Both Bulldog Cross Country Teams Make MHS History at State

Both Bulldog cross country teams brought home hardware from the 2020 South Dakota State Class A meet in Rapid City on Saturday, October 24. The girls’ team captured fourth place with 87 points. The boys finished in sixth place with 125 points. 

According to Coach Eric Townsend, this is the first time since 1997 that both teams earned team awards at the state meet. The fourth place finish for the girls is their highest since 2002, and the boys’ sixth place finish their highest since 2011. 

Nick Batchelor, a junior, led the Dawgs with an individual fourth place finish for the boys’ team.  Ashlynn Batchelor, a seventh grader, earned fifth place and her first state medal for the girls. This is also the first time since 2009 that Milbank had a boy and girl each earn a top-25 medal,” added Townsend.

Coach Townsend said, “Both teams ran their best races of the season in crazy weather conditions with snow on the ground and cold temperatures. All six girls ran outstanding races, and placed in the top 47 out of 122 runners,

“For the boys, we have a young team with one senior, one junior, one sophomore, and three freshmen. For them to earn a team award is outstanding. I am proud of all the athletes who competed and came with us to the state meet.”

Cody Farland of St. Thomas More won the boys title with a time of 16:15.60. Sioux Falls Christian took the team title with 26 points.

In the girls’ competition, Abby Cutler of Hill City was the champion with a time of 19:16.57. She also led her team to the state crown with 32 points.

Results for Milbank:Boys 5K Race (125 runners)4. Nick Batchelor, 17:01.00. 48. James Batchelor, 18:42.30; 50. Isaac Graham, 18:45.20; 84. Grant Van
Peursem, 19:35.40; 85. Isaac Johnson, 19:35.60; 115. Sammy Femling, 20:52.20.
Team scores. – SF Christian, 26; Vermillion, 60; St. Thomas More, 64; Custer, 70; Miller, 120; Milbank, 125; Belle Fourche, 126; Winner Area, 150; Lennox, 165; Madison, 170; Dakota Valley, 173; Clark-Willow Lake,181; Baltic, 193; Mobridge-Pollock, 220; Aberdeen Roncalli, 270.

Girls 5K Race (122 runners)5. Ashlynn Batchelor, 19:43.45; 31. Ellie Neugebauer, 21:08.04; 32. Maurina Street, 21:08.33; 44.
Ashlee Van Hoorn, 21:27.49; 46. Tyra Berry, 21:31.72; 27. Amaya Street, 21:31.88.
Team scores – Hill City, 32; SF Christian, 74; Custer, 82; Milbank, 87; Chamberlain, 92; Flandreau, 95;Aberdeen Roncalli, 104; Red Cloud, 120; Tea Area, 139; Beresford, 160; Lennox, 163; Garretson, 191; Winner
Area, 262; Mt. Vernon/Plankinton, 264; Clark-Willow Lake, 297.

.photos courtesy Laurie Batchelor