The ninth annual running of the Prairie Striders Indoor 5K featured record performances in the mens and womens divisions.
Joe Cross, 18, of Jefferson, lapped everyone in the field to win in a time of 15:42.60 (5:04 pace) while erasing the previous meet record of 16:05 set by Marty Wennblom in 2018.
Cross, a senior at Dakota Valley High School, was the Class A state runner-up in the 3,200-meter run (9:27) in 2023 and finished ninth at the 2003 state cross country meet (16:13) and has a 15:33 5K PR (Dakota XII Conference meet in 2023).
He trimmed nearly a minute off his 2022 Indoor 5K time, when finished second in 16:40. That had ranked as the races fourth fastest time.
The winner of the womens division was Kiran Cordes, 24, of Sioux Falls, who finished third overall with a time of 18:26.10 (5:56 pace). Her time destroyed the 19:12 mark set by Monica Dorn in 2017.
Cordes also is an accomplished runner. Originally of Lawrence, Kansas, she ran collegiately at Adams State and Emporia State, is a member of the Dakota Distance Project and won the 2023 Kansas Half Marathon in 1:19:45.
The womens masters mark also was set. Jenn McElroy, 41, of Watertown, finished in 22:56.20 to beat the mark of 23:01.50 set by Adrienne McElroy in 2017. Elroy finished 21st overall.
Second place in the Indoor 5K went to Ethan Miller, 31, who drove up from Omaha, Nebraska, for the event. His time of 16:43.70 5:23 pace) would have won the event in two of the past four years. His time ranks sixth fastest in race history.
Placing fourth through sixth were Tim Fryer, 45, Hendricks, Minnesota, 18:33.90; Kaden Christian, 14, Canistota, 18:37.90; and Trevor Hinderaker, 26, Astoria, 18:59:30.
Finishing second in womens division was Kate McElroy, 15, Watertown, 20:01.50; followed by her sister, Grace, 13, 20:54.40.
There were a total of 44 finishers. For complete results, go towww.prairiestriders.net.
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