Men's cross country runs well under the lights in Sioux Falls

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Simpson men's cross country team opened the season with a solid performance at the Augustana Twilight Invitational on Friday night.

The four-mile race was run under the lights at Yankton Trails on a one-mile loop and featured a stacked field, including teams from Division I and II.

Simpson – which was scheduled to open the season the previous week but had its home meet cancelled – placed 11th of 19 teams.

A pair of freshman led the Storm, who were without 2012 national qualifier, Joe Farrand. Ethan Pellegrino paced Simpson in 67th place (20:46.28), followed by Blake Willadsen in 71st (20:48.90).

"Our men ran about as well as we could of expected," head coach Heath Moenck said. "Hats off to Ethan and Blake, those two freshmen stepped up big for us tonight and led us.  We're young and inexperienced, but we didn't let that dictate how we ran."

Miles Kirts was the third finisher in 81st (20:57.90), followed by Nick Yaeger (110th, 21:23.35), Bryce Phillips (115th, 21:29.12), Andrew Mayes (127th, 21:36.81) and Max Nguyen (151st, 21:55.30).

Next up for the Storm is a trip to the Buena Vista Invitational on Sept. 20.