JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Jasmine Barnes and Karly Just both placed in the Top 40 Friday afternoon as the Viking cross country teams competed at the large Jimmie Invite.
 
Racing at Parkhurst Cross Country Course near Jamestown, runners battled gusty winds near 20 miles per hour in some spots along with temperatures in the mid 40s.

Complete Meet Results
 
VCSU senior Jasmine Barnes finished the women's 6K in 24:19 to place 31^st as the top Viking runner. Karly Just was only 18 seconds behind as she placed 36^th with a time of 24:37. A total of 82 runners competed in the women's 6k race, while 100 men competed in an 8K race.
 
The meet included competitors from NAIA, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division I schools. This is the first year that the NAIA women will run a 6K race at the conference and national meets. It was the second 6K race of the season for the Viking women and all five runners lowered their season-best times by more than 70 seconds on Friday.
 
Valley City's women scored 248 to place 10^th out of 11 women's teams. Paris Mack came in 58^th overall with a time of 27:01 as the third Viking runner. Morgan Haerer (72nd, 28:17) and Emily Hatlewick (75^th, 29:02) rounded out the team score for VCSU's women.
 
Valley City State's men scored 326 as they placed 11^th out of 12 total teams and 100 runners in the men's 8K race. Rigo Garcia took 62^nd place with a time of 27:56 to lead VCSU's men. Mason Brehmer was 69^th with a time of 28:18, and Jaxsyn Olson took 76^th in 28:52. Isaac Eichhorst (87^th, 30:38) and Garet Hoke (88^th, 30:42) rounded out the team score for VCSU's men.
 
Brehmer, Garcia and Olson all lowered their season-best times in the 8K race.
 
Up next: Valley City State now preps for the NSAA Conference Championships, which is scheduled for Nov. 3 in West Salem, Wis.