By Rich Winter

605 Sports

SIOUX FALLS — All season long, Class AA state cross-country champion Jared Lutmer has been chasing Yankton’s Dylan Payer.

On Friday, the Pierre senior outdueled the wind and the rest of the Class AA field to win the 3,200-meter run with a personal best (9:20.74).

“Winning this race means a lot to me,” Lutmer said. “I think what makes it even more special is my teammate Caleb Morris, who I’ve done a ton of workouts with and made the podium with a seventh-place finish.”

 Lutmer finished seventh at the Howard Wood Dakota Relays, just three seconds behind Payer who had the top Class AA time in the state this spring (9:18.48). That race, and easing up on his mileage late in the season, gave the future South Dakota State runner confidence for the state track meet.

“Being that close to Dylan gave me a lot of confidence,” Lutmer said. “As the season goes on I can see just how much progress I’ve made. Once I taper down my legs feel even better and that gives me even more confidence.”

Lutmer assumed the lead early in the race with Payer and Douglas senior Peyton Cast right behind. With very strong winds in the faces of the runners on the backstretch, Lutmer broke away from the competition about halfway through the race and finished seven seconds in front of Payer and Cast. 

“I knew I didn’t want it to come down to a kick and I felt good early so I just decided to take the lead,” he said. “The wind was pretty tough during the race but the atmosphere at Howard Wood is so great I almost didn’t notice the wind.”