GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of North Dakota opened the 2011 cross country season today, hosting South Dakota State and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville at the annual UND Ron Pynn Invitational.

Senior Tyler Rose highlighted UND's season-opener with an eighth-place finish. A native of Brainerd, Minn., Rose clocked a time of 26:43.88 on the 8K course at the Ray Richards Golf Course.

The Sioux were defeated by SDSU and SIUE in the double-dual event.

"We had a good meet," UND Head Cross Country Coach Dick Clay said. "Tyler Rose was our number one runner, and that was to be expected. Behind him, some returners did a very nice job, and actually the freshmen were very impressive."

UND's freshman runners included Nicholas Lindstrom (Shakopee, Minn.) and Mark Harries (Plymouth, Minn.), who placed 12^th and 15^th, respectively. Sophomore Kyle Economy (Victoria, Minn.) sandwiched in between the freshman duo with a 13^th-place showing.

SDSU's Greg Vollmer took medalist honors with a time of 25:31.70, as the Jackrabitts placed the top three runners in the race and four of the top five.

The Sioux will return to action next Friday at the Eastern Illinois Walt Crawford Invitational.

Team scores and individual results are attached.

~ Go Sioux ~