The UND men’s and women’s cross country teams are entering their third year in the Big Sky Conference in a season that already has put forth a successful start.

Under the coaching of Dick Clay, one of the longest tenured coaches in North Dakota Athletics history, the teams will use their experience from their first meet this weekend at the Woody Greeno/Nebraska Invitational at Lincoln, Neb.

After kicking off the start of the season at North Dakota State’s Bison Open, the UND women notched victories in three of its four duals while the men’s team also was able to claim one of four wins.

The North Dakota women’s team returns senior and Grand Forks native, Erin Wysocki — who built a noteworthy junior season with all-conference and all-region accolades and became the first runner in UND’s Division I era to claim either distinction.

She also boasts a CoSIDA Academic All-District honor and is just one of 13 letter-winners on the team.

On the men’s side, Nate Peterson also will return for his final season after being named UND’s Most Valuable Runner last season. Fellow senior Mark Harries will join Peterson as the two seniors on the roster.

UND’s first home meet this season will be the UND Ron Pynn Classic on Oct. 18.

“We’re going to have some of the nation’s top teams — Northern Arizona (men) finished second nationally last year — right here in Grand Forks,” Clay said in a UND press release. “People locally who are interested in running will get to watch something in Grand Forks they wouldn’t normally get a chance to see. Having those elite Division I teams here is going to be exciting for everyone.”

Staff report