BLAINE, Minn. - The Bethel University men's and women's cross country squads each won the team title at their annual home meet, the Twin Cities Twilight on Friday evening. The Royals totaled 29 team points which topped 2nd place St. Scholastica's 41 points on the women's side, while the men tallied 41 team points beating three other conference teams - St. Scholastica, Hamline, and Augsburg.
 
WOMEN
"I am really proud of our women's team," said Interim Head Coach Kevin Rengo. "They ran with courage and were really united in purpose. I love seeing how this team supports and lifts up one another."
 
Sophomore Josie Harms led the Royals with a 3rd place finish in a time of 18:52 over the 3 mile course. Annessa Ihde ran a terrific season opener by finishing 4th in 19:09. Raina Moorjani and Laura Hardwick worked together through the final stages of the race to take 6th and 7th in times of 19:27 and 19:30, respectively. Ruby Gernandt led a pack of 3 Royals with a 9th place finish in a time of 19:38.
 
The Royals will race next in two weeks. Bethel will travel south to Northfield to run their first 6k of the year at the St. Olaf Invite on Saturday, September 17th. 
 
MEN
"Our men executed their race strategy extremely well for an early season meet," said Interim Head Coach Kevin Rengo. "The guys had faith in what we were trying to do, ran well together, and stuck their nose in it with courage."
 
Senior Aidan St. George was the top finisher for Bethel. St. George took 4th place in a solid time of 15:30 in the heat. Grant Graber earned 5th place with a time of 15:50, while captain Reese Thompson took 8th in 15:58. Freshman Tamu Abide and Gabe Kuecker ran a majority of the race together, with Abide pulling ahead to take 11th place in 16:13. Kuecker ran 16:17 for 13th place.
 
UP NEXT
The Royals will race next in two weeks. Bethel will travel south to Northfield to run their first 6k of the year at the St. Olaf Invite on Saturday, September 17th.