By Rich Winter

605 Sports

While all heck was breaking loose at the Augustana University Twilight meet on Sept. 1, Hill City’s Luke Rupert was doing his damage out west. 

Rupert clocked a 15:48 to win a race held at Jorgensen Park in Spearfish on Friday at the Northern Hills Invitational. That time is the fastest time in South Dakota so far this year. 

It is always hard to compare times from different meets on different courses on different days but with Ranger teammate Leighton Aves running a 16:15 at the same meet Friday, the Hill City boys look to be an early favorite for the Class A team title. 

In a typical year, Class AA runners are the cream of the crop with Class A runners a step behind and Class B runners a few steps behind that. The 2023 season might unhinge that theory as Class A boys had a strong showing at the Augustana Twilight meet that was dominated by out-of-state runners. 

Class A boys finishers at Augie Twilight meet: 11. Joe Cross, Dakota Valley, 16:10; 13. Levi Vander Leest, 16:19; 14. Jack Brown, Dakota Valley, 16:20; 15. Alex Schumacher,  Miller, 16:22; 16. Pierce Baumberger, Miller, 16:20; 17. Jonathan Roth, West Central, 16:25; 18. Payton Brown, Milbank, 16:25: 25. Lane Krautschun, Belle Fourche, 16:39.

Krautschun was runner-up at the state meet in 2022 so it looks like he has some company and the Class A race at the state meet will be a must see. 

Ten Topics of Discussion:

1. O’Gorman’s Libby Castelli won the Augastana Twilight meet with a scorching fast 17:31

2. Sioux Valley’s Isabelle Bloker was second in that meet with a 17:51

3. The Schroeders from Freeman Academy/Marion just keep coming. At last week’s McCook Central/Montrose meet FAM senior Tavin Schroder won the race with a time of 16:55 and led his team to a win at that meet. 

4. Rarity Cournoyer, Red Cloud: At the 2022 Class A state cross-country meet, Cournoyer finished 10th as an eighth-grader. Cournoyer is off to a quick start in 2023 and finished second at this week’s Mile High Preview meet at 4,000 meters (16:20) on a very hilly and challenging course. 

5. Sturigs boys and girls teams on the rise: The Sturgis boys and girls teams both won titles at the Mile High Preview meet. 

6. Dakota Valley boys and girls making some noise: Former Elk Point-Jefferson runner Joe Cross transferred to Dakota Valley and he and Jack Brown form a tough, one-two combination. The Dakota Valley girls distance runners had a strong track season in 2022 and those efforts have transferred over to the 2023 cross-country season. The Panther boys and girls both won team titles at Tuesday’s Panther Invitational. 

7. Sioux Falls Christian girls might be untouchable in Class A: The Sioux Falls Christian girls finished second at Friday’s Augie Twilight meet behind Brandon Valley. The Chargers might have won the meet but Natalie Smith suffered heat exhaustion at the two-mile mark of Friday’s race and could not finish. Smith was in eighth place when she succumbed to the heat. She is reported to be in fine health and will be ok. 

8. Potter County girls looking tough in Class B: If anyone in the Class B ranks could beat Potter County it would have to come in the early part of the season. The Battlers are typically slow-starters but are running well early in the season. Potter County has already won titles at the Mobridge-Pollock Invitational and at the Redfield Invitational. Big meet on their home turf Wednesday at the Potter County Invitational. 

9. Pierre’s Jared Lutmer was the top South Dakota finisher at Friday’s Augie Twilight meet 15:54. So far this season Lutmer looks like the man to beat in AA but it’s early and a bunch of guys will be keying off Lutmer the rest of the season. 

10. NXR Heartland Meet on Saturday: Another chance for the top-dogs in South Dakota cross-country to rub shoulders. A big meet with more bragging rights out there for the taking at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls.