SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — After a 656-day layoff, the Saint Mary's University cross country teams finally got to toe the starting line again Friday evening, taking part in the Augustana (S.D.) Twilight.
 
And the Cardinals — who had not competed since taking part in the NCAA Central Regional on Nov. 16, 2019 — made the most of their return to the course.
 
Amanda Tuvey (West St. Paul, Minn.), making her collegiate debut, led the way for the SMU women, while Quinn Steinbrecher (Holmen, Wis.) — also appearing in his first collegiate race — paced the Cardinal men's charge.
 
Tuvey toured the five-kilometer women's course in a time of 22:12 to edge out Cardinal teammates Anna Swanson (Osceola, Wis.) and Caroline Gearin (Osceola, Wis.) for the team's top time. Swanson stopped the clock in 22:15, followed closely by Gearin in 22:19, while Emma Ririe (Darien, Ill. / 22:54) and Rachel Simon (Foley, Minn. / 26:52) rounded out the women's lineup.
 
Steinbrecher stopped the clock in 22:45 in the men's four-mile race to claim top honors for the SMU men, while Isaiah Brindamour (Hinckley, Minn.) and Gabe Bickerstaff (Rollingtone, Minn.) rounded out the SMU men's runners, posting times of 23:56 and 24:06, respectively.
 
The Cardinals are now off until Sept. 18, when they travel to Northfield, Minn., to take part in the St. Olaf Invitational.