Titans make strong debut at Class AA State Cross Country Meet

In their first-ever Class AA State Cross Country Meet appearance, the Tea Area High School cross country teams delivered impressive performances, capping a successful 2024 season. 

The Titans, who made the trip to Hart Ranch in Rapid City on Saturday, Oct. 26, showed they were ready to compete among the state’s top schools. After a season marked by personal bests and school records, both the girls’ and boys’ teams showcased resilience and determination on race day.

Following the B and A Girls’ races, the Titans’ AA Girls team approached the starting line, preparing for an exciting first run at the highest level in state competition. The Varsity Girls put forth a strong team effort, battling for position and turning in standout individual performances. Junior Jaycie Babb led the Titans, using a powerful mid-race push to claim seventh place with a time of 19:14.7, marking her as the first Titan girl to finish in the top 10 at a state meet. Eighth-grader Jayna VanLaecken followed with a solid 28th-place finish in 20:23.3, while freshman Grace Bialas earned 56th place in 21:15.0. Freshman Logan Castle was close behind in 58th, completing the course in 21:18.3. Seventh-grader Evelyn DeGeest took 65th place in 21:37.3, followed by eighth-grader Taylor Boehnke in 81st place (22:05.4), and freshman Abby Hilleson in 90th place (22:31.9). The Titans finished eighth in the team standings. 

With momentum from the girls’ races, the Titan Boys team hit the course ready to compete. Sophomore Reid Hammerquist led the charge, surging through the field to finish in 43rd place with a time of 17:31.1. Junior Jack Campbell secured 57th place in 17:53.5, followed by sophomore Jonah Klemisch in 80th place (18:22.6). Fellow sophomore Kaden Christian took 88th place with a time of 18:26.5, with sophomore Tate VanLaecken finishing 108th (18:58.4) and freshman Dawson Lowery close behind in 113th (19:14.2). Junior Jacob DeYoung rounded out the boys’ finishes with a 122nd-place result in 19:58.8. The boys placed 14th overall. 

The Titans cross country team will celebrate their accomplishments on Friday, Nov. 1, with an end-of-season gathering in the Venture Elementary lunchroom. The evening will begin with dinner at 6:30 p.m., followed by a recognition ceremony at 7 p.m.