By Rich Winter

It took all of about 17 minutes during Friday's Beresford Invitational for Luke Vander Leest's SFC Charger boys to stamp themselves as the favorites for October's state meet. The Chargers placed five in the top-10 including sweeping the top-4 slots.

 

1. Isaac Davelaar 16:05

2. Patrick Vogel 16:34

3. Daniel Colby 16:44

4. Maksim Strizheaus 17: 04

 

Add to that mix, senior Derrek Vander Leest (tendonitis all summer, 10^th at 2020 state meet) finishing 9^th and Vander Leest has a stable of studs that is going to be hard to run down.

 

“We had a good summer after taking a few weeks off following track,” Coach VanderLeest said.

 

At last spring's state track meet, then sophomore Isaac Davelaar lit up the Spearfish track winning the 800, 1600, 3200 (Broke Doug Gabalvy (Lennox) Class A state meet record) and anchored the Chargers 4 x 400 team to a state title.

 

Not resting on his laurels Isaac worked his tail off this summer.

 

“He added lifting and doing those 'little' things to take care of himself which allowed him to add more mileage,” he said.

 

Vander Leest rips off a number of superlatives in describing the junior. God-given talent, an insatiable work ethic and an efficient runner who is mechanically sound and doesn't waste any motion.

 

“And he's so stinking competitive and wants to be the best,” Coach said.

 

When Isaac was an 8th-grader he was right on the cusp of being the 6th-person on varsity or the top JV guy. He turned every workout into a race, hit a little growth spurt and by the end of the season he was on that varsity.

 

A unique combination of strength and speed (50-flat split in 400 carry), Davelaar is already hinting he might like to try sprinting.

 

“He's already asked me for an open 200 and we might 'dabble' with that,” coach smiled while saying. “It's a rare combination to see someone with 50-flat 400 speed that can run a 9:27 3200 meters and everything in between.”

 

Alas a team title doesn't just land in your lap. A lot can happen between August and mid October but Vander Leest is feeling good about where his guys are right now.

 

“We have three seniors that are really good,” coach said. “Patrick Vogel, Dan Colby (injured last year, 18^th as a sophomore) and my son Derrek.”

 

Vander Leest shared some academic prowess from those seniors.

 

“Both Patrick and Derrek are planning on studying medicine in college and Daniel Colby is trying to get into West Point,” Coach said.

 

With 96 kids out for boys and girls cross-country (in a school of 370) coach expects nothing but leadership from his seniors.

 

“Those guys all have 4.0 GPA's and scored very high on their ACT's,” he said. “They are great leaders and so far have done a tremendous job mentoring the younger athletes.”

 

• Ellie Maddox – SFC girls will be in the Mix for Class A

Coach spoke of Maddox's run at Beresford where she easily won the girls race with Class A's leading time: 19:08. Maddox is only an 8th-grader and finished 2^nd in the Class A 1600 meters at last spring's state track meet.