photos courtesy NSAA/VCSU Vikings Athletics/Cody Welu Photography

MADISON, S.D.(vcsuvikings.com)  – Angeline Gannon earned All-Conference honors for Valley City State University on Friday as the Viking cross country teams competed at the NSAA Championships.

Gannon, a VCSU junior, placed seventh in the women’s 5K race, earning the first All-Conference honor in her VCSU cross country career. She just missed out on qualifying for nationals, finishing eight seconds behind the final national-qualifying spot.

As a team, VCSU’s women and men both placed fifth at the NSAA championships.

Women’s 5K
Led by Gannon’s Top 10 finish, the Viking women totaled 114 team points and finished fifth. Viterbo University won the women’s title for the first time, scoring 41 team points. Dickinson State was second with 47 points, followed by Dakota State (62), Waldorf University (106) and VCSU (114).

Gannon crossed the line in a time of 20:59 to place seventh overall. Jasmine Barnes placed 26th with a time of 22:51. Avery Vasicek was 29th in a time of 23:18. Kyley Lauf finished in 24:24 to place 34th. Hope Ishizaka (36th, 25:22), Rebekah Gustine (38th, 25:34) and Keolani Sayles (44th, 29:13) also ran for VCSU.

Men’s 8K
Bryce Nelson and Govani Garza both had Top 20 finishes in the men’s 8K race to lead the Viking men. Nelson crossed the line in a time of 30:46 to place 15th overall. Garza was just one spot behind, finishing 16th in a time of 31:06.

VCSU’s men totaled 113 points to placed fifth out of six teams. Dakota State coasted to the men’s title with a score of 24. Dickinson State was second with 55 points, followed by Viterbo (88), Waldorf (109), VCSU (113) and Bellevue (120).

Jayden Wheeling took 23rd for the Vikings with a time of 31:49. Arik Christianson (29th, 33:03) and Konnor Stueve (41st, 42:17) also ran for the Viking men.

VCSU’s cross country season wrapped up with Friday’s meet. The Vikings will now prepare for the indoor track & field season this winter.