The University of Minnesota Duluth men's and women's cross country teams will return to action at 11th annual Lewis Crossover will take place at the Lewis Cross Country Course in Romeoville, Ill.. The men's 8K will begin at 9:45 a.m., followed by the women's race at 10:30 a.m.

BACK AT IT: After an almost three-week break from competition, UMD returns to Lewis Crossover. 

The Lewis Crossover is the largest Division II cross country meet in the nation and brings together teams from across the country. Last season, the nationwide race welcomed 37 schools, ranging from Alaska Fairbanks to Palm Beach Atlantic in Florida. 

Last season, the Bulldog women had a brilliant showing, finishing 11th and defeating two nationally ranked teams in the race. Now junior Claire Becker was the third Bulldog in 89th (22:56.65, another season best), while current junior Ellie Hanowski (127th, 23:20.45) rounded out the team scoring for UMD in fifth, respectively.


On the men's side, the Bulldogs finished 35th overall, led by then freshman Isaac Dickenson, who ran a personal best of 26:22.30 (220). Current junior Connor Bialka was UMD's second finisher with a season best effort of 26:34.81 (243), while now senior Noah Foster also ran to a season best time of 26:57.72 as the Bulldogs third scoring runner (281st finisher overall). Then Junior Nolan Bakken (season best, 27:38.62) was UMD's fourth scoring runner.


LAST TIME OUT: Back on Sept. 19, both UMD cross country teams had a successful Saturday morning in Northfield, Minn. at the St. Olaf Invitational. The Bulldog women's side finished third overall, while the men's team placed sixth.


Senior Ellie Hanowski ran to a second overall finish with a season-best time of 22:43.4. Sophomore Lillian L'Esperance placed fifth overall and second for the Bulldogs with a personal best run of 22:56.3, while freshman Danica Kendrick placed 17th and third for UMD with a personal best time of 23:32.5. Sophomore Sadie Eicher finished 25th and fourth the Bulldogs in a season-best 23:48.3, and Brookelyn Kuechle was UMD's fifth runner in 41st place with a personal best time of 24:10.4.


Sophomore Isaac Dickenson was the first scorer on the men's side, finishing third overall in 25:34.1, while senior Noah Foster ran a 25:44.2 good enough for sixth overall. Senior Nolan Bakken finished with a time of 27:03.7 as UMD's third runner and 62nd overall, freshman Dylan Gerdes finished fourth for UMD and 90th overall in 27:31.7, and sophomore Rylan Mills rounded out UMD's top-five runners with a time of 27:55.


AT THE HELM: UMD head cross country coach Brette Jensen is in her fifth cross country season with the Bulldogs after taking the program over on Dec. 8, 2021. Jensen – who was promoted to the Director of Track and Field and Cross Country in August –  coached the Bulldog squads to a men's ninth place finish and women's third place finish in the 2025 NSIC Cross Country Championship, and helped Shaelyn Hostager to a third place finish and All-Region honor in the Division II Central Region Championships.