SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — For the second straight year, the Saint Mary's cross country teams kicked off their season under the lights Friday night at the Augustana Twilight.
 
And for the second year in a row, the Cardinals gave head coach Darren Schneider some exciting, early-season fireworks.
 
Emily Kern (Buffalo, Minn.) led the way for the Cardinal women, touring the five-kilometer course in 19.50.95, while Granton Schneider (Moorhead, Minn.) — making his collegiate debut — led the way for the SMU men, posting a four-mile time of 21:28.67.
 
Caroline Gearin (Osceola, Wis.) was the second Cardinal across the finish line, stopping the clock in 21.07.99. Megan Frosch (Oconomowoc, Wis.) — one of three freshmen running in their first collegiate race — placed third among the Cardinals, breaking the tape in 22:03.40. Fellow freshmen Caeli McMahon (Holmen, Wis.) and Abbie Meyer (Sauk Centre, Minn.) added times of 22:18.20 and 22:41.52, respectively, with Amanda Tuvey (West St. Paul, Minn.) chipping in a time of 23:29.68.
 
Along with Schneider's 21:28.67 effort, Gabe Bickerstaff (Rollingstone, Minn.) chipped in a four-mile time of 23:57.65 and Isaiah Brindamour (Hinckley, Minn.) delivered a time of 24:19.46 for the SMU men.
 
The Cardinals are right back in action next Friday, heading to Highland Park Golf Course in St. Paul, Minn., to take part in the MIAC Preview, hosted by H