BISMARCK, N.D. – Senior Emery Smith led the way for the ladies with a top-10 finish while junior Jake Jenkins added a top-20 performance for the Minot State men as the Minot State cross country teams opened the season with a strong debut at the Marauders Invitational.

Smith ran a career-best time of 22 minutes, 44.92 seconds on Friday at the McDowell Dam Recreation Area, finishing 10^th at the season-opener hosted by the University of Mary, leading the Beaver women to a third-place team finish.

Close behind Smith was teammate Bailey Wride, helping power the top-3 team finish, as she was 12^th individually in 22:52.51 on the ladies' 6-kilometer course.

While Smith and Wride set the tone for the Minot State women, Jenkins powered a strong showing by the Beaver men, who were 4^th in the team standings.

The junior finished 17^th individually in 26:54.47 on the men's 8K course. Teammate Holter Bridwell was next, adding a 23^rd-place finish in 27:22.57 to help Minot State to another strong day of competition.

North Dakota State swept the team titles as the Bison women scored 17 points, followed by host Mary with 58, and Minot State with 88 points. On the men's side, the Bison scored 21 points, Mary was second with 54 points, Bismarck State third with 83, and Minot State fourth with 117 points.

North Dakota State's Jacob Knodle won the men's individual race title in 25:02.36, and the Bison's Reagan Baesler was the top women's finisher, completing the course in 20:50.98.

Afton Wride was next for the Minot State women as she finished 26^th in 23:57.96, then Julie Folk finished 35^th in 24:54.33, Addyson Wendt was 41^st in 25:56.95, Natalie Becker finished 42^nd in 26:08.24, and Nicole Reeves was 43^rd in 26:17.66 for the Beavers.

On the men's side, Nikita Neyshtadt was the third Beaver runner across the finish line, placing 31^st in 27:48.05, Camden Jasmin finished 41^st in 28:19.00, Peyton Tuhy was 44^th in 28:29.40, Nolan Berglof was 46^th in 28:36.63, Isaac Rathbun was 61^st in 33:04.17, and Auston Lemer finished 62^nd in 33:29.42.

With the season opener in the books for the Beavers, Minot State gets next weekend off before returning to racing in Minnesota on Friday, Sept. 19, competing at the Roy Griak Invitational hosted by the University of Minnesota.