SIOUX FALLS — Hundreds of athletes across all classes gathered Sept. 6 for the first big litmus test of the year, the Augustana Twilight Meet. 

When the dust had settled following over 200 varsity athletes competing the Sioux Falls Lincoln boys and Sioux Falls Christian girls were crowned team champions. 

The Sioux Falls Lincoln boys won the team race with 72 points, ahead of Bismarck, North Dakota (94) and Marshall, Minn., 143. Fremont, Neb. (167) and Red River, Minn, (209) rounded out the top-five teams. 

The Sioux Falls Christian girls captured the team title with 69 points, ahead of Harrisburg (84) and Brandon Valley (94). Sioux Falls Lincoln (208) and Bismarck, ND (263) rounded out the top-five teams. 

Under nearly perfect conditions, and on a very fast course many athletes set personal bests over the 5,000-meter course. Brandon Valley’s Mikah Peters was second in the boys race and the first South Dakotan to cross the finish line (15:06). All told 35-runners broke the 16-minute barrier 

Boys top-20: 1. Juan Gonzalez, Fremont, Neb. 14:34; 2. Mikah Peters, Brandon Valley, 15:06; 3. Owen Hintz, Bismarck, ND, 15:06; 4. Joseph Levensque, Sioux Falls Lincoln, 15:13; 5. Miles Lechtenberg, Sioux Falls Lincoln, 15:13; 6. Samuel Deutz, Marshall, Minn, 15:14; 7. Dawson Balzer, Bismarck, 15:17; 8. Cole Reilly, Sioux Falls Washington, 15:17; 9. Trevor Lounsbury, Brookings, 15:18; 10. Kaden Boltz, Grand Island, Neb. 15:19; 11. Jakson Ensign, Bismarck, ND, 15:22; 12. Connor Ensign, Bismarck, ND 15:22; 13. Max Salas, St. Michael Albertville, 15:24; 14. Kuma Gutema, Sioux City North, 15:27; 15. Tyrus Needles, Sioux Falls Lincoln, 15:27; 16. Noah Miller, Fremont, Neb. 15:28; 17. Joe Quinn, Red River, 15:30; 18. Elijah Dafoe, Red River,. ND; 19. Aemil Nelson, Sioux Falls Lincoln, 15:35; 20. Jack Brown, Dakota Valley, 15:44. 

The Sioux Falls Christian girls had four runners, Ellie Maddox (third), Sadie Pettengill (fourth), Natalie Smith (sixth) and Jerica Glaser (ninth) to pave the way to the team title. Harrisburg seventh grader Briana Reilly won the girls race with a scintillating time of 17:03. 

The Sioux Falls Christian girls captured the team title with 69 points, ahead of Harrisburg (84) and Brandon Valley (94). Sioux Falls Lincoln (208) and Bismarck, ND (263) rounded out the top-five teams. 

Girls top-20: 1. Brianna Reilly, Harrisburg, 17:03; 2. Hannah Genrich, Harrisburg, 17:13; 3. Ellie Maddox, Sioux Falls Christian, 17:26; 4. Sadie Pettengill, Sioux Falls Christian, 17:28; 5. Emery Larson, Pierre, 17:51; 6. Natalie Smith, Sioux Falls Christian, 17:52; 7. Isabelle Bloker, Sioux Valley, 17:59; 8. Faith Weise, Flandreau, 18:03; 9. Jerica Glasser, Sioux Falls Christian, 18:08; 10. Sarah VanDenBerg, Brandon Valley, 18:13; 11. Emmi Ihry, Grand Forks Central, ND, 18:16; 12. Mia Kadi, Sioux Falls Lincoln, 18:19; 13. Jaycie Babb, Tea Area, 18:22; 14. Sophia Redler, Dakota Valley, 18:25; 15. Grace McElroy, Watertown, 18:25; 16. Jenna Gilhooly, Harrisburg, 18:26; 17. Alex McCullough, Dakota Valley, 18:29; 18. Taya Fettigk, Bismarck, ND, 18:30; 19. Emma Tidemann, Brandon Valley. 18:35; 20. Kelsey Schmidt, Lennox, 18:39.