Mibank Runners Compete in Augustana Twilight Race

Milbank cross country runners competed in the high school division of the 13th Annual Augustana Twilight Race held under the lights at Yankton Trails Park in Sioux Falls on Saturday, September 6. The event is one of the largest cross country meets in the region. Attendance numbers from this year were not yet available, but last year’s Twilight attracted 75 high schools and 35 collegiate programs. The 35 colleges and universities for the collegiate races included  five Division I schools, nine Division II schools, six Division III schools, 11 NAIA schools and four NJCAA schools. 

In the high school races, Brianna Reilly a seventh grader from Harrisburg won the girls 5K run. She came in at 17:03.32.  In the boys 5K race, Juan Gonzalez, a senior from Fremont, took top honors for the boys with his finish-line time of 14:34.48.

Bulldog Bryan Meyer, a senior, took 190th place for Milbank with his time of 17:39.16. Liam Heller came in at 229th place at 17:59.51, and Jeter Scoular was just behind him in 230th place at 18:00.56. Harley Zemlicka finished at 18:26.10 to capture 281st place. Berry Beckham secured 285th place at 18:30.11. Bennett Graham crossed the line at 18:30.16 for 287th place. Rylan Wendland finished in 408th place with his time of 20:46.91.

Top 10 Boys Teams:

1. Sioux Falls Lincoln –72
2. Bismarck –94
3. Marshall –143
4. Fremont –167
5. Red River –209
6. Brandon Valley –308
7. Aberdeen Central –338
8. North Platte –364
9. Sioux Falls Washington –365
10. Brookings –376

Milbank’s Ella Koplin, an eighth grader, earned the highest place for the Lady Bulldogs. She finished 181st in 21:46.12. Macy Mueller was next at 215th with her time of 22:11.54. Aria Prasnicki took 263rd place by completing the race  in 22:49.92. Zayda Townsend crossed the line at 23:36.08 to capture 296th place.

Top 10 Girls Teams:

1. Sioux Falls Christian  –69
2. Harrisburg –84
3. Brandon Valley –94
4. Sioux Falls Lincoln –208
5. Bismarck –263
6. Sheyenne –266
7. Pierre T. F.Briggs –286
8. Lennox –341
9. Tea Area –372
10. Sioux Valley —374

JV  4K Races
Girls – 
Claire Grinde, a seventh grader from Hillsboro, North Dakota, was the winner of the JV girls 4K run with her time of 15.06.91. Lady Bulldog Haylen Schneck earned 85th place at 18:34.49. Susie Schunemann finished 118 at 18:56.36. Tabitha McFaden was 127th at 19:06.44 and Timbree Spors took 158th with her time of 19:34.28. Paola Culhuac Segundo came in 160th at 19:36.13. Sophia Bass earned 170th at 19:42.10. Mackenzie Mueller took 195th at 20:02.65. All are seventh grades except for Mueller who is in ninth grade. Camryn Sovell, an MHS junior, finished in 22:34.54 to come in at 303rd place.

As a team, the Lady Bulldogs brought home an admirable finish of 18th place. 

Boys – 
Austin Wick, a junior from Bismarck, won the JV boys race at 13:28.42. Milbank’s Franco Flores took 191st place at 16:122.57. Armondo Chan finished 320th at 17:21.01. Tate Pew was 360th at 17:36.83. 

Top Five Girls Teams:

1. O’ Gormon – -37
2. Sioux Falls Christian – -79
3. Sioux Falls Lincoln – 84
4. Harrisburg – 116
5. Hillsboro-Central Valley –131
   18. Milbank – 466

Top Five Boys Teams:

1. Sioux Falls Lincoln –30
2. Bismarck –57
3. O’ Gormon –103
4. Sioux Falls Christian –130
5. Aberdeen Central –199

What’s next? The Bulldogs host the annual Milbank GrandStay Invitational this Saturday, September 14,  at Whetstone Creek Golf Course just north of Milbank. The meet starts at 9:30 a.m. National Anthem and Parents Day at 11 a.m.

Submitted Photos: Top- left to right, Liam Heller, Bennett Graham, Payton Brown(Augie), Nick Batchelor(Augie), James Batchelor(Augie), Bryan Meyer and Beckham Berry.
Middle-Liam Heller (1140) Bryan Meyer (1141). MHS boys group. Ella Koplin (1126)
Bottom- Nick Batchelor(Augie), James Batchelor(Augie) Payton Brown (Augie)