GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Aberdeen Central turned in a pair of top-10 finishes at the Border Battle race, which featured teams from the tri-state area of North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. 

Tate DeVries clocked a fifth place finish in the boys’ race, while Allie Novstrup led the way for the girls, finishing tenth overall.

Those efforts came in the midst of challenging course conditions, said Central coach Eric Pedersen. Rain made the footing slick and unpredictable with a good bit of mud.

DeVries’s finish put him as the third fastest finisher amongst South Dakota racers.

“He put himself up there with some of the best in the region and came away with a solid race,” Pedersen said.” He likes to get out and race hard, so it’s great to see him continue to stack these races on top of each other and get after it.”

Max Nelson finished in 44th for the Golden Eagles, which Pedersen said was a solid finish for the senior. 

“He’s actually gotten faster in each of his last few meets, and not on easier courses, either,” Pedersen said. “Running a season best today in these conditions was a good sign for where he’s at in his training.”

Kyler Hanigan and Riley Tople rounded out the Golden Eagle contingent, finishing 162nd and 169th, respectively.

On the girls’ side, it was Novstrup in her customary spot at the head of the Golden Eagle pack. Novstrup finished 10th overall in what Pederson called “just a super, super solid race.”

“She has also gotten faster the past several meets which is great,” he said. “Running 19:00 today on that course in those conditions and getting in the top 10 is huge for her. Coming in she was sitting 24th on the current season bests, so she ran a really smart and gutsy race.”

Seniors Allison Brenner and Khloe Cochran, and freshman Grace Preszler formed a pack behind Novstrup, finishing 71st, 89th and 91st. The three were separated by roughly 30 seconds.

“I am really challenging that group of Allison, Khloe, Grace, and Evie (Novstrup) to push the gap on Allie a little bit to find some points for the team there,” Pedersen said. 

Evie Novstrup finished 105th overall, just another 20 seconds back of Preszler.

“Overall, a great day in some mud and rain for our kids at a really fun meet,” Pedersen said. “Proud of everyone.”

Central will head to Watertown for the Watoma Invitational Thursday in a final tuneup ahead of the Eastern South Dakota Conference meet set for Oct. 10 in Pierre.