Mustangs seek consistency, collective effort in 2025
The Mustangs were selected eighth in last month’s GPAC preseason coaches poll. Of course, the Mustangs want to finish higher when it comes time for the conference meet on Nov. 8.
SIOUX CITY — In order to move up in the Great Plains Athletic Conference standings, the Morningside men's cross country head coach Frank Wallace said the team needs to be consistent.
The Mustangs — which start their season Friday at the Augustana Twilight meet — were selected eighth in last month's GPAC preseason coaches poll. Of course, the Mustangs want to finish higher when it comes time for the conference meet on Nov. 8.
"Cross country is one of those sports where you have to be consistent with everything that you do," Wallace said. "Even when you feel like taking those days off, you have to be able to get that mileage in and know what's in front of you essentially. It's a tough sport mentally and physically. So being able to stay on top of your mental game as well."
The men's roster features 13 runners, and eight of them ran in varsity action last season. Eein McKinley was the top Mustang runner in all four regular-season meets last fall. His highest placing in 2024 was 15th in the Briar Cliff Invitational with an 8,000-meter time of 27 minutes, 18 seconds.
In the GPAC meet last November, RC Hicks led the Mustangs with a 39-point, 47th-place finish, as he finished in 28:35.
Parker Halder, who ran 55th in the 2023 GPAC meet and ninth on April 23 in the Mount Marty Twilight 5,000-meter race during the track and field season, said at Fall Sports Media Day that those 13 runners have put in work since the beginning of the summer to provide some optimism.
"We just tried to be one collective group," Halder said. "We've all reached out to each other, making sure we're all putting in the work. The thing about running is, there's no hiding whether you did the work or not. This team feels like a family."
Mustangs assistant coach Garret Ehlers '14 has noticed how well every runner has taken the lead during different workouts this summer.
"The guys are excited for the possibility that with the depth that we have and how much faith and trust that they have in each other, that we could have a different five blending in and out," Ehlers said. "I believe in having multiple people who can do that as well as having a lot more depth coming in. The guys are really excited just to be working together in that regard. I'm very proud of their humility and how much success they want to see."