The Morningside men’s and women’s cross country teams both finished in the top 5 at the Dean White Invitational held Saturday on the campus of Doane University in Crete, Neb.

The Morningside men’s and women’s cross country teams both finished in the top 5 at the Dean White Invitational held Saturday on the campus of Doane University in Crete, Neb.

The women’s team totaled 104 points with a cumulative time of 1:41:50.91, which was good enough for a fourth-place finish in a nationally loaded field of 14 teams. Dordt placed first with 56 points, Hastings had second with 66, and Northwestern was third with 87 points.

Allison Higgins had the fastest run of the day for the Mustang women, clocking in at 19:08.47.3 and earning third place in the individual standings. Megan Maaske finished 18th with a time of 20:15.45.18, and Cassie Warner, Alex George, Morgan Roberts, and Tenna Beel all finished in the top 40 runners from the field of 154.

The men’s team had 150 points and total time of 2:21:47.82 to nab a fifth-place finish, with Dordt also capturing the men’s championship in the field of 11 teams. Anthony Patton led the Mustangs with a time of 27:24.55, placing him 16th in the individual standings, followed closely by Connor Ritz with a time of 27:28:53 and a 18th place finish.

Competition continues for the Mustangs on Oct. 6 at the Briar Cliff Invitational at McCook Lake, SD.

Top 5 Mustang Women XC Runners

3 Allison Higgins Morningside 19:08.47 3

18 Megan Maaske Morningside 20:15.45 18

24 Cassie Warner Morningside 20:37.35 23

29 Alex George Morningside 20:50.53 28

33 Morgan Roberts Morningside 20:59.11 32

Total Women’s XC Team Time: 1:41:50.91

Average: 20:22.19

Top 5 Mustang Men XC Runners

16 Anthony Patton Morningside 27:24.55 15

18 Connor Ritz Morningside 27:28.53 17

26 Dylan Lindstrom Morningside 27:53.82 25

60 Garrett Hanson Morningside 29:23.43 46

64 Michael Rizzi Morningside 29:37.49 47

Total Men’s XC Team Time: 2:21:47.82

Average: 28:21.57