By Ryan Deal

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — Ashlan Carlow made Red Cloud history on Saturday.

The freshman used a strong finish to win the Class A girls 300-meter hurdles, becoming the first Crusader in school history to win a hurdle state championship. 

“We have a lot of distance champions,” Carlow said. “My friend Jade (Ecoffey), too, but she couldn’t because of her injury (ACL) this year. So I am happy I could bring home a state championship for our school.”

Carlow made school history in dramatic fashion. Carlow entered the finals with the third-best seed mark, behind Mount Vernon/Plankinton’s Reagan Rus and McCook Central/Montrose’s Brandy Pulse. 

But Carlow felt confidence in herself prior to the race. 

“I said I can do this,” Carlow said. “I worked hard for it. … Don’t underestimate anybody. Because anything can happen and it did.” 

Rus and Pulse were neck and neck through the first 150 meters, but Carlow surged ahead down the stretch for the upset win. Carlow clocked in at :45.73 seconds, edging both Pulse (:45.93) and Rus (:46.10).

“As soon as I was coming down this last stretch, I was like ’It’s the final 100 push, just go as fas your legs can go’ and it just happened,” Carlow said.  

But she was still in awe after the historic Crusader moment. 

“It’s just amazing,” Carlow said. “I am so happy. Words can’t describe how happy I am right now.”