605 Sports Staff

SIOUX FALLS — In a 5,000-meter race that featured 340 female distance runners from multiple states, the South Dakota girls stood out. 

Sioux Falls O’Gorman’s Libby Castelli blitzed the course with a time of 17:31, ahead of Sioux Valley’s Isabelle Bloker (17:51), Brandon Valley’s Mia Wentzy (18:30) and Chester Area’s Emery Larson (18:30). 

Eight of the top-10 runners were all from South Dakota. 

In the team race the Brandon Valley girls showed they are going to be a force in AA cross country this season scoring 69 points, ahead of Sioux Falls Christian (106) as South Dakota teams claimed the top two team slots. 

In the boys race Pierre’s Jared Lutmer (15:54) was the first South Dakota boy across the line finishing in fifth place. Brandon Valley’s Mikah Peters (16:04) finished ninth with Dakota Valley’s Joe Cross (16:10) coming across the line in 11th place.

In the boys team race Sioux Falls Christian was third with 212 points followed by Sioux Falls Lincoln (228). 

South Dakota girls team scores: 1. Brandon Valley, 69; 2. Sioux Falls Christian, 106; 6. Harrisburg, 232; 8. Sioux Falls Lincoln, 314; 9. Pierre, 422; 11. Chamberlain, 422; 13. Yankton, 445. 

Top South Dakota girls: 1. Libby Castelli, O’Gorman, 17:31; 2. Isabelle Bloker, Sioux Valley, 17:51; 3. Mia Wentzy, Brandon Valley, 18:30: 4. Emery Larson, Chester Area, 18:33; 6. Faith Wiese, Flandreau, 18:44; 7. Kinsey Evans, Chamberlain, 18:47; 9. Ellie Maddox, Sioux Falls Christian, 18:50.97; 10. Grace McElroy, Watertown, 18:54; 11. Sadie Pettengill, Sioux Falls Christian, 19:03; 14. Sarah VadDeBerg, Brandon Valley, 19:20; 15. Jerica Glasser, Sioux Falls Christian, 19:24; 16. Ashlyn Batchelor, Milbank, 19:25; 17. Addison Scholten, Brandon Valley, 19:29; 18. Anna Vyn, Sioux Falls Christian, 19:38. 

South Dakota boys team scores: 3. Sioux Falls Christian, 212; 4. Sioux Falls Lincoln, 228; 7. Brandon Valley, 266; 9. Sioux Falls Washington, 374; 10. Rapid City Central, 382; 11. Aberdeen Central, 391. 

Top South Dakota boys: 5. Jared Lutmer, Pierre, 15:54; 9. Mikah Peters, Brandon Valley, 16:04; 11. Joe Cross, Dakota Valley, 16:10; 13. Levi Vander Leest, Sioux Falls Christian, 16:19; 14. Jack Brown, Dakota Valley, 16:20;15. Alex Schumacher, Miller, 16:22; 16. Pierce Baumbergber, Miller, 16:22; 17. Jonathan Roth, West Central 16:25; 18. Payton Brown, Milbank, 16:25; 19. Miles Lechtenberg, Sioux Falls Lincoln, 16:25.