DICKINSON, N.D. – Dickinson State's Caleb Sarsland has been named the Frontier Conference Men's Cross Country Runner of the Week for the third time this season following a record-setting performance at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic in Ashland, Nebraska.

Sarsland broke the DSU school record in the 8K with a time of 24:21.5, finishing second overall in a field of more than 300 runners. He was the top Frontier Conference finisher, trailing the winner by just two seconds and outrunning a dozen top NAIA competitors.

The performance helped catapult Sarsland to No. 15 in the latest NAIA national rankings, up from No. 37 just two weeks ago. He began the season ranked outside the top 60 and finished 103rd at the 2024 NAIA National Championships.

"At the 2025 Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic Cross Country meet in Ashland, Nebraska, Blue Hawks ace Caleb Sarsland showed again that he is a runner to be reckoned with nationally," said DSU head coach Dr. Thomas Schwartz. "In the final two miles of the 8,000m race, Caleb pushed hard to break the field on every hill, dropping all but one athlete who has been a top NAIA performer in recent years. He placed second by two seconds but displaced a dozen top contenders."

"Now ranked No. 15 in the NAIA poll, Caleb's rise from 103rd at last year's nationals is a testament to his dedication and competitive fire. Along with his Blue Hawk teammates, he's focused on the upcoming Frontier Conference Championships in Billings on November 7 at Amend Park."

The Blue Hawk men will compete at 11:30 a.m., following the women's race at 10:30 a.m., as both teams chase conference titles.