VERMILLION, S.D. – North Dakota competed in the Summit League Championships on Saturday on the campus of the University of South Dakota. The UND Women placed fifth ahead of Oral Roberts, Omaha and Kansas City and have never finished outside the league's top five. The UND Men recorded their fifth top four finish at the league championship with a fourth place showing beating out Oral Roberts, St. Thomas and Kansas City.
The UND Women saw two of their best individual finishes ever as senior Eliana Malnourie placed second with a time of 20:58.29 and freshman Naja Weiler finished fourth at 21:00.55. Highlighting the race for the UND Men was redshirt freshman Matej Hrebacka who placed eighth with a time of 24:50.37 to earn All-Summit League second-team honors.
Frida Giersdorff followed as the third UND female to cross and she did so in 22:10.95 to place 23rd. Gabrielle Wahl placed 37th at 22:45.33 with Elle Sondag not too far back in 39th with a time of 22:47.61. Olivia Correale logged a top 50 finish at 45th with a finish of 22:57.28. Rachel Hughes placed 50th at 23:15.67.
Louis-Lys Fanucchi was the second Hawk to finish and did so just outside the top 14 at 16th with a time of 25:05.33. Jonas Weschle (25:34.38) and Niko Angell (25:34.49) both finished inside the top 30 in 26th and 27th respectively. Aleksa Milanovic finished with a time of 25:53.88 to place 34th. Ian Busche placed 39th at 26:06.65 and AJ Ash crossed in 26:12.94 to finish 43rd.
How It Happened
UND Point Scorers (6K)
2. Eliana Malnourie – 20:58.29
All-Summit League First Team
4. Naja Weiler – 21:00.55
All-Summit League First Team
23. Frida Giersdorff – 22:10.95
37. Gabrielle Wahl – 22:45.33
39. Elle Sondag – 22:47.61
45. Olivia Correale – 22:57.28
50. Rachel Hughes – 23:15.67
UND Point Scorers (8K)
8. Matej Hrebacka – 24:50.37
All-Summit League Second Team
16. Louis-Lys Fanucchi – 25:05.33
26. Jonas Weschle – 25:34.38
27. Niko Angell – 25:34.49
34. Aleksa Milanovic – 25:53.88
39. Ian Busche – 26:06.65
43. Alan Ash – 26:12.94
Post-Meet Notes
- The UND men scored 101 points as runners finished 8-16-23-24-30-(34)-(38)
- The UND women scored 98 points as runners placed 2-4-22-34-36-(41)-(43)
- Weiler's placement is the highest by a UND women's freshman at the league's title meet
- For the first time at the Summit League Championships, the UND Women placed two runners in the top five
- The UND Women have seen at least two runners earn All-Summit League honors since the program's first SL title meet in 2018
Team Finishes:
2024: M-4th, W-5th
2023: M-3rd, W-4th
2022: M-4th, W-3rd
2021: M-5th, W-5th
2020-21: M-3rd, W-2nd
2019: M-4th , W-4th
2018: M-6th, W-4th
Top Individual Finishers:
2024: M – Matej Hrebacka (8th) / W – Eliana Malnourie (2nd), Naja Weiler (4th)
2023: M - Luke Labatte (2nd), Justin Jelaca (9th), Jamie Burns (11th) / W - Yonca Kutluk (1st), Jadyn Keeler (12th)
2022: M - Luke Labatte (3rd) / W - Jadyn Keeler (7th), McKenzie Burian (12th)
2021: M - Luke Labatte (17th) / W - Ellyssa Peterson (10th), McKenzie Burian (14th)
2020: M - Patrick Kipkemboi (1st), Luke Labatte (10th), Nick Oak (13th) / W - Ellyssa Peterson (5th), Erica Eades (6th), McKenzie Burian (9th), Conny Wohlfahrt (11th), Mikayla Weiss (13th)
2019: M - Luke Labatte (14th) / W - Madison Overby (6th), Hannah Oscarson (7th), Erica Eades (14th)
2018: M - Connor Danielson (12th) / W - Lydia Kantonen (11th), Madison Overby (13th)
Men's Top Finishes in Summit League History:
1. Patrick Kipkemboi (1st - 2020-21)
2. Luke Labatte (2nd - 2023)
3. Luke Labatte (3rd - 2022)
4. Matej Hrebacka (8th – 2024)
5. Justin Jelaca (9th - 2023)
Women's Top Finishes in Summit League History:
1. Yonca Kutluk (1st - 2023)
2. Eliana Malnourie (2nd – 2024)
3. Naja Weiler (4th – 2024)
4. Ellyssa Peterson (5th - 2020-21)
5. Erica Eades (6th - 2020-21)
5. Madison Overby (6th - 2019)
Up Next
North Dakota will next be in action at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Peoria, Illinois on Friday, November 15.
For more information on North Dakota cross country, visit FightingHawks.com or follow on social media @UNDtrackfieldxc.
-- UND --
