Dakota State landed four runners in the Top 10 to lead them to the 2024 North Star Athletic Association Women’s Cross Country Championship title, hosted by Valley City State University at the Valley City Town & Country Club in Valley City.

Dakota State recorded 35 points (3, 5, 7, 9, 11) in the conference meet, securing the win by double digits. Jamestown came in second place with 52 points (6, 8, 10, 13, 15), while Valley City State took third with 81 (2, 4, 24, 25, 26). Dickinson State finished fourth with 84 points (12, 14, 16, 20, 22) and Bellevue came in fifth at 107 (1, 21, 27, 28, 30).

Dakota State will represent the NSAA at the NAIA National Cross Country Championships on Friday, Nov. 22, at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia, Mo.

Madison Nelson of Bellevue won the 2024 NSAA Women’s Cross Country individual title, and was named the conference Runner of the Year with a time of 22:30.4.

The Top 10 finishers in the conference meet are all named to the NSAA All-Conference team.

Nelson, Karly Just (Valley City State), Jasmine Barnes (Valley City State) and Jordyn Thorson (Jamestown) all qualified for the National Meet by being the top four finishers not a part of the championship team. The runners must also finish top 15 to qualify.

Anthony Drealan of Dakota State was named the NSAA Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year.

The NSAA Champions of Character recipients are Madison Nelson (Bellevue), Lindsey Roth (Dakota State), Lauren Taylor (Dickinson State), Brooke Olson (Jamestown) and Karly Just (Valley City State).

2024 North Star Athletic Association Women's Cross Country Team Standings

1	Dakota State	35
2	Jamestown	52
3	Valley City State	81
4	Dickinson State	84
5	Bellevue	107

 2024 North Star Athletic Association Women's Cross Country Individual Qualifiers - All-Conference

Place	Name	Time
1	x- Madison Nelson – Bellevue	22:30.2
2	x- Karly Just – Valley City State	23:23.4
3	Valerija Curikova – Dakota State	23:51.0
4	x- Jasmine Barnes – Valley City State	23:57.1
5	Lindsey Roth - Dakota State	24:03.7
6	x- Jordyn Thorson – Jamestown	24:14.1
7	Kierra Miller – Dakota State	24:19.6
8	Allyson Goodmanson – Jamestown	24:21.3
9	Brooke Beaucaire – Dakota State	24:26.7
10	Emma Reeder – Jamestown	24:52.5

x-NSAA individual qualifier for the NAIA Women's Cross Country National Championships