Titans compete at Border Battle: Prepare for Lennox Invite Oct. 2

The Titans took on a new challenge this year by participating in the 4th Annual Border Battle up in Grand Forks, ND. This meet brought together some of the top teams from SD, ND, MN, and Canada as over 2,800 athletes competed across all races on the day. 

The Varsity girls race started the day for the Titans. Senior Jaycie Babb got out strong and had a great finish to earn 5th place (18:30.8) in the AA Girls race. Freshman Jayna VanLaecken also got out well, kicking down the finish lane to claim 31st (19:52.0). Sophomore Grace Bialas used a strong start to claim 40th place (20:08.3). Sophomore Logan Castle closed well, earning 102nd place (21:36.6). Seniors Brooklyn Reiners and Meredith Decker finished 160th (23:25.6) and 167th (24:04.7), respectively. The Titans finished 10th in the team competition.

The Varsity boys were the next to race. Senior Jack Campbell led the Titan effort. Campbell used a strong start to get out and claim 86th place (17:30.9). Junior Reid Hammerquist used his trademark second half race surge to move up the field and finish 90th (17:35.1). Junior Jonah Klemisch also moved well throughout the race to grab 116th place (18:00.1). Junior Tate VanLaecken used a strong start to push out and finish in 123rd place (18:09.0). Junior Kaden Christian used a late surge to move into 130th place (18:18.5) with brother Reece Christian close behind in 146th place (18:36.3). Junior Noah Korver used a strong stride to grab 176th place (19:27.9). The Varsity boys finished 20th in the team competition.

The JV girls raced next with five Titans in the field. Taylor Boehnke led the Titan effort, earning 64th (24:13.8) in the section, with fellow freshman Grace Chapman close behind in 66th (24:19.0). Senior Gracie Kramer used a good middle pace to finish in 122nd (27:09.7). Senior Kiley Pendergast grabbed 129th place (28:13.3) and senior Morgan Sehr claimed 138th place (28:44.2). The JV girls finished 23rd overall between the two sections.

The final race for the Titans was the JV boys, a race that saw four Titans post new personal records. Eighth grader Reed Cerny led the Titans, using a strong late surge to earn 31st place (new PR, 19:07.7) in the section. Senior Jacob DeYoung also had a great mid-race surge to grab 32nd place (19:09.7). Junior Jaxon Johanneson used a strong stride to claim 90th place (new PR, 21:07.0). Junior Malachi Kaiser also posted a new personal best time (21:21.8) to grab 102nd place. Junior Victor Bruggeman also posted a new personal best time (26:00.5) to finish 171st. The JV boys finished 24th in the team standings.

The Titans were scheduled to compete in the Lennox Invite on Thursday, Oct. 2 at the Lenkota Golf Course. Race time is set to begin at 10 a.m. due to the heat.