SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State women's cross country team finished 21^st, while the men's team placed 24^th at the NCAA Central Region Championships on Saturday at Yankton Trails Park.
 
The women's team finished 21^st out of 32 teams with a total of 615 points. U-Mary won the team title with 60 points—34 ahead of second place Minnesota Duluth—with U-Mary's Alexis Zeis capturing the individual title covering the 6,000 meter course with a time of 19:43.
 
SMSU was led by senior Hannah Palmeter, who finished 65^th out of 211 runners, with a time of 22:30. Teammate Kayla Jansky placed 84^th with a time of 22:53, Jen Keohen finished with a time of 24:20 to place 147^th, Kristen Weber crossed the line at 24:50 to place 165^th, Savannah Ramirez finished 168^th with a time of 24:55, McKenzie Besel was 179^th with a time of 25:19, while Emily Coldren was 190^th at 25:56.
 
The SMSU men's team recorded 688 points to finish 24^th out of 25 teams. Augustana won the team championship with 65 points, three points ahead of second place Missouri Southern. Vincent Kiprop from Missouri Southern won the 10,000 meter race with a time of 29:33.
 
Bashir Aidrus was SMSU's top finisher in the 170-runner race with a time of 33:41 to finish in 106^th place. Blake Wooten finished in 134^th place with a time of 34:44, Kelly Fitzsimmons was 148^th at 35:35, Ben Broze crossed the line in 150^th with a time of 35:52, Evan Bonneson crossed the line at 36:10 to finish 156th, ^Jackson Connelly was 160^th with a time of 38:23, while Chris Kveseth finished with a time of 41:48 to place 169^th.