The NCAA News - News and Features

December 1, 1997

South Dakota runs to its first cross country championship

When it comes to men's cross country, South Dakota never has been considered one of the premier programs in Division II circles.

Not until now.

Joel Fenske and Matthew Hoyt each registered top-10 individual finishes and South Dakota totaled 78 points to win its first Division II Men's Cross Country Championships team title November 22 at Wisconsin-Parkside.

South Dakota, which previously finished no higher than seventh in the event, edged Central Missouri State by five points. The Mules accumulated 83 points to finish as runner-up for the second time in three years.

Adams State edged Western State, 102-103, for third place, while Ashland equaled its best championships finish by placing fifth.

Elly Rono of Southern Indiana won the individual championship, covering the 10,000-meter course in 31 minutes, 13.9 seconds.

Fenske and Hoyt placed seventh and ninth, respectively, to set the pace for South Dakota. Fenske finished in a time of 32:07.8, while Hoyt was six seconds back at 32:13.8.

Chad Feeldy and Mike Gade joined Fenske and Hoyt among the top-20 finishers, placing 11th and 13th, respectively.

Mark Nelson rounded out South Dakota's scoring by placing 43rd overall in 33:14.5.

Rono cruised to Southern Indiana's first individual championship, outdistancing runner-up Vladimir Golias of Central Missouri State by 40 seconds.