong Dragon debuts, finishing 22
nd and 23
rd respectively. Jamison finished at 20:06.7 while Dunnigan clocked a 20:12 for the finish.
Lezah Dean would mark a 21:27.5 for Moorhead to place 39
thoverall while
Sophia Ness rounded out the top five with a time of 21:27.5. Rounding out the Dragon runners were
Abbigail Thoma (21:33),
Madilyn Albarado (22:30.4),
Chloe Sargent (22:32.6),
Katie Ebnet (22:33.1),
Livia Nelson (22:46.5) and
Eden Andres (23:19.1).
MSUM's men's outfit would earn a third-place team finish behind a strong run from
Salman Mohamed. The junior would place 13
th overall behind a 6k mark of 18:12.8. Mohamed was also the top Division II finisher in the field.
Chase Hoechst would not be far behind his teammate, placing 15
th with a time of 18:15.6.
Janis Riekstins would also finish within the top 20 for Moorhead, placing 18
th with a time of 18:22.3.
Seth Meikle (18:32.1) and freshman
Owen Winter (18:40.9) would be the final Dragons in the scoring column, placing 24
th and 25
th respectively. MSUM also had a host of entrants finish within the top 40 including
Blake Frazer (18:44.7),
Lander Lahtinen (18:48.8),
Hunter Haugen (18:53.7),
Preston Holewa (18:57.1) and
Jared Gregoire (19:04.6).
Concluding the Dragon competitors were
Owen Cowan (19:12.6),
Jaxon Rolle (19:19.2),
Logan Martinez (19:24),
Luke Buentello (19:28.2),
Caleb Osterberg (19:30.5),
Ivar Martell (19:58),
Austin Dibble (19:59.5),
Will Massmann (20:10.6),
Eric Olson (20:25.6),
Jolaun Lewis (20:27.1) and
Charlie Hibbs (21:44.5).
Up Next
MSUM will compete next on Friday, September 25 at the Augustana Invitational at Yankton Trail Park. The men's race begins action at 10:15 a.m. before the women's run at 11 a.m.
