NEW BOSTON, Mich. – The Saginaw Valley State University cross country team returned to competition after nearly two years, traveling to the Wayne State Warrior Challenge to open the 2021 season Friday at Willow Metropark in New Boston, Mich.

The Cardinal women finished in third place in the six-team field with a score of 52, while the men were fourth out of eight teams with a score of 90. The host Warriors took the women's competition (31) and Michigan Tech (42) was first on the men's side.   

Freshman Alexa Keiser led the Cardinal women, finishing second individually with a time of 22:52.3. Junior Arianna Wegienka crossed the line in 11^th in a time of 23:24.0, while freshman Jenna Picard was 21^st with a time of 23:25.4. The top five for SVSU was rounded out by Lauren Buckner in 32^nd followed by Heather Czarnecki finished in 52^nd.

The SVSU men were led by CarLee Stimpfel with a second-place finish in a time of 24:55.4. Freshman Thomas Hufton was 18^th in a time of 26:11.8, while freshman Eric Niestroy finished 36^th crossing the finish line in 26:23.3. Carson Hersch closed the race in 61^st for the Cardinals followed by Alex Grifka in 90^th.

The Cardinals continue the 2021 season at the Michigan State University Auto Owners Invite on Friday, Sept. 17 in East Lansing, Mich.