Titan runners compete at Dakota Valley, Augustana Twilight Meet

After opening the season at Beresford in an impressive fashion, the Titan girls turned in more amazing runs at Dakota Valley last Tuesday, Aug. 29. The Titan recorded two team and two individual race wins, and claimed 15 out of 40 medals given out.

The Varsity girls were the first to run and set a tone for the day Jaycie Babb continued to lead the Titans, earning 2nd place in a time of 21:52, with 8th grader Grace Bialas close behind in 3rd place in a time of 22:28. Meredith Decker grabbed 11th place in a time of 25:01 and senior Haley Korver finished in 14th place in a time of 25:52. Brooklyn Reiners finished just out of the medals in 21st place (26:30) and Scarlett Taylor earned 29th place (28:29). The Titans girls tied with Dakota Valley for team points, but lost the tiebreak to finish 2nd. The JV girls built on the Varsity success, with Titans claiming the top two spots in the race. Jayna VanLaecken won her second consecutive race, claiming first in a time of 18:00, with Logan Castle right on her heels in 2nd place in a time of 18:00. Breslyn Rand recorded a new PR of 18:40 to claim 5th place, while Gracie Kramer grabbed 8th place in a time of 19:42. Erica Boterman claimed 9th place (19:52) and Brooklyn Korver 10th place (20:24) for her first career medal finish. Kiley Pendergast finished in 14th place in a time of 21:36. The JV girls won the team competition

The MS girls competed last and certainly made a state-ment with Titans claiming the top nine spots in the field. Taylor Davis won her first career race, clocking a 13:10 to lead all runners. Evelyn DeGeest finished right behind her in 2nd place (13:13). Seven more Titans claimed the next spots—Janessa Kuipers 3rd (13:43), Allie Babb 4th (13:48), Emma Hilleson 5th (13:55), Daphne Decker 6th (14:02), Taylor Boehnke 7th (14:02), Kinsley Gass 8th (14:07), and Raegan Rand 9th (14:16). Gretchen Curtis finished just out of the medals in 11th place, clocking a 14:19. Another group of Titans finished soon after with Harper Thompson earning 19th (15:32), Ella Kamps 20th (15:34), Bethlahym Swanson 21st (15:34), Natalie Hyronimus 22nd (15:39), and Sophie Sherwood 23rd (15:58). Grace Chapman claimed 25th place in a time of 16:12, with Selina Bolte (26th; 16:14) and Lola Underberg (27th; 16:20) close behind. Ella Korver finished in 29th place in a time of 16:27, while McKinnley Meyer earned 36th place in a time of 17:21. Mikayla Berg grabbed 38th place in a time of 17:50. The MS girls won the team competition for the third consecutive year.

After putting in a great opening performance at Beresford, the Titan boys also competed Dakota Valley. The Titans turned in many strong runs, earning 10 medals and earning one team race win.

The Varsity boys opened the day. Freshman Reid Hammerquist once again led the Titans, earning 3rd place in a time of 18:57. Holden Jelen ran well, claiming 13th place in a time of 20:17. Tate VanLaecken and Jonah Klemisch both impressed, with VanLaecken grabbing 15th (20:44) and Klemisch 17th (21:25). Peyton Sieber finished just out of the medals in 22nd place, recording a time of 21:48, with Alex Kayser close behind in 25th place in a time of 22:28. The Varsity boys finished 3rd in the team competition.

The JV Boys competed next with four Titans in the field of 57. Jacob DeYoung continued his great start PRing for the second straight meet to earn 2nd place in a time of 15:17. Riley Clark ran strong, claiming 13th place in a new PR time of 17:33. Jaxon Johanneson improved his 4K PR, running an 18:15 for 24th place. Malachi Kaiser also set a new best, clocking a 19:41 for 39th place. The JV Boys finished 4th in the team competition.

The MS boys wrapped up the day in dramatic fashion, winning the team race and placing five in the top ten. Cooper Thompson paced the Titans once again, earning 3rd place in a time of 12 :03. Dawson Lowery led a group of Titans to the finish, with Lowery claiming 5th place (12 :14), Reed Cerny 6th place (12 :15) and Grant Curtis 7th place (12 :35). Caden Schuster earned his first medal, grabbing 10th place in a time of 12 :48. Ayden Peterson earned 12th place (13:20), with Kadin Zolnowsky close behind in 14th place (14:03). Phoenix Bak finished in 17th place (14:16) with fellow Grant Woodis right behind in 18th place (14:49). Jace Ullom recorded a new PR time of 15:03 (22nd place) as did Jeremiah Waldner (15:19; 23rd place). Ryker Kubik grabbed 25th place (15:27) with Noah Sayler close behind in 26th place (new PR—15:44). Simon Jelen finished in 34th place (17:01) and Easton Meier earned 43rd (18:43).

The Titan participated in one of the premier cross county events of the early season Friday, the Augustana Twilight Meet. Nearly 700 athletes from over five states competed in the meet, which featured many of the regions top runners.

The JV girls race started the day and 14 Titans competed in the field of 354. Jayna VanLaecken continued her impressive start, finishing in 11th place in a time of 12:31. Logan Castle also ran strong, earning 51st place in a time of 13:20. Two more Titans grabbed spots in the top 100, with Taylor Boehnke claiming 88th place (13:41) and Daphne Decker 91st (13:47). Two more Titans were close behind with Miah Thorstenson finishing 101st (13:56) and Breslyn Rand 105th (13:57). Erica Boterman claimed 149th place (14:22) while Gretchen Curtis earned 195th (14:46). Brooklyn Korver grabbed 204th place (14:51) and Kiley Pendergast 228th (15:04). Natalie Hyronimus finished in 246th (15:20) with fellow Ella Kamps (262nd; 15:40) and Grace Chapman (267th; 15:46) close behind. Gracie Kramer claimed 298th place (16:17) to round out the Titan effort. The JV Girls finished 8th in the team scoring (3rd among SD class A schools).

The Varsity girls competed next and the Titans proved they were up to the challenge of the big meet. Jaycie Babb continued to shine under the lights of big meets, finishing 26th in the field of 334, running a time of 19:49. Equally impressive was 8th grader Grace Bialas, who earned 29th place in a season best time of 19:53. This was the best 1-2 finish by the Titans at Augustana (and finishing 9th and 10th out of SD Class A runners). Abby Hilleson followed up her all-time performance at Beresford with another strong run, claiming 150th place in a time of 21:56. Meredith Decker continued her strong start, clocking a 22:45 for 208th place. Brooklyn Reiners grabbed 251st place in a time of 23:21. Scarlett Taylor recorded a season best 25:56 to earn 326th place. The Varsity girls finished 17th in the team scoring (4th out of SD Class A schools).

The Titan boys also participated in the Augustana Twilight Meet Friday and turned in a number of impressive performances and recorded a school first at the meet. With 856 athletes from five States competing, the Titan boys held their own.

The JV boys began the day and saw a number of strong runs from the Titans. Jacob DeYoung continued to set a blistering pace, running a personal best 11:00 for 3K (3rd fastest 3K time in school history) to earn 56th place in the field of 434. Cooper Thomp-son impressed grabbing 113th place in a time of 11:27, as did Dawson Lowery who ran near a personal best, recording a time of 11:34 for 126th place. Noah Korver posted a new 3K PR time of 11:48 for 164th place. Riley Clark grabbed 270th place in a near PR time of 12:36. Ayden Peterson a new personal best time of 12:39 for 275th place. Kadin Zolnowsky ran a 12:59 for 313th place. Malachi Kaiser recorded a 13:57 for 382nd place to complete the Titan effort. The JV Boys finished 16th in the team scoring (5th among SD Class A schools).

The Varsity boys competed last and turned in great runs. The boys made school history, marking the first time the Titans have had three runners all run times under 18:01 in the same race.

Jack Campbell used a great start and strong middle run to run a new personal best time of 17:29 (#5 All-Time School Rank) for 89th place.

Reid Hammerquist continued to impress, clocking a 17:46 for 118th place. Holden Jelen ran a new personal best time of 18:00.41 for 142nd place. Jonah Klemisch recorded a new personal best time of 19:02 (258th place), as did Peyton Sieber, who clocked a 19:20 for 284th place. Alex Kayser turned in a new personal best time of 19:51 for 321st place. Tate VanLaecken rounded out the Titan effort, placing 364th in a time of 20:40. The Varsity boys finished 30th in the team scoring (7th out of SD Class A schools).

The Titan Cross Country teams competed at the Hiawatha Golf Course in Canton on Tuesday, Sept. 5 and will compete at the Nike Heartland Meet on Saturday, Sept. 9 at Yankton Trails Park.

On Sept. 12 the team will compete in the Sioux Falls Christian Invite.