SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota - Under the lights of the Augusta Twilight Invitational the Cardinals men's and women's Cross Country teams charged their way to an impressive finish and solid start to their 2025 season.
The soccer complex at Augustana University boomed with the stampede of over 700 men's and women's runners, and the Cardinals made their mark on the competition.
The women, who ran a 5 kilometer race, were led by the ever shining Mya Slavin, who finished 19th out of the 319 runner field and not only broke her previous 5k PR by almost a minute, ran the fastest ever 5k by a female in SMU history in either Track or Cross Country, with a time of 17:57!
Kendra Schneider followed, setting a personal best on the course and breaking the 20 minute mark with a time of 19:56, earning her 125th place. Susan Bergeman, in her first ever Cross Country showing, boasted an impressive finish close behind her teammate, finishing 155th with a time of 20:17.
Katherine Goergen set a major PR on the course to start off her sophomore year, running a minute faster than last year with a time of 21:29 and placing 241st. Close behind in 244th, Addison Burckhardt also made an incredible debut appearance for the women, running 21:39. The 5 women strong team placed 18th out of the 26 division I, II, and III teams.
The men also had a strong first appearance, with the six man team placing 23rd against the tough competition.
Leading the charge was Isaiah Fitzgerald, who ran a new personal best on the 4 mile course with a time of 20:34 and placed 105th out of the pack of nearly 400 male runners.
Grant Schneider was the next Cardinal across the line, finishing 21:37 and placing 208th. Newcomer Sam Grywacz made a promising debut, finishing in 299th and running 22:43 on the 4 mile course. Levi Jacobs, the team's first freshman to cross the finish line for the Cardinals, also surprised himself with an incredible time of 23:17. Another first year, Liam Smith, made his debut with a time of 23:40.
Closing out the SMU men was sophomore Goi Ruei, who finished in 25:50. With all the promising finishes at this first meet, both the men's and women's harriers show great potential to shine this season.
The Cardinals compete next at Hamline on Friday, September 12th at 6:00 p.m.
