Hill City’s Luke Rupert is the 2023-24 Gatorade South Dakota boys cross-country runner of the year. Rupert is the first Gatorade South Dakota boys cross-country runner of the year to be chosen from Hill City High School. 

The award, which celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community, distinguishes Rupert as South Dakota’s best high school boys cross country player. 

The 5-foot-10, 140-pound senior won the Class A state meet this past season with a time of 15:26.51, breaking the tape 21.21 seconds ahead of his next-closest competitor and leading the Rangers to the team title. 

Rupert won six of eight races on the season and was the state’s top finisher at the Nike Cross Heartland Regional Championships, taking 39th with a time of 15:29.4. 

Rupert has maintained a weighted 4.31 GPA in the classroom. He remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.