Twenty area programs will be represented in the Class A and B races at the South Dakota State Cross Country Meet, set for today (Saturday) at Broadland Creek National Golf Course in Huron.
The field includes eight full teams from area programs, including both boys’ and girls’ squads from Ethan-Parkston in Class A and Viborg-Hurley in Class B. Three former state champions from the area, Vermillion’s Madisen Lavin and Gayville-Volin’s Genevieve Clark (2012) and Laura Nelson, also return in pursuit of top honors.
Competition begins at 1 p.m. with the Class B girls’ race, followed by the Class A girls’ race at 1:30 p.m. Class B boys’ competition will follow at 2 p.m., with the Class A boys’ race at 2:30 p.m. Awards for all classes will be presented at 4 p.m., at the conclusion of the Class AA races.
Here is a look at the area entries in Class A and Class B, with schools fielding full squads listed first:
Class A
Ethan-Parkston
Ethan-Parkston is one of nine Class A teams to field full squads for both boys and girls, and the only one from the region.
“We’re running really good right now,” said coach Jared Digmann. “We have two really young teams, but they’ve run to their ability and they are definitely moving in the right direction.
The girls’ squad features Region 3A champion Lexy Leischner, an eighth grader, and a returning state placewinner in junior Taya Heisinger (18th).
“Lexy’s been turning it on lately. She’s won her last three races,” Digmann said. “She’s been improving throughout the season and had a great race at regions.”
Freshman Jessica Endres and eighth grader Patience Nesheim also competed at state for E-P a year ago. Seventh graders Maddie Miiller and Sydney Wickersham round out the six-person squad.
While the team is young, it does have big-race experience, according to Digmann.
“They understand what a big race is like,” he said. “We’ve run in a handful of big races to prepare for state.”
The Ethan-Parkston girls finished fifth a year ago, just off the awards stand. Digmann is hoping to see his team move up this year.
“Our goal is top four,” he said. “I think our girls can compete with most of the teams in the state. Madison has the upper hand — they have three of the top runners in the state, and their fourth is good, too.
Nick Zolnowsky, the lone senior for Ethan-Parkston, returns to lead the boys after placing 24th a year ago. Younger brother A.J. Zolnowsky also returns. Sophomore Jonah Murtha and freshmen Erik Fuerniss, Tanner Hohn and Tucker Murtha round out the squad.
“We are a little inexperienced on the boys’ side,” Digmann said. “Nick has been there and has been a great leader, pushing himself and pulling them along. Our 2-3-4-5 runners have run close times and pushed each other.”
Digmann would like to see the boys finish in the top eight.
“We have a young team, but we’ve been running decent times,” he said. “If we can show up and do what we’re capable of, we can be in the top eight.”
Beresford
Led by a returning state placewinner in sophomore Ashlynn Atwood (11th), the Watchdogs will look to take a bite out of the Class A competition.
Atwood and freshman Caitlyn Savey lead the way for Beresford, which finished third in Region 3A.
“...If everything is clicking, Ashlynn could have another top 15 finish at the state meet,” said Beresford coach Matthew Coy. “Freshman Cate Savey has also been running well as of late and just finished 8th at the region meet. She is a tough runner who I think could get into the top 25 on Saturday.”
Junior Julia Mochel, sophomore Caitlin Worth, freshman Hannah Ebert and eighth grader Grace Quartier round out the the Watchdog girls’ roster.
The girls’ race will be a challenge, as Garretson tries to fight off Madison and the rest of the field, according to Coy.
“The girls’ race will be wide open with defending state champs, Garretson the favorite until they are beat,” he said. “Madison has been running phenomenal this year and could easily place three girls in the top five if everything goes their way. Ethan-Parkston, Custer and Mount Vernon-Plankinton will be in the title hunt as well.”
The Watchdogs will also take two boys to state, eighth grader Alec Atwood and freshman Jake Limmer. Beresford just missed qualifying their boys, placing fourth at regions despite having two returning state meet competitors, Mike Erlandson and Nick O’Connell, hampered by injury.
“We had a young team this year with three sophomores finishing 21st, 22nd and 25th, and they all just missed going to state,” Coy said. “I am very pleased with Alec and Jake making it to state and they have a bright future ahead of them. Alec is one of the top eighth grade runners in the entire state and could sneak onto the awards stand this Saturday. It will be his first state meet and I am excited to see him run with the top boys in the state.”
Coy expects West Central, Garretson and Sioux Falls Christian to challenge defending champion Todd County for team honors.
Bon Homme
The Cavaliers will take one runner to Huron, junior girl Maddison Hajek. Hajek finished 21st at state a year ago.
Dakota Valley
The Panthers will take two girls to state, sophomore Marisa Schulz and eighth grader Erica Okine. Schulz placed 10th last year as a freshman.
Junior Charlie Long will represent the Panther boys.
Elk Point-Jefferson
Senior Hunter Paulsen will look to make a run at a top spot when the boys’ race takes off. The Region 3A champion placed eighth at state a year ago.
Junior Josie Heeren will represent EPJ in the girls’ race.
Vermillion
Freshman Madisen Lavin will look to defend her Class A girls’ crown. Battling through an injury at regions, she placed fifth.
The Tanagers will also take a pair of eighth grade boys to Huron: Parson Covington and Justin Sorensen.
Wagner
The Red Raiders will take two runners to Huron: Junior Sadie Eitemiller and eighth grader Maggie Barnett.
Class B
Viborg-Hurley
The Cougars are one of just four programs in Class B to qualify a full squad on both the boys’ and girls’ side. Viborg-Hurley did the same thing a year ago, placing 15th on the boys’ side and 13th on the girls’ side.
“This is where we wanted to be,” said Cougars head coach Bill Hansen. “I’m proud of them.”
On the boys’ side, senior Layne Meyers has led the way for a squad that shares three of its four younger runners with the Cougars’ playoff-bound football team.
“Layne has provided great leadership,” Hansen said. “In the last two meets, all our runners have PR’d (run their fastest times) by big margins. Layne has pushed himself and the other kids.”
Sophomore Logan Hansen and freshman twins Quinn and Ryan Doorn also suit up for football. Sophomore Logan Slack rounds out the quintet.
Coming in to state, Coach Hansen feels the Cougar boys have a shot at a top-four finish.
“Looking at the times, we are right on the border,” he said. “Freeman Academy is probably in the running for the top spot, and we’ve been chasing them all year.”
The Cougar girls feature a former state placewinner in sophomore Jacia Christiansen, who was 16th at state as an eighth grader. She struggled last season due to injury.
“Jacia has a lot of experience,” Coach Hansen said. “(Senior) Angie Lee has been very helpful and has provided a lot of leadership.”
Viborg-Hurley also has two other sophomore, Kirsten Paetow and Emily Bjerkaas, and eighth grader Holly Richards headed to Huron.
“Our girls are a little further out than our boys,” Coach Hansen said. “But if our two lead runners are in the top 20 we have a chance. Gayville-Volin and Ipswich are by far ahead of everyone else, but after that it’s wide open.”
Freeman
Flyer cross country has been a family affair this season, with two sets of sisters bringing Freeman into contention for state meet hardware.
Leading the way is senior Cailey Roth, who finished ninth as a sophomore and third as a freshman. She also placed 13th as an eighth grader.
“It’s been a good six years,” said Freeman head coach Rory Hermsen. “Last year we lost her the day before the first practice.”
With Roth on the shelf last season, junior Rebecca Eberts led the way, placing 10th. Both Roth and Eberts have eighth grade sisters on the squad, Dayna Roth and Hannah Eberts.
“Hannah and Dayna have been coming along,” Hermsen said. “They ran JV early in the year, and we moved them up about a month ago. They’ve improved a lot.”
The sets of sisters also “adopted” seventh grader Emmarie Edwards to round out the roster.
With two returning medalwinners and three talented young runners, the Flyers’ sights are high.
“They’ve set a goal of bringing home a plaque,” Hermsen said. Awards go to the top four teams. “It is reasonable.”
Freeman Academy
After placing sixth a year ago, the Freeman Academy boys feel they are in position to make a run at the school’s first-ever state title.
The Bobcats have a unique mix of talent, especially for a Class B program. The five runners all come from different grades.
“That’s how our team has been,” said Freeman Academy coach Suzanne Koerner. “It’s an odd mix, but they always have gelled.”
Junior Ryan Haggerty, 11th at state a year ago, has led the way, including winning the Region 3B title a week ago.
“The leadership of Ryan has been key,” Koerner said. “We’ve also had a couple of guys come out of the blue and fit in. All five train well together.”
While Ryan Haggerty has led the way, the Bobcats have hunted as a pack. At regions, only 31 seconds separated him and Freeman Academy’s fourth runner, freshman Brennan Haggerty, with eighth grader Thaniel Schroeder and sophomore Dane Allison in between. Senior Daniel Jundt gave the Bobcats five of the first 11 runners in the race.
“The guys definitely want to bring home hardware,” Koerner said. “We’re in a better position this year, partly because we’re a better team and partly because the field is more wide open where the ‘B’ boys are concerned.”
The Bobcats will also take senior Clara Koerner in the girls’ race. She finished 18th as a sophomore but was 69th last year, her lowest finish in five state meet appearances.
“We had to figure out some things with her. She’s been inconsistent in the past,” Coach Koerner said. “We figured out that if we focus on the process and the joy of running and racing, not on the results, she tends to do better. This season she’s been training better than ever.”
Gayville-Volin
The Raiders don’t have a senior, but not many Class B schools can boast the state meet experience of Gayville-Volin.
“Genevieve (Clark) is in her fifth state meet, her third time at Huron,” said Gayville-Volin head coach Larry Buffington. “(Sophomores) Laura (Nelson) and Megan (Hirsch) are in their fourth. Elianna (Clark) is in her second.”
Eighth grader Ashley Emmick rounds out the Raider squad.
The Raiders finished second a year ago, trailing only Ipswich. While the Tigers continue to be the class of Class B, Buffington feels his squad has continued to build on the progress they made a year ago.
“I really think we are where we ant to be. Everything has gone as planned,” he said. “We’ve already done the work. Now it’s payday on Saturday.”
Nelson and Genevieve Clark, a junior, finished 1-2 a year ago, beating out Ipswich track star Macy Heinz. Heinz beat out the Raider duo when the Tigers showed up in Beresford for the opening meet of the season.
“Maybe it intensified things a bit,” Buffington said of the opener. “When they showed up in Beresford, it was a fun competition.”
Ipswich will be aiming for a fifth consecutive title. The last two have been with Gayville-Volin placing second.
“We are in a position a lot of teams want to get to one time,” Buffington said. “We are just going against a dynasty.”
Alcester-Hudson
The Cubs qualified a pair of eighth graders, Kendra Jensen in the girls’ race and Brayden Pulscher in the boys’ race.
Avon
Junior Heidi Cap will compete for the Lady Pirates in Huron.
Centerville
Senior Nick Wixon, the Tri-Valley Conference champion, will compete for the Centerville boys.
Irene-Wakonda
The Eagles send two boys to Huron, sophomore Levi Van Beek and eighth grader Joe Sees.
Marion
The Bears will send one girl to state, senior Angelica Rico.
Marty Indian
The Braves send one boy to state, junior Arian Iron Elk.
Menno
Eighth grader Logan Klaudt qualified for the boys’ race for the Wolves.
Platte-Geddes
Senior Josiah Brink will compete in the boys’ race and junior Reganne Engebretson will compete in the girls’ race for the Black Panthers. Engebretson was 15th at state a year ago.
Scotland
The Highlanders will send two boys to Huron: Sophomore Damien Fuerst and eighth grader Nick Baker. Sophomore Kchandra Furney also qualified for Scotland.
You can follow James D. Cimburek on Twitter at twitter.com/JCimburek. Discuss this story at www.yankton.net
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