By Rich Winter

605 Sports

COLLEGE STATION, Texas —- When Highmore-Harrold junior cross-country and track and field standout Autumn Fallis dedicated to participate in Junior Olympic Track and Field this summer, she decided to try several different events. 

 A distance runner by nature, Fallis decided to give the 2,000-meter steeplechase and 400-meter hurdles a try.

“I think it was a good experience to try some new events,” Fallis said. “The steeplechase hurdles weren’t so bad but the water jump was hard to get over and it slowed me down having to run through the water.”

It didn’t slow her down much in either the preliminary or regional contests. Fallis won both races, running the exact same time (8:03) in each track meet. She also advanced to the regionals in the 400-meter hurdles but chose not to run, focusing solely on the steeplechase.

Her efforts this summer qualified her for the 2024 USATF National Junior Olympic Track & Field Trials in College Station, Texas on the campus of Texas A&M University. The event runs from July 22-28 and Fallis isn’t sure yet what day she will run but expects it to be early in the week.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to run against people in a national competition,” she said. “I think it will be pretty cool to see Texas and a really big college atmosphere.” 

College Station is a long way from Big Bend, South Dakota and a long way from where Fallis began her running career.

“In grade school we usually have this field day and that’s the first time I ever ran any distance race,” she said. 

Immediately after that field day, Fallis was approached by the cross-county coach who asked if she would be interested in running cross-country. Her prowess in distance running was confirmed when an elementary physical education coach had the students run a timed mile.

“I got first place in that race,” Fallis said.

Fallis has qualified for the Class B state cross-country race four times with fourth place being her highest finish. On the track she holds Highmore-Harrold School records in the 1,600-meter run (5:23) and 3,200-meter run (11:41). 

Fallis also plays basketball and said she enjoyed getting to play with her sister April for the last few seasons.