SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The Concordia-St. Paul men's and women's cross country teams began the 2024 season at the Augie Twilight under the lights on Friday night. The men's squad finished 13th out of 30 teams at the race and the women's team finished 18th out of 20. Every runner for both the men's and women's team posted a personal best time. 

The Golden Bear men were led by 2023 Second Team All-NSIC runner Will Sacay. The junior placed 42nd with a time of 19:37.24 in the four-mile race. Shortly behind Sacay was senior Emmett Faltesek in 44th with a time of 19:38.81. Faltesek crushed his time of 20:29.3 at last season's Augie Twilight.

Senior Matt Krummel placed 67th with a time of 20:04.8, which beat his time last season by 56 seconds. Sophomore Andrew Alexander placed 107th with a time of 20:26.69. Josh Krummel rounded out CSP's top five in 134th with a time of 20:47.94, an improvement of 1:49 from last season. 

Junior Andrew Boyum debuted for CSP at 158th with a time of 21:02.49. He was followed by Ethan Blischke in 182nd with a time of 21:13.11 and Travis Tock at 21:20.45. Every CSP men's runner that finished recorded a time that was an improvement from last season's Augie Twilight. 

On the women's side, sophomore Maddy Bryant placed 104th with a time of 19:52.96 in the 5K race. This was a 1:23 improvement from her debut at the Augie Twilight last season. It was also the 10th fastest time by a CSP sophomore in a 5K race and the third fastest time by a CSP runner at the Augie Twilight. 

Bryant was followed by Anna Sajdak in 110th with a time of 20:00.28. That beat her time last season of 21:11.0 and became the fourth fastest time at the Augie Twilight in school history. Senior Kelsey Thelen came in 138th with a time of 20:22.38, a 38-second improvement from last season. 

Nyadio Chan placed 158th with a time of 20:38.11, showing a remarkable improvement from last season's time of 22:52.8. Tess Houglum placed 194th with a time of 21:33.87 and freshman Elise Atkins debuted with a time of 23:29.63 to place 231st. Every women's runner that competed in the Augie Twilight last season improved their time this season. 

The men's team finished with a total of 337 placement points and an average time of 20:07.10. This was behind the Augustana unattached team in 12th, Northern State in 11th and Minnesota State in 10th. CSP finished ahead of other NSIC competition including Wayne State in 16th, Minnesota Crookston in 17th and Southwest Minnesota State in 23rd

The women finished 18th with 485 placement points and an average time of 20:29.52.  This smashed last year's team average of 22:02. The women were one placement behind Minnesota Crookston, but were ahead of Hastings College and Saint Mary's. 

Iowa Western Community College won the men's four-mile with South Dakota State and Nebraska close behind. Augustana was the highest NSIC team in fourth place which included Viking runner Ryan Hartman placing second individually.

On the women's side, Nebraska placed first with four of the top 10 runners. South Dakota State took second and Augustana placed third. Augustana's Ella Bakken and Ashley Overgaauw placed sixth and seventh respectively in the race to lead the NSIC individually. 

The Golden Bears will be off for two weeks to prepare for the Roy Griak Invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota that takes place at Les Bolstad Golf Course on Sept. 20. 

Men's Individual Placers (375 runners)

42 - Will Sacay - 19:37.24 - Personal best. Runs the second fastest four-mile race in school history only behind Ben Allen's 19:28.7 performance in 2019. Will runs the second fastest four-mile race by a CSP senior. Will runs the second fastest race at the Yankton Trails course.

44 - Emmett Faltesek - 19:38.81 - Personal best improving by 50.5 seconds on his 2023 race and 105.86 seconds faster than his 2022 race. Emmett runs the third-fastest four-mile race in school history. Emmett runs the third-fastest four-mile race by a CSP senior. Emmett runs the third-fastest race at the Yankton Trails course.  

67 - Matt Krummel - 20:04.80 - Personal best improving by 55.6 seconds from his 2023 race, 60.32 seconds from his 2022 race and two minutes 6.6 seconds from his 2021 race. Matt runs the fifth-fastest four-mile race in school history.  Matt runs the fourth-fastest four-mile race by a CSP senior.  Matt runs the fifth-fastest race at the Yankton Trails course.

107 - Andrew Alexander - 20:26.69 - Personal best. Andrew runs the eighth-fastest four-mile race in school history. Andrew runs the second-fastest race by a CSP junior. Andrew runs the eighth-fastest race at the Yankton Trails course.

134 - Josh Krummel - 20:47.94 - Personal best improving by one minute 58.3 seconds from his 2023 race. Josh runs the third fastest race by a CSP sophomore.  

158 - Andrew Boyum - 21:02.49 - Personal best improving by 4.51 seconds from his 2023 race.  Andrew runs the eighth-fastest race by a CSP junior.

182 - Ethan Blischke - 21:13.11 - Personal best improving by 31.1 seconds from his 2023 race and 47.02 seconds from his 2022 race. Ethan runs the ninth fastest race by a CSP junior.

194 - Travis Tock - 21:20.45 - Personal best. Travis runs the fifth fastest race by a CSP freshman.

Men's Team Notes

• The men finished with a top-five average time of 20:07. This was the best in team history at the Augie Twilight, which was better than the time of 20:38 in 2019.

• The time split between the first runner and the fifth runner was the best ever by a CSP team at the Augie Twilight with a team top-five time split of 70.7 seconds.

Women's Individual Placers (239 runners)

104 - Maddy Bryant - 19:52.96 - Personal best improving by 82.04 seconds from her 2023 race.  Maddy runs the 10th fastest time by a CSP sophomore. Maddy runs the third fastest race by a CSP runner on the Yankton Trails course.

110 - Anna Sajdak - 20:00.28 - Personal best improving by 70.78 seconds from her 2023 race, three minutes 36.38 seconds from her 2022 race and two minutes 34.93 seconds from her 2021 race. Anna runs the sixth-fastest time by a CSP senior. Anna runs the fourth-fastest race by a CSP runner on the Yankton Trails course.

138 - Kelsey Thelen - 20:22.38 - Personal best time improving by two minutes 48.12 seconds from her 2023 race and two minutes 23.35 seconds from her 2021 race. Kelsey runs the eighth-fastest race by a CSP runner on the Yankton Trails course.

158 - Nyadio Chan - 20:38.11 - Personal best time improving by two minutes 14.69 seconds from her 2023 race and three minutes and 8.91 seconds from her 2022 race. Nyadio runs the ninth-fastest race by a CSP runner on the Yankton Trails course.

194 - Tess Houglum - 21:33.87 - Personal best time improving by 17.73 seconds from her 2023 race, 38.54 seconds from her 2022 race and 51.44 seconds from her 2021 race.  

231 - Elise Atkins - 23:39.63 - Personal best time
 

Women's Team Notes

• The women finished with a top-five average time of 20:29.52. This smashed last year's team average of 22:02.

• The 18th-place team finish by the ladies was the second-best team finish at the Augie Twilight.

• The time split between the first runner and the fifth runner was the best ever by a CSP at the Augie Twilight with a team top five time split of 100.91 seconds.