STURGIS, S.D. – Chadron State cross country hit the starting line for the first time in 2024 when the men's and women's programs each competed at the Gage McSpadden Memorial Invite, hosted by Black Hills State University, on Friday.

Both the CSC men and women came fourth out of five competing teams at the conclusion of a 6K men's run and a 4K women's run. The Eagles trailed RMAC programs Colorado Christian, Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines while running ahead of North Dakota's Dickinson State.

Sophomore Wyatt Bly was CSC's top men's finisher, running a time of 19:41.97 to score 17 points for the Eagles. Senior Blaine Johnson, a Sheridan, Wyoming native, was a few seconds back in 19:45.21. Kyle Shirley (19:57.59), Miles Mitchell (21:58.72) and Adam Beard (22:18.18) rounded out the scoring five for the Chadron State men. The Eagles finished with a team score of 118, 12 points ahead of Dickinson State and 51 points back of third-place Black Hills State.

In the women's race, sophomore and McCook native Samantha Rodewald was CSC's top individual finisher of the day, crossing the line 10^th in a time of 15:28.90. Senior Alissa Wieman (15:42.80) and junior Lydia Peters (15:48.02) were 15^th and 16^th, respectively. Kyndall Carnahan and Katelyn Beshara finished out the scoring five for CSC in the top 25 as Chadron State finished with a team score of 88 points, 15 points behind third-place South Dakota Mines and 58 points ahead of Dickinson State.

Both teams will compete next in two weeks at the MSU Denver Invitational in Denver on September 21.