Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Farmer's Union Insurance
605 Sports
Chester's Emery Larson wins second straight Class B girls cross-country title
Chester's Emery Larson won the Class B state girls cross-country title on Saturday in Sioux Falls.
(Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Chester's Emery Larson wins second straight Class B girls cross-country title

Oct 21, 2023
  

By Ryan Deal

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — Emery Larson beat a familiar face to return to a familiar place.

The Chester High School sophomore captured her second straight Class B girls cross-country title on Saturday. Larson covered the 5,000-meter distance at Yankton Trail Park in 18 minutes and :21.47 seconds. 

Larson and fellow sophomore, Ella Boekelheide, separated themselves from the pack and were neck and neck for much of the race. But Larson methodically pulled away from her friend and competitor for the state championship, winning by 36 seconds. 

“We knew Ella had really improved from last year and my race plan had to be stronger and shoutout to her,” Larson said about the Northwestern standout. “She’s gotten so much better and she’s a great competitor. She’s a great girl. She’s brought out the best in me for sure. Her and her family are such nice people. So it’s good that we can be friends, while being competitive.”

Larson set the Class B girls course record, breaking the previous mark set by Ipswich’s Aleah Steger (19:17.62) in 2015. 


Larson had a different game plan this season to earn the second straight state championship, but it still worked in her favor. 

“I went out pretty fast last year and I couldn’t maintain the entire race,” Larson said. “But I was just so far ahead that I could finish. But I knew I couldn’t do that this year. So my goal was just to relax for the first mile. Once I hit mile two, just go, get up those hills, down those hills, and sprint it out.” 

Once she pulled away from Boekelheide, Larson could sense the championship down the stretch and coasted in for the win. 

“I knew I had this last kick in me and I knew I wasn’t backing down for anything,” Larson said. “So this whole race honestly I was just counting my blessings, thanking God the whole time.” 

It was also another state championship Larson, who is also an outstanding track and field athlete. 

“I just love running so much and the feeling it gives me,” Larson said. “I thank my parents and Miss Eppard for giving me the opportunity they gave me because I couldn't do it without them and God.”

Pierre's Lexie Hillmer with the corner kick as Ireland Templeton scores an early goal
Cheyenne-Eagle Butte/Tiospaye Topa's Easton Lawrence moves the pile for a Braves touchdown
White River's Riley Bouman with the athletic interception that he nearly returns for a score
Mobridge-Pollock's Wyatt Ziegler grabs hold of the bobbled pass then rumbles for a Tiger touchdown