Cross Country Wrap Up and the Beginning of Indoor Track and Field
Celebrating the Summit League titles from the men's and women's team plus Noecker's 44th place finish at the NCAA Championships
The SDSU men’s and women’s teams swept the Summit League Cross Country Championships. This is the third time in program history that the Jacks have took home both team trophies on the same day. No other program in the conference has achieved this feat even a single time.
Summit League Champs
It was another dominant performance at the Summit League Cross Country Championships for the SDSU men’s team. The Jacks, scoring 25 total points, had eight runners across the line before most team’s fifth — underlining their depth and dominant performance at the Bluffs Golf Course in Vermillion.
This is the program’s ninth straight conference championship and 13th Summit League title overall. The last team to win that wasn’t donning yellow and blue? IUPUI in 2015 — a university that has been renamed (IU Indianapolis) and now competes in the Horizon League.
Men's All-Summit League Teams:
First Team
Abraham Chelangam, Oral Roberts | 23:41.43
Carson Noecker, South Dakota State | 23:51.47
Cody Larson, South Dakota State | 24:15.93
Hunter Klimek, North Dakota State | 24:29.06
Josh Becker, South Dakota State | 24:35.56
Eli Hall, South Dakota State | 24:39.42
Jake Arason, North Dakota State | 24:47. 19
Second Team
Matej Hrebacka, North Dakota | 24:50.37
Ben Anteau, South Dakota State | 24:50.46
Natnael Kifle, South Dakota | 24:56.63
Ethan Moe, North Dakota State | 24:58.57
Nicodemus Rotich, Oral Roberts | 25:00.73
Jackson Dutcher, South Dakota State | 25:02.39
Isaac Ochoa, South Dakota | 25:04.67
Championship MVP
Abraham Chelangam, Oral Roberts
Newcomer of the Championship
Eli Hall, South Dakota State
Summit League Champs
The SDSU women, after finishing second in 2023, regained the Summit League title in equally dominant fashion to the men. Led by freshman Courtney Stadter, the women scored 41 points, well ahead of NDSU (70) and last year’s champions, USD (95). This is the program’s fourth conference championship since joining the Summit League.
Women's All-Summit League Teams:
First Team
Reagan Baesler, North Dakota State | 20:34.04
Eliana Malnourie, North Dakota | 20:58.29
Courtney Stadter, South Dakota State | 20:59.88
Naja Weier, North Dakota | 21:00.55
Grace Link, North Dakota State | 21:03.55
Madison Brouwer, South Dakota | 21:04.17
Meghan Ford, South Dakota State | 21:05.14
Second Team
Jessica Lutmer, South Dakota State | 21:07.82
Kamryn Ensley, Omaha | 21:07.88
Molly Desotell, St. Thomas | 21:24.68
Jenna Soine, South Dakota State | 21:31.54
Mya Kizer, South Dakota State | 21:36.27
Kayla Christopherson, South Dakota State | 21:37.10
Ava Pankratz, St. Thomas | 21:38.04
Championship MVP
Reagan Baesler, North Dakota State
Newcomer of the Championship
Courtney Stadter, South Dakota State
Noecker 44th at NCAAS
Carson Noecker individually qualified for the NCAA Championships after a 10th place finish at the Midwest Regional. Noecker, the top American-born runner at the regional meet, continued SDSU’s tradition of over-performing at the national meet by finishing 44th — a finish that even surprised the coaching staff. Noecker’s finish was just four places — and four seconds — short of an All-American certificate. Regardless, his finish underlines that Noecker is quietly emerging as one of the top young American distance runners in the country and should be a force on the track this spring.
What was your experience at the NCAA meet like?
I enjoyed the NCAA meet a lot, and enjoyed having a great amount of support from both teams and alumni.
What are your goals for the upcoming track season?
My goals for the upcoming track season are to stay consistent and to improve upon last year’s times.
*Noecker holds PRs of 4:14.78 (Mile), 8:17.04 (3,000 m), 14:00.42 (5,000 m), and 29:29.84 (10,000 m)
What are your plans for the winter break?
My plans for winter break are to stay consistent in my training schedule.
Indoor Schedule
Jan. 18 — USD Alumni Meet — Vermillion
Jan. 25 — Jim Emmerich Alumni Meet — SJAC
Jan. 31 - Feb. 1 — SDSU Open Meet — SJAC
Feb. 7 - Feb. 8 — Bison Open — Fargo
Feb. 8 — ISU Classic — Ames
Feb. 14 - Feb. 15 — SDSU Indoor Classic — SJAC
Feb. 21 — SDSU Last Chance — SJAC
Feb. 28 - Mar. 1 — Summit League Championships — SJAC
*Volunteers are needed to help run the home meets. Please email Coach St. John — david.stjohn@sdstate.edu — if interested.
Student-Athletes to Watch This Indoor Season
Hunter Wallster is a senior mechanical engineering major from Estevan, Saskatchewan, who competes in the throwing events — shot put and weight throw — indoors.
Madison Kizer is a graduate student from Howard, South Dakota, who competes in the high jump indoors.
Claire Beckman is a senior communications major (junior eligibility) from Andover, Minnesota, who competes in the middle distance events (Mile, 800 m) indoors.
Cody Larson is a senior from Warner, South Dakota, who competes in the middle and long distance events (Mile, 3,000 m, 5,000 m) indoors.
Early Season School Record(s)
Senior Jared Wipf set a school record in the 60 m at the SDSU Holiday Open on Dec. 6. Wipf’s time of 6.71 broke Coby Hilton’s 6.75 record from 2021. Senior Jake Werner also broke Hilton’s record, clocking 6.74 for second in the event.
Sophomore James Pierce broke a nearly 40-year-old record in the 300 m after he won the event in 33.65 . Pierce broke SDSU legend Jeff Tiefenthaler’s record of 33.96 from 1985.
SDSU’s Top 10 lists can be found here.
Alumni Reunion
The 2025 SDSU Track and Field/Cross Country Reunion is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 28 at the Coughlin Alumni Lounge at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. The reunion will coincide with the Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships at the SJAC. Food and beverages will be served.
Team Jerseys for Sale
A unique opportunity to purchase an official SDSU XC/TF jersey — based loosely on the Jim Emmerich-era championship teams from the 1950s — is now available. The jerseys, pictured below, are $100* and can be picked up at the alumni reunion this winter or can be shipped directly to you for $10. Email Coach DeHaven — rod.dehaven@sdstate.edu — with men’s or women’s size and quantity. Besides the singlet, there is also a thrower’s shirt (in the same design as the singlet) available.
Men’s sizes - Small — 3XL
Women’s sizes - XSmall — XXL
Orders need to be placed by Jan. 1.
*The $100 cost buys one singlet for yourself and one singlet for the team.
Jackrabbit Track and Field Association
The Jackrabbit Track and Field Association is a 501© (3) to help directly support and promote the student-athletes on the men’s and women’s track and field and cross country teams.
Donations to the JTFA will assist in covering costs associated with training cross country and track and field athletes as well as the expenses that come with traveling to national and international competitions.
In conjunction with KOOL Beans (a local coffee shop), the JTFA will be selling “Jacked Up” coffee (either whole bean or ground) for $20/bag. They will also be selling t-shirts with the JTFA logo for $25.
Donations can be made through either Venmo or PayPal.
Can’t get enough SDSU TF/CC? Be sure to follow the team’s Twitter account to stay up-to-date on the latest comings and goings. The team also now has an official Facebook page.