State cross country: Lincoln runs to title

Will Lauer and Lincoln capped a season of dominance Saturday with a third consecutive state cross county title.

Three of the top five finishers in the state Class AA boys meet were Patriots. Lincoln finished easily ahead of second-place Roosevelt, 35 points to 88 at Broadland Creek National Golf Course in Huron.

“This is a great feeling. The careers that some of these seniors are having is just unbelievable,” Lincoln coach Eric Pooley said. “It’s so great to have these kids on the team. They all work hard together, and we saw a lot of kids step up and run better than they have all year.”

Lauer earned his first individual state title. The senior recorded a time of 15 minutes, 13.2 seconds. That put him almost 42 seconds ahead of teammate and runner-up Gabe Peters.

“I wasn’t really thinking about how much I was up, to be honest,” Lauer said. “I just stayed focused on keeping up a good pace. That was a little tougher when I was kind of by myself, but I was confident going into this and that helped me keep my pace.”

Lauer was second last year’s state meet and also placed as a sophomore.

“Will is more deserving than anyone of this because of all of the time he puts in,” Pooley said. “He was out the other day putting in additional miles, and that’s just an example of the work ethic he’s shown for us.”

Lincoln placed seven runners in the top 21. Peters’ time was 15:55.09, while Nathan Schroeder was fifth at 16:10.27. Dreux Selzler was 11th, Tyler Dobson was 16th, Dale Louden was 18th and Anders Rasmussen was 21st.

The Patriots now are hoping to qualify for the Nike National Meet, which they could do with a top-two finish at the Nov. 9 regional meet in Sioux Falls.

“We are really motivated for Nike Regionals, and it was great to get a fast time in,” Lauer said. “On the bus ride home, we will be talking about Nike.”

For Roosevelt, Jesus Urtusuastegui was fourth with a time of 16:04.28. Jacob Simmons of Sturgis was in 15:56.4.

Class A boys

West Central proved the importance of a balanced roster of runners.

The Trojans won a state title without a top-five runner. West Central had 56 points to 65 for Garretson claimed a runner-up finish with a 65, while Sioux Falls Christian was third. Defending champion Todd County was fourth.

Hunter Paulsen of Elk-Point Jefferson was the individual champ, edging St. Thomas More’s Luke Julian by less than three seconds. Paulsen’s time was 16:29.7.

West Central was led by freshman Derick Peters (11th). Tobias Weddell (Todd County), Ethan Youngbird (Flandreau Indian) and Tristian Old Horse (Hot Springs) finished third, fourth and fifth.

Class B boys

One year after finishing third in state, Philip left no doubt about the head of the class.

The Scotties cruised to victory with 21 points. James Valley Christian finished second with 37 and Freeman Academy (38) was third.

James Valley Christian produced the individual winner, Jayden Waldner (17:08.24). Daniel Burkhalter of Bison was second and Derek Boekelheide of Northwestern third.

The Scotties were led by Garrett Snook’s ninth-place finish (18:00.06). Cameron Harming of Elkton-Lake Benton was fourth and Woonsocket’s Rex Schlicht fifth.

Class AA girls

Rapid City Stevens captured another team crown, but Lincoln gave the Raiders a push and the Patriots boasted the individual champ in Jasmyne Cooper.

Stevens recorded a score of 75 to 94 for Lincoln. Brandon Valley was third at 96.

“I’m really proud of the girls today,” Stevens coach Jesse Coy said. “Emily Pearson really gutted it out. ... We also had some girls who stepped it up for us. Jamie (Schweiss) and Kendra (Dykstra) went two and three, and I never would have thought that would happen.”

The Patriots were aided in their push by Cooper, a freshman who transferred from Harrisburg before the season began. Her winning time was 14:50.06. Schweiss of Stevens was second in 14:57.14.

“I just wanted to stay with the pack until the last 1,000 meters,” Cooper said. “I knew that if I did that I would have the chance to pull away at the end.”

“You don’t get a girl of her talent often,” Lincoln coach Eric Pooley said of Cooper, who battled a cramp through a portion of the race. “She was already running unbelievable times when she got here, so we just had to work through some things. We are lucky to have her for a few years.”

Katie Patrick of Lincoln was 11th and Brooke Infield 14th to give the Patriots their best finish since they were runners-up in 1984.

Four Stevens runners placed. In addition to Dykstra and Schweiss, Person finished 15th and Felicia Roskam was 22nd.

Other notable finishes: Ellie Abraham of Brookings, fourth; Courtney Klatt of Brandon Valley, fifth; and Rachel Propst (Pierre) sixth; Madison McClure of Yankton, seventh; and Kelsi Kearney of Washington, eighth.

Class A girls

St. Thomas More had scant margin for errors in edging Madison, 53 points to 58.

The championship is St. Thomas More’s first in the three-class system.

Madison dominated the front of the pack. Emily Hawkes completed a perfect season by defending her 2012 state championship. Hawks won in 14:47.93. Teammate Hailey Streff finished second in 15:07.53.

Third, fourth and fifth were Kaci Cooper of St. Thomas More, Lorna Grengerson of Mount Vernon/Plankinton and Mallory Delmont of Custer. For St. Thomas More, Klaire Kirsch was eightth and Samantha Bradsky was 11th.

Class B girls

Ipswich coasted to a fifth consecutive state championship with a score of 12. Gayville-Volin claimed second with a 24.

Macy Heinz of Ipswich won her first state title in a time of 15:09.08, passing defending champion Laura Nelson of Gayville-Volin in the final stretch.

“The goal coming into this was just to play it safe and push through at the end,” Heinz said. “At the two-mile mark, she was ahead of me by about 20 feet, and I wasn’t sure that I could get it. I caught up to her at the 300 mark and found a way to regroup at the end.”

Heinz won the 100, 400, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs as last year’s State B track and field meet. She had finished second instate cross country in 2012 and third last year.

CLASS B BOYS (5K)

Team points - Philip 21, James Valley Christian 37, Freeman Academy 38, Rapid City Christian 67, Ipswich 68, Great Plains Lutheran 72, McCrossan 73, Lyman 78, Viborg-Hurley 83, Stanley County 84, Aberdeen Christian 87, Canistota 93, Baltic 110, Burke-South Central 114, Newell 129.

Top 40 (out of 128) - 1. Jayden Waldner (JVC) 17:08.24. 2. Daniel Burkhalter (Bison) 17:16.61. 3. Derek Boekelheide (Northwestern) 17:30.32. 4. Cameron Harming (Elkton-Lake Benton) 17:36.63. 5. Rex Schlicht (Woonsocket) 17:46.19. 6. Kedric Brantner (JVC) 17:49.33. 7. Aaron Voigt (Gregory) 17:52.92. 8. Iren Grassrope (Lym) 17:56.01. 9. Garrett Snook (Phi) 18:00.06. 10. Ryan Haggerty (FA) 18:03.69. 11. Garret Rolph (New) 18:07.06. 12. Caleb Clair (De Smet) 18:08.61. 13. Ethan Weinheimer (Sully Buttes) 18:09.42. 14. Mason Decker (Can) 18:09.99. 15. Tristen Rush (Phi) 18:10.62. 16. Austin Huether (Wall) 18:12.68. 17. Nelson Holman (Phi) 18:14.44. 18. Ethan Maertz (GPL) 18:16.69. 19. Kray Person (BSC) 18:18.58. 20. Cole Smith (RCC) 18:19.43. 21. John Brave Hawk (McC) 18:20.90. 22. Owen Medicine (Dakota Christian) 18:21.62. 23. Matthew Skadsen (Bal) 18:22.56. 24. Dane Allison (FA) 18:30.18. 25. Colton Weeldreyer (Ips) 18:30.82. 26. Nick Wixon (Centerville) 18:35.25. 27. Layne Meyers (VH) 18:35.74. 28. Thaniel Schroeder (FA) 18:39.73. 29. Brennan Haggerty (FA) 18:40.74. 30. Ryan Maertz (GPL) 18:43.39. 31. Austin Brown (SC) 18:44.89. 32. Jace Burma (Sunshine Bible Academy) 18:47.36. 33. Daniel Jundt (FA) 18:49.70. 34. Shay VanDenHemel (SC) 18:49.83. 35. Wyatt Haux (Ips) 18:51.89. 36. Matt Grebner (AC) 18:56.10. 37. Michael Wirth (Warner) 18:58.12. 38. Derek Hagemann (RCC) 18:58.69. 39. Jeff Wanner (Florence-Henry) 19:03.57. 40. Cole DeRuyter (ELB) 19:06.14.

CLASS A BOYS (5K)

Team points - West Central 56, Garretson 65, SF Christian 69, Todd County 71, Miller 79, Lennox 103, Custer 123, St. Thomas More 137, Madison 140, Hot Springs 150, Ethan-Parkston 168, Redfield-Doland 217, Crow Creek 236, Webster Area 237, Aberdeen Roncalli 240.

Top 40 (out of 128) - 1. Hunter Paulsen (Elk Point-Jefferson) 16:29.70. 2. Luke Julian (STM) 16:32.40. 3. Tobias Weddell (TC) 16:43.30. 4. Ethan Youngbird (Flandreau Indian School) 16:49.25. 5. Tristian Old Horse (HS) 16:50.74. 6. Ty Trainor (STM) 16:52.27. 7. Evan Fick (Gar) 16:57.81. 8. Caleb DeWeerd (SFC) 16:58.95. 9. Chance Dooley (Cus) 17:05.46. 10. Shane Herman (Cus) 17:07.51. 11. Derick Peters (WC) 17:09.85. 12. Rawson Yost (Clark-Willow Lake) 17:17.92. 13. Jack Fast Wolf (Red Cloud) 17:21.59. 14. Mason Breitling (Mil) 17:24.36. 15. Ryan Titus (WC) 17:25.80. 16. Cole Sargent (Mil) 17:26.03. 17. John Hacker (TC) 17:26.98. 18. Dylan Erickson (Flandreau Public) 17:27.21. 19. Lance Van Zee (SFC) 17:28.14. 20. Josh Powell (Gar) 17:29.15. 21. Braden Peters (WC) 17:29.93. 22. Alec Atwood (Ber) 17:34.10. 23. Coleton Schuyler (Winner Area) 17:34.69. 24. Josh Liester (Gar) 17:35.62. 25. Nathan Timmerman (Len) 17:37.29. 26. Trey Waldrop (Mil) 17:38.48. 27. Gabe Smith (WC) 17:40.93. 28. Anthony Julson (FP) 17:45.03. 29. Donald Aquallo (TC) 17:46.10. 30. Brendan Langbehn (Len) 17:46.75. 31. Ethan Hatch (Mad) 17:47.05. 32. Connor Watley (SFC) 17:50.58. 33. Cooper Hitt (SFC) 17:50.63. 34. Hunter Streff (Mad) 17:51.52. 35. Chris Comes Flying (CC) 17:54.83. 36. Dylan Tobacco (RC) 17:55.25. 37. Riley Nordstrom (Gar) 17:59.89. 38. Nathan Finster (Lead-Deadwood) 18:00.80. 39. Trevor Hinderaker (Deubrook Area) 18:02.0. 40. Tait Johnson (Gar) 18:03.0.

CLASS AA BOYS (5K)

Team points - Lincoln 35, Roosevelt 88, Rapid City Stevens 96, Washington 156, Brandon Valley 188, Brookings 212, O’Gorman 220, Aberdeen Central 237, Harrisburg 244, Yankton 265, Pierre 282, Rapid City Central 290, Sturgis 296, Spearfish 304, Watertown 310, Mitchell 434, Huron 545.

Top 40 (out of 118) - 1. Will Lauer (SFL) 15:13.20. 2. Gabe Peters (SFL) 15:55.09. 3. Jacob Simmons (Stu) 15:56.40. 4. Jesus Urtusuastegui (SFR) 16:04.28. 5. Nathan Schroeder (SFL) 16:10.27. 6. Connor Haaland (RCS) 16:12.0. 7. Mark Poston (RCS) 16:12.97. 8. Tanner Peltier (AC) 16:16.69. 9. Yonas Sadi (SFW) 16:23.10. 10. Greyson Zamora (Har) 16:24.17. 11. Dreux Selzler (SFL) 16:24.57. 12. Tom Pfeifle (RCS) 16:27.91. 13. Daniel Armstrong (SFR) 16:28.71. 14. Jakob Hanna (BVB) 16:29.18. 15. Joseph Barnes (Spe) 16:29.18. 16. Tyler Dobson (SFL) 16:29.98. 17. Lukas Nelson (SFR) 16:30.06. 18. Dale Loudon (SFL) 16:32.62. 19. Jebben Keyes (Pie) 16:35.75. 20. Logan Swenson (SFW) 16:36.33. 21. Anders Rasmussen (SFL) 16:40.39. 22. Alex Auch (Har) 16:44.09. 23. Ray Munsterman (Bro) 16:44.63. 24. Andrew Cottier (RCC) 16:46.14. 25. Seth Iverson (SFR) 16:46.41. 26. Alipo Oluak (SFW) 16:50.06. 27. Joseph Schmidt (OG) 16:54.13. 28. Jacob Hegland (BV) 16:55.32. 29. Tyler Slaba (SFR) 16:56.65. 30. Paul Fanta (Yan) 16:58.34. 31. Alex Tiede (AC) 16:59.22. 32. Thane Hein (SFR) 16:59.42. 33. Cody Dutson (BV) 17:05.48. 34. Mitchell Selken (BV) 17:06.99. 35. Tristan Christoffer (RCS) 17:07.48. 36. Andrew Jones (RCS) 17:10.31. 37. Ethan Knoibloch (OG) 17:10.43. 38. Davis Johnson (SFR) 17:12.52. 39. Graham DeHaven (Bro) 17:14.31. 40. Preston Knobloch (OG) 17:24.0.

CLASS B GIRLS (4K)

Team points – Ipswich 12, Gayville-Volin 24, Freeman 56, Wolsey-Wessington 59, Northwestern 62, Potter County 68, De Smet 88, Viborg-Hurley 97, Philip 103, Timber Lake 107, James Valley Christian 108, Dupree 121, Newell 121, Dell Rapids St. Mary 123, Bison 130, Howard 133.

Top 40 (out of 118) – 1. Macy Heinz (Ips) 15:09.08. 2. Laura Nelson (GV) 15:32.13. 3. Ellie Coyle (Phi) 15:43.67. 4. Cailey Roth (Fre) 15:49.46. 5. Clara Koerner (FA) 15.54.01. 6. Aleah Steger (Ips) 15:58.17. 7. Tori Moore (Ips) 15.59.59. 8. Gracie Weinheimer (Sully Buttes) 16:06.89. 9. Allyson Boomsma (WW) 16:09.93. 10. Mikayla Zirbel (Waubay/Summit) 16:12.18. 11. Julie Lowen (JVC) 16:16.65. 12. Genevieve Clark (GV) 16:23.86. 13. Delaney Leber (New) 16:25.94. 14. Quinn Lulf (Lyman) 16:26.36. 15. Sierra Votaw (Burke/South Central) 16:27.08. 16. Jacia Christiansen (VH) 16:28.28. 17. Taylor Mauer (Ips) 16:33.46. 18. Ashley Emmick (GV) 16:34.35. 19. Hannah Flatt (PC) 16:35.44. 20. Elianna Clark (GV) 16:38.43. 21. Haley Strait (Castlewood) 16:38.80. 22. Kendra Jensen (Alcester-Hudson) 16:39.06. 23. Kaylee Walker (Herreid/Selby Area) 16:39.52. 24. Josie Clemens (Northwestern) 16:40.07. 25. Rebecca Eberts (Fre) 16:46.46. 26. Sasha Cordell (PC) 16:48.30. 27. Ashlyn Deknikker (Lake Preston) 16:56.71. 28. Taylor Loken (Ips) 16:56.97. 29. Megan Hirsch (GV) 16:56.99. 30. Miranda Thorson (Nor) 16:58.40. 31. Shamra Garrett (Dupree) 16:59.10. 32. Chantel Haider (WW) 16:59.89. 33. Reyna Beck (DeS) 17:03.05. 34. Peyton Groft (Nor) 17:03.42. 35. Emily Martens (DeS) 17:05.48. 36. Lexy White (TL) 17:07.99. 37. Megan Warnke (Gregory) 17:08.30. 38. Anna Eggers (Rosholt) 17:12.87. 39. Christina Vogel (DSM) 17:14.04. 40. Victoria Zirbel (Waubay/Summit)

CLASS A GIRLS (4K)

Team points – St. Thomas More, 53; Madison, 58; Mt. Vernon/Plankinton, 74; Garretson, 80; 5, Ethan/Parkston, 83; Custer, 85; Todd County, 112; Flandreau, 132, Beresford, 133; Canton, 156; Redfield/Doland, 173; Chamberlain, 175; Hot Springs, 235; Webster Area, 253; Milbank, 261.

Top 40 (out of 124) – 1, Emily Hawkes, Madison, 14:47.93; 2, Hailey Streff, Madison, 15:07.53; 3, Kaci Cooper, St. Thomas More, 15:16.74; 4, Lorna Gregerson, Mt. Vernon/Plankinton, 15:16.99, 5, Mallory Delmont, Custer, 15:23.37; 6, Lexy Leischner, Ethan/Parkston, 15:24.49; 7, Cami Streff, Madison, 15:24.76; 8, Klaire Kirsch, St. Thomas More, 15:26.63; 9, Nicollette Schmidt, Redfield/Doland, 15:26.79; 10, Ella Byers, Chamberlain, 15:26.89; 11, Marisa Schulz, Dakota Valley, 15:29.05; 12, Samantha Bradsky, St. Thomas More, 15:29.59; 13, Carmen Bohl, Garretson, 15:29.82; 14, Hanna Wahl, West Central, 15:32.07; 15, Tori Glazier, Custer, 15:36.53; 16, Kelsie Herman, Todd County, 15:38.24; 17, Ashlyn Atwood, Beresford, 15:38.64; 18, Sinona Flute, Flandreau, 15:41.57; 19, Maisey Bainbridge, Lennox, 15:41.57; 20, Madeline Hursey, Flandreau, 15:44.84; 21, Madisen Lavin, Vermillion, 15:47.78; 22, Haley Sage, Garretson, 15:48.29; 23, Lainey Gregerson, Mt. Vernon/Plankinton, 15:49.70; 24, Mikayla Prouty, Clark/Willow Lake, 15:51.82; 25, Sydney Wickersham, Ethan/Parkston, 15:58.73; 26, Caitlyn Savey, Beresford, 16:03.03; 27, Maddisen Larsen, Lead-Deadwood, 16:10.37; 28, Halie McMains, Canton, 16:11.71; 29, Tay Westendorf, Mt. Vernon/Plankinton, 16:11.92; 30, Rachel Kindt, Garretson, 16:12.49; 31, Chloe Bartels, Winner Area, 16:14.03; 32, Oskate Win One Star, Todd County, 16:14.83; 33, Teisha Carnicle, Garretson, 16:17.35; 34, Taya Heisinger, Ethan/Parkston, 16:18.88; 35, Savannah Risseeuw, Mt. Vernon/Plankinton, 16:20.30; 36, Nicole Rue, Hot Springs, 16:20.38; 37, Josie Heeren, Elk Point-Jefferson, 16:26.16; 38, Riley Hallman, Tri-Valley, 16:27.06; 39, Patience Nesheim,Ethan Parkston, 16:27.10; 40, Teresa Blote, St. Thomas More, 16:31.71.

CLASS AA GIRLS (4K)

Team points – Rapid City Stevens, 75; Lincoln, 94; Brandon Valley, 96; Yankton, 118; Washington, 136; Pierre, 176; Rapid City Central, 200; O'Gorman, 219; Roosevelt, 235; Sturgis, 264; Harrisburg, 279; Aberdeen Central, 310; Spearfish, 314; Brookings, 376; Mitchell, 378; Watertown, 402.

Top 40 (out of 113) – 1, Jasmyne Cooper, Lincoln; 14:50.06; 2, Jamie Schweiss, Rapid City Stevens, 14:57.14; 3, Kendra Dykstra, Rapid City Stevens, 15:08.06; 4, Kendra Abraham, Brookings, 15:09.14; 5, Courtney Klatt, Brandon Valley, 15:11.56; 6, Rachel Propst, Pierre T.F. Riggs, 15:12.00; 7, Madison McClure, Yankton, 15:12.06; 8, Kelsi Kearney, Washington, 15:19.84; 9, Shacey Burgess, Rapid City Central, 15:24.80; 10, Jennalee Larson, Washington, 15:25.35; 11, Katie Patrick, Lincoln, 15:28.38; 12, Ava Parris, Rapid City Central, 15:28.97; 13, Allison Green, Sturgis Brown, 15:29.87; 14, Brooke Infield, Lincoln, 15:35.81; 15, Emily Person, Rapid City Stevens, 15:36.13; 16, Danica Kocer, Brandon Valley, 15:38.21; 17, Savannah Woods, Yankton, 15:38.34; 18, Abby Ripperda, O'Gorman, 15:42.50; 19, Alyssa Bierwagen, Roosevelt, 15:45.46; 20, Kylie Werner, Roosevelt, 15:46.38; 21, Lauren Wells, Brandon Valley, 15:48.00; 22, Felicia Roskam, Rapid City Stevens, 15:48.24; 23, Emily Mikkelsen, Pierre T.F. Riggs, 15:50.56; 24, Caroline Sudbeck, Lincoln, 15:53.59; 25, Mikaela Birath, Brandon Valley, 15:54.16; 26, Maria Bunkers, Rapid City Central, 15:56.88; 27, Lauren Grave, Yankton, 15:57.26; 28, Carlie Kray, Washington, 15:58.77; 29, Haylee Waterfall, Brandon Valley, 16:02.62; 30, Alyssa Bornhoft, O'Gorman, 16:07.97; 31, Angela Hovdenes, Spearfish, 16:09.13; 32, Tessa Folkers, Yankton, 16:10.98; 33, Mallory Fine, Rapid City Stevens, 16:11.52; 34, Mary Krause, Mitchell, 16:12.60; 35, Emerson McClure, Yankton, 16:13.64; 36, Kaitlyn Fischer, Sioux Falls Washington, 16:15.28; 37, Jaidon Birath, Brandon Valley, 16:17.89; 38, Allison Rief, Brandon Valley, 16:18.06; 39, Brooke DeVos, Roosevelt, 16:18.75; 40, Cortney Dowling, Pierre, 16:22.60.