SIOUX FALLS — South Dakota’s budding cross-country star Brianna Reilly notched another victory on Saturday.

Reilly, an eighth-grader at Harrisburg, won the Nike Heartland Preview cross-country meet at Yankton Trail Park. Reilly, who is among the top cross-country runners in the nation, covered the 5,000-meter distance in 17 minutes and :10.10 seconds. 

Reilly held off a host of South Dakota’s top runners, along with runners from Minnesota and Nebraska. 

“It feels really good,” Reilly said. “I am glad I have my teammates to support me and it was great competition. So it was fun.”

Reilly outlasted Sioux Falls Christian’s Ellie Maddox (17:35.30) and Harrisburg teammate Hannah Genrich (18:03.70) for the win. Sioux Falls Christian’s Sadie Pettengill (18:17.90) and Jerica Glaser (18:23.40) finished fourth and fifth, respectively. 

Reilly and Maddox, last year’s Class A cross-country champion, separated themselves from the pack midway through the race before the Harrisburg Tiger pulled away. 

“She pushes me really hard,” Reilly said. “She’s a great runner and it’s an honor to run against her.”

Reilly, who won last season’s Class AA state cross-country championship, focused on stretching her lead in the middle of the race before cruising to the win.  

“I always get tired toward the middle of the race,” Reilly said. “But I know I am not great at finishing. So I try to make a move in the middle and just hope I can finish strong.”

Reilly and the other runners also had to contend with temperatures in the mid-80s. That’s why Reilly said she wasn’t focusing on her time. 

“It’s pretty hot. So I wasn't necessarily focusing that much on time because it gets in my head if I focus too much on time, especially when it’s a little bit hotter,” Reilly said. “I am just glad I get to run.”

Sioux Falls Christian won the girls team title, finishing with 53 points. Harrisburg (92) and Omaha Marian, Nebraska (95) finished second and third, respectively.

Erik Semling, of Cotter/Hope, Minnesota, won the boys race in 15:16.50. Rapid City Stevens runner Tate Van Beek was the top South Dakota boy finisher, clocking in 16:01.10. 

Lincoln North Star, Nebraska won the boys team title with 66 points. Farmington, Minnesota (130) and Sioux Falls Washington (133) finished second and third, respectively.