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Cross Country Season Outlook
Dakota State's Cross Country Head Coach Trent Mack is ready for the season to get on the way. The Trojan men's and women's teams will be returning all individuals from last year's season with the exception of Kari Schaefer, who was a national qualifier in 2008. After a third place finish for the men and a runner-up finish for the women at the 2008 DAC Conference Championships, the Dakota State University Trojans hope to make another stride forward.
The men's team will be led by seniors Tyler Van Peursem and Anthony Drealan who were both DAC All-Conference finishers as well as national qualifiers this past season. In addition, they will be joined by return transfer Devon Berkness who also competed at the national cross country meet this past season. Berkness ran for the Trojans during the indoor and outdoor track seasons. "We could potentially have a very strong team," said Coach Mack. "It always helps to have leadership that has already competed at the national level." Another benefit as Mack explained is that Dakota State University will have much more depth on the men's team this season. Matt Fideler and Andrew Manning will return after having impressive outdoor track seasons showing major improvement in their abilities. Sophomore John Bintliff will also look to give the Trojans a boost after having a very promising season during his freshman year.
"We added some very good freshman that can continue to move the overall program in the direction that we would like to go," stated Mack. "This team brings a lot of energy with them and I know they are excited to get as I am."
The women's team may not carry the roster size that the men's team will, but still come in with some high expectations on the season. Sophomore Stephanie Warnke will look to build on an impressive freshman season after finishing DAC All-Conference, qualifying for nationals and being selected as the DAC Conference Freshman of the Year. Seniors Suzanne Swett, Clarice Bauer and junior Samantha Warnke also return from last season's top five and look to capitalize again on DAC All-Conference performances from last season.
"The women continued to improve all season last year and they have put together impressive summer of training in preparation for this fall," said Mack. "They ran well when it counted last year putting together an outstanding conference meet to earn a runner-up finish." Also returning, Loni Van Regenmorter and newcomers Brittany Young and Alyssa Protsch will help round out the women's team.
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