One Last Tune-Up Meet Before MIAC

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (10/19/19)---Concordia opened the season by racing in North Dakota and placing fifth at the NDSU Open. The Cobbers finished their pre-MIAC schedule by also competing in North Dakota and tied for fourth place at the UND Ron Pynn Classic at the Ray Richards GC in Grand Forks.

The tie for fourth-place finish is a step up from last year when Concordia finished sixth at the same meet.

Concordia was led by junior Munir Isahak. Isahak, who didn't compete in last year's UND meet, ran a 27:10 and placed 16th out of 106 runners. It marks the second time this season that Isahak has led the Cobbers at a meet.

Concordia had two other athletes finish in the Top 40 at the meet. Senior Eric Wicklund was the team's No.2 finisher as he crossed the line in a time of 27:34. Noah Kneeskern, who continues his late-season push as one of the team's Top 3 runners, was third for CC in a time of 27:59.

Jesse Middendorf and freshman Basil Ricker were the final two runners in the Top 5 team finishers who counted against the final team total. Middendorf was just outside the Top 40 with a time of 28:17 while Ricker clocked a 28:51 to earn his first team Top 5 finish of the season. Ricker started the season as the team's No.8 finisher at the NDSU Open and was No.10 on the team at the last meet which was the Jamestown Invite on Oct. 4.

Freshman Tanner Olson was the sixth member of the Cobbers to post a finishing time of under 29 minutes. Olson posted a time of 28:54. Like Ricker, Olson has also shown a ton of improvement over his first collegiate season. He was the team's No.15 finisher at the opening meet at NDSU, dropped to No.17 at the MSU Moorhead Twilight meet but has steadily climbed up the team rankings since the opening two meets of the year.

Nolan Christenson, Hans Frank-Holzner, Connor Haugrud, Solomon Johnson and Olsen Pancoast rounded out the Top 11 for the Cobbers and all finished the course in under 30 minutes.

UP NEXT: Concordia will now turn its attention to the MIAC Championship Meet. The Cobbers will compete at the conference meet on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 11 a.m. at Carleton College.

Saturday recaps sponsored by Bufffalo Wild Wings: Grab your friends and get to B-Dubs on Sunday nights for College Nights at 9 p.m. 50% off 1 food item with ID and $3 apps at the Buffalo Wild Wings located on Hwy 10 in Moorhead.