HURON – A variety of Northeast Conference runners earned their way on to the podium during the Class A portion of the State Cross Country Meet at Broadland Creek Golf Course on Saturday afternoon.
And while area teams were unable to crack the top spots in team points, Aberdeen Roncalli edged Clark-Willow Lake by a single point to finish eighth. The two teams have battled each other the entire season.
“I’m so proud of our girls. They got out right from the get-go,” said Roncalli coach Casey Steele, “got where they needed to be position-wise, running against the girls of similar ability, and then beating them through the race and at the end of the race. That was pretty darn exciting.”
The top area finisher was Kamryn Nesheim of CWL, who finished ninth in a time of 18:57.
“My main goal was just to get under 19,” Nesheim said. “That was my whole goal for the year and I finally got it.”
Nesheim also achieved another goal in the race, finishing among the top 15 runners.
“I was hoping for top 15. My goal was to do better than my 7th grade year,” Nesheim said. “I ran a 19:40 and I got 15th, so that was my goal to get better than that.”
As Nesheim was out on the course, she turned to look to see where her nearest competitors were at during the race.
“I kind of just need to know where everybody is,” Nesheim said. “People always tell me not to look back. They yell at me not to look back, but it works.”
Sioux Falls Christian runners set a fast pace on the way to winning the team championship. Nesheim said that quick start probably helped her in the long run.
“I think it actually helped me get my goal of running under 19,” Nesheim said, “just the fast start, fast mile.”
Addison Cassady made the podium for the second year in a row. The sophomore finished 19th in the race.
“My goal was top 20, so I met my goal, which was really exciting,” Cassady said. “Today was a good day.”
Cassady, who has said in the past that the wind feels like God blowing on her, had to contend with a strong southerly wind during the latter stages of the race, without anyone around her to help provide a wind block.
“It was tough. I thought I was going to be around a bunch of people and that wasn’t always the case,” Cassady said. “That’s OK. I felt the wind and I thought, ‘Oh, there’s God again.’ “
The Broadland Creek course is a tough one with multiple hills, including a big one about 600 meters from the finish line. However, Cassady feels the small hill is even more challenging.
“We have that big back steep hill, and everyone is like, ‘Oh, that’s a killer.’ ” The other one I think is worse, because it’s more gradual and it takes longer,” Cassady said. “But it’s always a good atmosphere with all those people lined up, so that always helps me get over that hill.”
Steele said that Cassady had a better time than last year at the state meet on a tougher course.
“She runs 19:40 on a windy, much more challenging course than out in Rapid City. That’s a huge improvement,” Steele said. “Plus, I think this field is faster than last year’s. A lot faster.”
Steele was pleased with the team’s overall effort.
“Great day for us,” Steele said. “From not having a team last year to eighth place, we’ll take that.”
Milbank’s Jeter Scoular was the top area finisher in the boys’ race, taking 14th.
“I tried keeping my strategy,” Scoular said. “I didn’t really want to change anything.”
Last year Scoular finished in the mid 30s. So why the vast improvement this year?
“I just worked more this year than last year,” Scoular said. “Last year was my first year, this is my second year, so I’ve improved since then.”
Scoular talked about his strategy as he ran up the final hill in the event.
“I knew after that I had to start kicking,” Scoular said, “so I was just trying to close the gap between the guy ahead of me.”
Tate Grabow off Hill City won the boys’ individual championship with Sioux Falls Christian taking the team title.
To see complete meet results, click on the following link:
