Babb takes third, Hammerquist ninth in cross country opener

The Tea Area High School cross country team kicked off their 2025 season by traveling to compete in the Beresford Invite this past Thursday, Aug. 28. Five hundred and 85 athletes from 32 schools participated in the boys and girls races combined. 

The Varsity girls began the day and the Titans turned in strong performances, with three recording medal finishes. The Titans were led by senior Jaycie Babb, who finished third in a time of 18:44.65. Sophomore Grace Bialas clocked a time of 20:00.63 for 10th place, and freshman Jayna VanLaecken earned 18th place in a time of 20:58.16. 8th grader Evelyn DeGeest grabbed 23rd place in a time of 21:40.28, with sophomore Abby Hilleson close behind in 28th place (21:59.21). Sophomore Logan Castle claimed 34th place (22:56.37). Senior Meredith Decker earned 44th place (24:06.07) and senior Brooklyn Reiners finished in 48th place (24:22.06). As a team, the Titans earned second overall. 

The Varsity boys race was the second of the morning with nine Titans competing. The Titans were led by junior Reid Hammerquist, who used a strong middle and finish to move up the field and finish in ninth place (17:34.74). Freshman Cooper Thompson impressed in his first varsity 5K, using a strong stride to move throughout the race and claim 15th place (17:55.15). Junior Jonah Klemisch finished strong, earning 19th place in a time of 18:15.31. Freshman Reece Christian claimed 23rd place (18:39.79) with fellow Titan (and brother) junior Kaden Christian close behind in 27th place (18:43.89). Senior Jack Campbell used a strong start to claim 29th place in a time of 18:51.08. Senior Jacob DeYoung claimed 42nd place (19:28.47), while junior Tate VanLaecken grabbed 54th place (20:28.12) and fellow junior Noah Korver 70th place (22:03.87). As a team, the Titan boys took third overall. 

In Junior Varsity action, the JV girls ran ten Titans in the field of 99. The Titans were led by freshman Gretchen Curtis. Curits used a strong middle mile to earn ninth place in a time of 17:53.75. Fellow freshman Lola Underberg also recorded a medal finish, grabbing 20th place in a time of 19:08.79. Freshman Grace Chapman finished just outside the top 20, earning 24th place (19:29.01). Exchange student junior Lotte Hoffman finished 25th place (19:30.77) in her first ever cross country race. Senior Kiley Pendergast claimed 46th place (21:09.45), with fellow senior Gracie Kramer close behind in 50th place (21:21.64). Sophomore Daphne Decker recorded a time of 21:26.82 for 52nd place. Freshman Ella Kamps earned 60th place (21:58.11) with fellow freshman Natalie Hyronimus close behind in 63rd place (22:15.37). Senior Morgan Sehr finished in 70th place in a time of 22:44.88. The JV girls finished fourth in the overall team standings. 

The JV boys featured 11 Titans in the field. Eighth grader Reed Cerny led the JV boys, using a strong second half surge to grab 14th place in a new personal best time of 15:56.39. Fellow eighth grader Caden Schuster also impressed, finishing 24th in a time of 16:38.95. Freshman Grant Curtis claimed 31st place (16:59.39) in his first 4K, with junior Riley Clark right behind in 32nd place (17:07.02). Freshman Lucas Scott earned 41st place (17:25.00) with fellow freshman Lincoln Dykstra grabbing 57th place (18:21.12) in his first career cross country race. Sophomore Kadin Zolnowsky earned 67th place (18:36.07) with junior Jaxon Johanneson close behind in 70th place (18:38.13). Junior Malachi Kaiser earned 76th place (18:46.27). Sophomore Zaiden Johnson grabbed 101st place (20:29.92) and junior Victor Bruggeman 111st place (22:47.59) in his first high school race. The JV boys finished second in the team competition. 

There were also middle school races ran which saw nine Titans girls make their Cross Country debut. The MS girls were led by sixth grader Genevieve Decker, who used a strong second half of the race to finish in eighth place in a time 13:04.43. Seventh grader Carly Castle also finished strong, grabbing 22nd place in a time of 13:25.95, with fellow seventh grader Angelina Dusa close behind to earn 24th in a time of 13:38.70. Seventh grader Lela Kamps claimed 55th place (14:56.28) with sixth grader Olivia Grunewaldt close behind in 57th place (15:00.58). Sixth grader Madeline Olinger earned 61st place (15:11.59), and seventh grader Emelia Marandici 62nd place (15:16.23) in their first career races. Sixth grader Samantha Klemisch claimed 71st place (15:40.83), 7th grader Michelle Teng 76th (15:53.14), and sixth grader Vayda VanBeek 78th place (15:53.72). Seventh grader Callie Haw-thorne placed 80th place (15:54.18) with 6th grader Thaiann Ekthanitphong right behind in 81st place (15:55.88). Seventh grader Taytem Petrik grabbed 86th place (16:00.55). Sixth graders AvaLynn Ullom (18:20.10) and Lindsey Reemtsma (20:51.85) finished 106th and 109th, respectively. The MS girls finished third overall as a team. 

Five Titans competed in the middle school boys’ race. The Titans were led by sixth grader Caleb Jelen. Jelen used a great second half to move into the top ten and earn seventh place (11:17.42—#9 rank MSB 3K) in his first career race. Eighth grader Grant Woodis grabbed 27th place in a time of 12:13.75. Seventh grader Micah Hyronimus claimed 48th place (12:43.81). Eighth grader Jace Ullom finished in 73rd place in a time of 13:38.57 with fellow 8th grader Easton Meier grabbing 83rd place (14:16.34). The MS boys finished sixth place in the team standings. 

The Titans will compete in the Augustana Twilight Meet this Friday, Sept. 5 sat Yankton Trails in Sioux Falls. The JV girls kick things off at 6:30 p.m., followed by the JV boys, Varsity girls, Varsity boys, and College Women and College Men.