By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota cross country teams kick off their 2019 season on Saturday, taking part in the Saint Mary's Alumni Open. The men's race is set for 10:30 a.m., with the women to follow at 11:15 a.m.
 
The Saint Mary's Alumni Open Field:
• Saint Mary's, Luther, Winona State, Upper Iowa, Saint Mary's Men's Alumni, Saint Mary's Women's Alumni

Saint Mary's Alunni Open On The Web:
• Race times: Men—10:30 a.m. * Women—11:15 a.m. | Course Maps: Men * Women
 
Saint Mary's Last Action:
• Saturday's Alumni Open is the season-opener for both the Cardinal men's and women's teams.
 
Saint Mary's at Alumni Open — Their Last Appearance:
• September 2, 2017 * Winona, Minn.: Saint Mary's Austin O'Hare (Rushford, Minn.) and Danielle Franke (Mounds View, Minn.) made impressive statements in their first cross country meets of the season at the Saint Mary's Alumni Open. Franke kicked off the day with a second-place finish in the women's race, while O'Hare duplicated that feat a short time later in the men's competition. Fueled by Franke's effort, the Saint Mary's women placed second overall, while Cardinal men rode O'Hare's showing to a third-place finish | Recap | The 2018 Saint Mary's Open was canceled due to inclement weather
 
Saint Mary's Up Next:
• The Cardinals are back in action on Sept. 20-21, with a portion of the squad heading to South Bend, Ind., to take part in the National Catholic Invitational, while the rest of the teams will head to Northfield, Minn., to compete in Carleton's Running of the Cows.
 
Scouting The Saint Mary's Cardinals:
Men's Roster * Women's Roster | Schedule | Statistics
 • Danielle Franke (Mounds View, Minn.) was the first across the finish line for the Cardinal women at the 2018 season-ending NCAA Central Regional, touring the six-kilometer course in 24:27.48. … Franke's time at the NCAA Central Region was a season- and career-best — and the 10th fastest 6K time in program history. … Franke has led the Cardinal women in nine of the team's last 11 meets over the past two seasons. … Other top female finishers at the NCAA Central Regional included Anna Marinc (Carol Stream, Ill. / 25:06), Emily Ortiz (Albert Lea, Minn. / 25:59.9), Tabby Fabin (Elk Grove Village, Ill. / 26:28.9), Emma Ririe (Darien, Ill. / 26:44.7), and Molly Sweet (Prescott, Wis. / 28:07.1). … Marinc recorded a career-best 6K time of 25:02 to lead the Saint Mary's women to a 10th-place finish at the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships. … Jordan Malikowski (Royalton, Minn.) posted his career-best eight-kilometer time in the final meet of the season, clocking a time of 27:02.3 to pace the Cardinal men to a 23rd-place finish at the season-ending NCAA Central Regional. … Malikowski's time was not only a career-best, but also the fastest 8K time by a Cardinal in 2018. … Isaiah Olsem (Fulda, Minn.), who was the Cardinals' top finisher in each of the team's first four meets — including a career-best 8K time of 27:10 at the UW-Eau Claire Invitational on Sept. 22 — added a time of 27:15.1 at the Central Regional, followed by Ben Borash (Bowlus, Minn. / 28:12.7), Tanner Moris (Crandon, Wis. / 28:31.6), Jonathon Meaden (Rosemount, Minn. / 29:20.31), and Tyler Northey (Esko, Minn. / 29:50.7). … Olsem led the Cardinal men at the MIAC Championships, covering the eight-kilometer course in 27:48 to lead Saint Mary's to a 10th-place showing.