HURON – A pair of runners took out all of the suspense for individual championships in the Class A division of the State Cross Country Meet Saturday afternoon at Broadland Creek Golf Course.
Sawyer Clarkson of Belle Fourche defended his title in winning the boys’ race by 36 seconds over teammate Lane Krauschaun, last year’s Class B champ who transferred in from Bison. The duo helped to power the Broncs to the team title.
Isabelle Bloker of Sioux Valley led from start to finish to win the girls’ race. Sioux Falls Christian won the team title.
The top area finisher was Mobridge-Pollock’s Heidi Olson who placed fifth, four spots better than where she finished a year ago.
“Last year I just had a really bad race,” Olson said. “I tensed up too early at the beginning and I used up all my lactic acid, and couldn’t move my legs after that.”
The junior said she tries not to get caught up with the pace that others are setting, instead choosing to trust her own game plan.
She was pleased with her spot, but was hoping for better.
“You always want better, better, better,” Olson said. “You’re always gunning for the first spot.”
Like other runners, Olson found the course a bit challenging, especially the final hill.
“It’s a slow incline,” she said, “so man, it almost takes everything out of you.”
Kamryn Nesheim of Clark-Willow Lake was 15th, Halle Bauer of Great Plains Lutheran was 16th, Madison Zirbel of Waubay-Summit was 19th, and Jaycee Hourigan of Deuel was 22nd.
Aberdeen Roncalli seventh-grader Addison Cassady finished 84th in the strong field.
“I’m just so proud of Addi and what she’s done this year and just her determination and grit that she has,” said Roncalli coach Brady Lesnar. “It’s going to be fun watching her as she grows and develops as a runner.”
Lesnar said the field of runners just seems to keep getting better each season.
“Two years ago, first place would have been about a minute behind first place this year,” Lesnar noted. “The competition is so much better.”
Milbank Area’s Payton Brown closed with a flurry to finish sixth in the boys’ race.
“I knew Joe Cross (of Elk Point-Jefferson who finished ninth) was going to be pretty good,” Brown said, “so once I was in front of him, I knew that I had a gnarly kick at the end. I just tried to kick it down there at the 800 mark.”
Brown got off to a fast start and ran with the eventual state champ for a brief spell.
“Today I really got out pretty hard. I was right behind Clarkson for a while there,” Brown said. “I just tried to have a kick at the end.”
Miller’s Pierce Baumberger finished seventh with teammate Alex Schumacher 11th. Ricky Berndt of Deuel was 12th, and Tri-State’s Kaleb Foltz was 21st.
Aberdeen Roncalli placed 15th as a team, led by Paul Gutenkauf in 73rd. Garrett Griffin finished 92nd in the final race of his career.
“I’m just really proud of the hard work that the boys did,” Lesnar said, “them getting their team back into state after not making it last year.”
Griffin has been busy pulling double duty as he is also a member of Roncalli’s unbeaten football team. He said he enjoys being a part of both sports.
Now that cross country is over, the senior will start preparing for the upcoming quarterfinal playoff game on Thursday.
“Brush this off and get right back to work come Monday,” Griffin said. “Now that cross country is over, that’s one thing I can take out mentally and just go 100 percent focus on football, and get ready for a big game against Hot Springs.”
Griffin reflected back on his running days with the Cavaliers.
“It’s very emotional right now,” Griffin said. “You do this for so long. You think about it all the time: it’s going to come soon, I can’t wait to be done. And then you cross the finish line and it just hits you. This is really it.”
To see complete meet results, click on the following link:
