LONGMONT, Colo.—South Dakota senior Ella Kubas crossed the finish in ninth place to lead the Coyotes at the Oktoberfest Invitational held at the Union Reservoir.
 
Kubas was the first Coyote to cross the finish line in 1:03:14. She clocked 9:12 for the 750-meter swim, 32:09 on the 20-kilometer bike ride and 20:22 for the 5,000-meter run.
 
South Dakota took fourth in the team race with 173 points. Defending national champion Arizona State won with 233 points, Denver finished runner-up with 212 points and San Francisco was third with 195 points.
 
Sophomore Kayla Ribbink, a transfer from Lenoir-Rhyne, was USD's second finisher in 12th place. She completed the course in 1:03:55. Ribbink had the fastest run of the squad with a time of 19:53.
 
Senior Teagan Shapansky placed 17th with a time of 1:06:21 and freshman Chelsea Webber was close behind in 19th with a time of 1:06:40. Senior Tessa Brennan finished 23rd in 1:08:33.
 
Rounding out the group were junior Verena Vesely and senior Grace Johnson. Vesely clocked 1:10:05 for 28th, while Johnson finished 40th in 1:19:45.
 
South Dakota resumes action tomorrow at 9 a.m. for the Mile High Relays competition with Arizona State, Denver and San Francisco.
 
University of South Dakota finishers
9. Ella Kubas, 1:03:14
12. Kayla Ribbink, 1:03:55
17. Teagan Shapansky, 1:06:21
19. Chelsea Webber, 1:06:40
23. Tessa Brennan, 1:08:33
28. Verena Vesely, 1:10:05
40. Grace Johnson, 1:19:45