HURON — Potter County hoisted its first-ever South Dakota girls cross-country trophy on Saturday.

Potter County, a co-op which consists of Gettysburg and Hoven, captured the Class B girls cross-country state championship at Broadland Creek Golf Course. On its own, Hoven won eight state championships from 1983-93. Gettysburg had never won a girls cross-country championship. 

The Battlers cruised to the team championship, tallying 24 points as Arlington (60) and Gayville-Volin (64) were next in the team standings. Potter County’s Dannika Kaup (20:01), Jadyn Ahlemeier (20:41) and Emma Schlachter (21:08) accumulated the 24 team points. Kaup, Ahlemeier and Schlachter finished fourth, eighth and 12th, respectively. 

“That just means God answered all our prayers that we asked him to and that means God was with me the whole time,” Kaup said about the team championship.

Paige Ahlemeier (21:39) and Peyton Stevens (21:52) finished 29th and 36th, respectively as the close-knit Battlers were again bunched together.

“They are a big part of our team and all of us run together at practice,” Kaup said. “We work together in practice and we are basically like a big family. We are so close in times that it really helps us.”

It also comes after Potter County finished second to Kimball/White Lake by three points in last year’s meet. The WiLdKats moved up to Class A this season and that was the opening Potter County needed. 

“As soon as I found out Kimball/White Lake was moving up, I knew for sure if we didn’t get this championship I would be really upset,” Kaup said. “Kimball was a great team to be pushed by.”

Potter County will likely be the team to beat again next season. The Battlers boast a roster full of underclassmen and don't have a senior. 

How will coach Jessica Larson motivate them to repeat next season?

“It’s all about teamwork and sticking together and working hard,” she said. 

Individually, Chester Area’s Emery Larson rolled to the Class B girls championship. Larson covered the 5,000-meter distance in 18 minutes and 15 seconds. Northwestern’s Ella Boekelheide was second in 19:19. Arlington’s Kaelyn Ulschmidt (19:22), Highmore-Harrold’s Autumn Fallis (19:25) and Kaup rounded out the top-five finishers. 

Chester Area's Emery Larson won the Class B girls cross-country championship on Saturday in Huron. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Sioux Falls Christian captures first-ever state title, Sioux Valley's Isabelle Bloker wins A title

Sioux Falls Christian ran away with its first-ever state cross-country championship. 

The Chargers recorded 30 points and finished well ahead of second-place Chamberlain (82). Custer (84) rounded out the top-three teams. The win comes after the Chargers placed third last season.

Sioux Valley’s Isabelle Bloker was the Class A individual champ, finishing in 18:32. Sioux Falls Christian’s Natalie Smith (18:44) and Jade Ecoffey (18:58) finished second and third, respectively. Custer’s Ramsey Karim (19:12) and Mobridge-Pollock’s Heidi Olson (19:18) rounded out the top-five runners. 

Sioux Valley's Isabelle Bloker won the Class A girls cross-country championship on Saturday in Huron. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Stevens wins first title since 2014, Lincoln’s Ali Bainbridge captures AA championship

The Rapid City Stevens girls won their 17th state championship in program history on Saturday.

The Raiders finished with 96 points, edging out Brandon Valley (100) and Sioux Falls Lincoln (115) for the championship. It is Rapid City Stevens’ first state championship since 2014. The Raiders won eight straight championships from 1993-2000. 

Stevens’ Brionna Holso was the team’s best finisher, placing in third place in 17 minutes and 58 seconds. 

Individually, Sioux Falls Lincoln’s Ali Bainbridge won the state championship in 17:26. She's the first Lincoln winner since Analise Levesque in 2018. Sioux Falls O’Gorman’s Libby Castelli (17:50) and Holso were second and third, respectively. Spearfish’s Peyton VanDeest (18:18) and Brandon Valley’s Addison Scholten (18:24) rounded out the top-five runners. 

Sioux Falls Lincoln's Ali Bainbridge won the Class AA girls cross-country championship on Saturday in Huron. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)