BROOKINGS, S.D. – The South Dakota State men, ranked No. 8 in the Midwest Region, and the South Dakota women, sitting at No. 11 in the Midwest Region, secured the 2023 Summit League Cross Country Championship crowns Saturday at Edgebrook Golf Course in Brookings, S.D.
 
On the men’s side, in a tie-breaker situation based on the NCAA and The Summit League rules, the Jackrabbits captured their eighth-consecutive championship trophy, with a total of 46 team points. South Dakota State secured the tie-breaker over the Bison who took second with 46 points as well. North Dakota totaled 66 points good for third place while St. Thomas finished fourth with 71 points. South Dakota (150), Oral Roberts (177) and Kansas City (187) rounded out the standings for the men.
 
The Coyote women place four in the top seven en route to 50 total team points to walk away with their sixth Summit League team title. South Dakota State finished runner-up with 55 total team points while defending champion North Dakota State took third with 69 points. North Dakota (78), St. Thomas (122), Omaha (160), Kansas City (195) and Oral Roberts (212) completed the standings on the women’s side.
 
Top Performers
On the men’s side, South Dakota State freshman Carson Noecker dominated the field at his debut Summit League Cross Country Championships. The newcomer ran his way to the individual title crossing the finish line in an 8K time of 24:17.2, nearly 23 seconds ahead of second place.
 
Noecker’s win today makes him the only student-athlete on the men’s side to be crowned the Championship MVP and Newcomer of the Championship at the same League Championship meet since the creation of the awards.
 
For the women, for the first in program history, North Dakota ran away with the individual crown and Championship MVP title after Yonca Kutluk crossed the finish line in a 6K time of 20:56.01, 10 seconds ahead of three-time defending champion Leah (Hansen) Hisken of South Dakota State (21:06.8).
 
South Dakota’s Madison Brouwer is the first Coyote since 2016 to take home the Newcomer of the Championship honor. She was the first true freshman to cross the finish line clocking a time of 21:17.52 good for a fourth-place individual finish.
 
Men's All-League Teams:
First Team
Carson Noecker, South Dakota State | 24:17.13
Luke Labatte, North Dakota | 24:40.07
Zach Johnson, North Dakota State | 24:44.30
Caden Nordberg, St. Thomas | 24:47.92
Josh Becker, South Dakota State | 24:51.30
Daniel Burkhalter, South Dakota State | 24:53.05
Charles Caven, St. Thomas | 24:53.99
 
Second Team
Symon Keiser, North Dakota State | 24:55.40
Justin Jelaca, North Dakota | 24:55.78
Hunter Klimek, North Dakota State | 24:57.25
Jamie Burns, North Dakota | 24:58.28
Payton Smith, North Dakota State | 25:03.89
Tyson Mahar, North Dakota State | 25:05.12
Jake Arason, North Dakota State | 25:12.77
 
Championship MVP
Carson Noecker, South Dakota State
 
Newcomer of the Championship
Carson Noecker, South Dakota State
 
Scholar of the Championship
Daniel Burkhalter, South Dakota State
 
Women's All-League Teams:
First Team
Yonca Kutluk, North Dakota | 20:56.1
Leah Hisken, South Dakota State | 21:06.71
Abby Ripperda, South Dakota | 21:13.97
Madison Brouwer, South Dakota | 21:17.52
Abrielle Jirele, South Dakota | 21:17.64
Ella Byers, South Dakota | 21:18.64
Grace Link, North Dakota State | 21:20.78
 
Second Team
Molly Desotell, St. Thomas | 21:21.30
Jessica Lutmer, South Dakota State | 21:24.50
Mya Kizer, South Dakota State | 21:28.75
Reagan Baesler, North Dakota State | 21:38.00
Jadyn Keeler, North Dakota | 21:44.01
Jentrie Alderson, Kansas City | 21:52.34
Claire Beckman, South Dakota State | 21:54.06
 
Championship MVP
Yonca Kutluk, North Dakota
 
Newcomer of the Championship
Madison Brouwer, South Dakota
 
Scholar of the Championship
Abrielle Jirele, South Dakota
 
Notables

• Noecker is the first men’s student-athlete since the creation of the awards to be named both the Newcomer of the Championship as well as the Championship MVP at the same championship meet.
• Noecker is the third-consecutive Jackrabbit to walk away with the Championship MVP honor.
• South Dakota State extended its League record and took home its eighth-straight Summit League men’s championship title.
• The tie-breaker giving South Dakota State the advantage over North Dakota State was based on comparing in order the place finish of each of the five scoring members of the tied teams. The team with the majority of winning comparisons was awarded the tie-breaker.
• North Dakota’s Labatte and South Dakota State’s Becker earned All-Summit League first team honors for the second consecutive season. The Jackrabbits’ Burkhalter garnered his third-straight first team accolade.
• North Dakota State’s Arason, Keiser and Klimek all walked away with their second-straight All-Summit League second team honors.
• North Dakota’s Yonca Kutluk became the first Fighting Hawk in Summit League history to take home the women’s title and Championship MVP award.
• South Dakota won its sixth Summit League Cross Country Championship team title and first since 2018.
• South Dakota State’s Hisken and North Dakota State’s Link were the only two from last year’s All-Summit League first team to repeat this year.
• North Dakota State’s Baesler and South Dakota State’s Kizer earned spots on the All-Summit League second time for the second straight season.

Final Standings

Men:	Women:
1st place – South Dakota State (46)	1st place – South Dakota (50)
2nd place – North Dakota State (46)	2nd place – South Dakota State (55)
3rd place – North Dakota (66)	3rd place – North Dakota State (69)
4th place – St. Thomas (71)	4th place – North Dakota (78)
5th place – South Dakota (150)	5th place – St. Thomas (122)
6th place – Oral Roberts (177)	6th place – Omaha (160)
7th place – Kansas City (187)	7th place – Kansas City (195)
	8th place – Oral Roberts (212)

 
Up Next
All of our teams look ahead to the 2023 NCAA Midwest Regional set for Friday, Nov. 10 in Stillwater, Okla.