MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State men's cross-country team will race into a new season aided by the addition of three strong freshmen recruits who join the Beavers this fall.

Minot State head cross-country coach Erik Stevens is pleased to introduce Carter Heggem from Sidney High School in Sidney, Montana, Caden Peterson from Sheyenne High School in West Fargo, North Dakota, and local talent Aijay Gourneau from Minot High School who have joined the Beavers cross-country and track and field teams.

A star in both cross country and track and field, Heggem is a two-time All-State performer in cross country and a four-time All-Conference runner in both cross country and track and field.

Last fall, he finished 12th individually at the Class A Montana State Cross-Country Championship, and at the Class A State Track and Field Championships this year he was 9th in the 1,600 meters in a personal-best time of 4 minutes, 33.38, and 11th in the 3,200 in 10:22.57 as a senior.

Heggem, who also played basketball at Sidney HS and plans to major in Radiologic Technology at Minot State, earned All-State Academic honors in both cross country and track and field all four years.

"It is very clear to me that Carter can and will do great things for MSU cross country and track and field," Coach Stevens said. "He is a tremendous talent who just knows how to work. I very much look forward to seeing his accomplishments flourish both on and off the track."

Peterson finished 71^st at the North Dakota Class A State Cross-Country Championship last fall for Sheyenne HS, which finished 8^th as a team.

He also competed in track and field, clocking personal-best times of 4:39 in the 1,600, 10:28 in the 3,200, and 17:19 in the 5,000.

Also a hockey player in high school, Peterson plans to major in Finance at Minot State.

"I'm really excited to welcome Caden to the distance program," Stevens said. "From day one, I have already seen him stepping up and putting himself in position to do great things."

Staying at home in Minot, Gourneau joins the Beavers after clocking personal-best times of 4:56.63 in the 1,600 and 2:03.39 in the 800 as a senior, along with helping the Magicians 4x400 relay finish 14^th at the Class A state meet.

Gourneau, who also played soccer and basketball at Minot HS and graduated with highest honors, intends to major in Kinesiology at Minot State.

"As a coach, you want to work with guys like Aijay," Stevens said. "He just shows up and puts in the work! He has the mentality that nothing is going to hold him back."