SAINT PETER, Minn. – The Gustavus men’s and women’s cross country teams unofficially kick off their 2019 campaigns Saturday by running in the annual alumni meet. The women’s race starts at 10 a.m. and the men are at 10:45 a.m.
This season’s men’s team features 22 returners and nine first-years while the women also have 22 returners and 10 first-years.
“It’s exciting to have so many returners back for both leadership and setting the tone,” Head Coach Brenden Huber said, who is in his third season at the helm. “We have some big goals this year and they understand what it takes to get us there. A lot of dedication from summer workouts is already paying off. We have a multitude of kids running better than they did last year, and plug in some new kids that are learning the right way quickly.”
Andrew Stumbo (Jr., Boone, Iowa) is the top returner for the men after earning USTFCCCA All-Region honors last season. Stumbo took eighth place out of 210 runners at the 2018 NCAA Central Region meet and then took 98th at the national meet. Sophomores Noah Johnson (Stillwater, Minn.), Garet Grant (Winona, Minn.), and Ben Wicklund (Marine on St. Croix, Minn.) also had positive results at the regional meet, finishing in the top-80. The Gustie men last year took sixth at the MIAC meet and ninth at the regional.
The men’s team this year is captained by Stumbo, Bridger Pavelka (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.), and Nathan Scruggs (Jr., Mankato, Minn.).
“They’ve done a wonderful job of setting the tone for the men,” Huber said. “They are more serious and business-like than I expected out of those three so it’s been a lot of fun.”
Tierney Winter (Sr., Waterville, Minn.) and Iliana Ramon (So., Fairmont, Minn.) led the women’s squad last season, taking 27th and 29th, respectively, at the regional meet to earn All-Region honors. Kourtney Kulseth (Jr., New Richland, Minn.) also had a successful season, helping the Gusties finish sixth at both the conference and regional meets.
Captaining the women’s team this year are Sarah Anderson (Sr., Roseville, Minn.), Gabriella Passmore (Sr., Mapleton, Minn.), and Elizabeth Kvebak (Jr., Detroit Lakes, Minn.).
“They bring a lot of positive energy and team unity,” Huber said. “They are really encouraging of all the ladies and bring a positive environment.”
The Gustie women last won a MIAC championship in 2012 and its been 58 years since the Gustie men hoisted the conference trophy, and both squads have their eyes set on competing in the upper echelon of the MIAC this season.
“We’ve communicated that every aspect of our training has to be done with purpose and focus,” Huber said. “Whether it’s taking care of ourselves before runs, sleeping, or eating… we need the full body of work to take that next step and compete at the next level.
“It’s exciting to see how dedicated they are to a common goal. Everybody is really focused. Going into the summer we talked about that it doesn’t matter if you’re at the front or back of the pack, we need everyone on the same page working their tails off for one team goal. This group is committed and can’t afford any distractions if we are going to take the next step. If we can navigate through the season with limited injuries and setbacks, it should be a very successful year for us.”