Scoular, Schmeichel, and Koplin Top Bulldogs at Augustana Twilight 

The Augustana Twilight, a race that draws over 5,000 athletes, always teams with talented competitors, but the 2026 event added an extra challenge. The heatwave that scorched Sioux Falls last Friday, September 4, sent temperatures rocketing to 99 degrees along with high humidity. Officials scrambled to redo race schedules, some of which then stretched late into the evening for the 927 runners from 50 high schools in the region.

Eric Townsend, head cross country coach for Milbank said, “With tons of teams featured from multiple states, the Augie TwiLight was a battle of very hot and humid weather.  Races had to be shortened, cut out, and pushed back to help with the number of athletes, teams, and heat. Our JV boys were not able to run.” Milbank’s JV girls and varsity boys and girls, however, were given the opportunity. 

 “Both teams had a more “nighttime experience” with nearly all teams running in the dark,” Townsend stated. “The JV girls team ran very well, placing 11th out of 37 complete teams and beating many larger schools.” 

Seventh-grader Audrey Schmeichel was the top finisher for the Lady Bulldog JV girls She placed in the top 10 percent overall by taking 35th place in a field of 400 runners. Senior Jeter Scoular was the top finisher for the  Milbank varsity boys. He placed 63rd overall in a field of 502 runners. According to Townsend, Jeter was one of the top Class A finishers in the race. Sophomore Ella Koplin led the varsity Lady Bulldogs with her 134th-place finish.

“The hotter and humid weather and pushing things back took its toll on our times. Even though times weren’t where we were hoping for them to be, I think we battled and competed hard,’” Townsend said.

Milbank JV Girls –   1.5 Miles – Place/Grade/Time
35 – Audrey Schneichel (7 ) 10:06.8
44 – Kingsley Jensen (7) 10:11.53
153 – Lennox Spors (7) 10:56.98
159 – Ainsley Brown (8) 11:00.43
214 – Sophie Gruba (8) 11:25.92
217 – Preslie Owen (7) 11:27.36
276 – Harmony Campbell  (8) 11:49.62
302 – Brooklyn Eckberg (8) 12:03.62
336 – Fernanda Hernandez Vasquez (8) 12:26.41
366 – Kami Dashiell (7) 13:11.37
389 – Hadley Allen  (7) 15:01.81

JV Girls – 1.5 Miles – Team Rankings to 15th Place 

1. Rock Bridge – 32
2. Harrisburg – 97
3. Century – 108
4. Sioux Falls Lincoln – 125
5. Sioux Falls Christian – 185
6. Fremont – 200
7. Sheyenne – 215
8. Omaha-Duchesne Academy – 253
9. Tea Area – 343
10. Beresford – 345
11. Milbank – 407
12. Platte Geddes – 416
13. Norfolk – 426
14. Sioux Falls Roosevelt –  428
15. Bismarck – 437

JV Girls  – 1.5 MIles – Individual Winners

1. Eva Stebleton (7) – Sheyenne  8:52.63
2. Kalla Foerster (11)  – Brookings 9:01.92
3. Lillian Bender (10)  – Rock Bridge 9:02.73

Milbank Varsity Boys 5,000 Meters –  Place/ Grade/Time
63 – Jeter Scoular (12)  16:44.95
312 –  Franco Flores (11) 19:11.44
410 – Beckham Berry (12) 20:17.76
430 – Rylan Wendland (11) 20:38.54

Varsity Boys – 5,000 Meters – Team Rankings to 15th Place

1. Sioux Falls Lincoln –75
2. Century –132
3. Sioux Falls Washington – 151
4. Rock Bridge – 154
5. Creighton Prep – 154
6. Brandon Valley –220
7. Sioux Falls Christian – 257
8. Rapid City Central – 378
9. North Platte – 411
10. Fremont –446
11. Sioux City North –450
12. Grand Forks Central – 454
13. Harrisburg –491
14. Red River – 559
15. Omaha Central –565

Varsity Boys –  5,000 Meters – Individual  Winners

1. Kuma Gutema (11) Sioux City North – 14:53.23
2. Cole Reilly (12) Sioux Falls Washington – 14:53.8
3. Tyrus Needles (12) Sioux Falls Lincoln – 14:54.97

Milbank Varsity Girls – 5,000 Meters –  Place/Grade/Time
134 – Ella Koplin (10) 21:07.0
261 – Macy Mueller (12) 22:34.48
353 – Haylen Schneck (9) 24:06.5

Varsity Girls – 5,000 Meters – Team Rankings to 10th Place

1. Harrisburg –82
2. Century –98
3. Sioux Falls Lincoln –196
4. Sioux Falls Christian – 212
5. Brookings – 226
6. Rapid City Central –268
7. Watertown –369
8. O’Gorman –391
9. Hillsboro/Central Valley – 425
10. Omaha Duchesne Academy – 453

Varsity Girls – 5,000 Meters – Individual Winners

1. Ruby Ihmels (12) Century 16:46.39
2. Natalie Anderson (12) Moc-Floyd Valley 17:10.88
3. Brianna Reilly (9) Harrisburg 17:21.40

College Women – 5,000 Meters – Top-5 Teams

1. South Dakota – 33
2. South Dakota State – 63
3. Winona State – 103
4. Not Listed
5. Minnesota State – 127

College Men – 5,000 Meters – Top-5 Teams

1. South Dakota State –30
2. South Dakota –36
3. Augustana –99
4. Minnesota State – 121
5. Deane (Neb) – 216

What’s next? The Bulldog Cross Country teams host The Bank Invitational at Whetstone Creek Golf Course north of Milbank on Saturday, September 12.  The meet starts at 9:30 a.m. If you have a busy day to plan, here’s the general schedule:

Saturday, September 12 – Whetstone Creek – After the first race, all times are approximate.
9:30 a.m. –  Girls 7th/8th (3000 meters) 
9:50 a.m.  – Boys 7th/ 8th  (3000 meters)
10:10 a.m. –  JV Girls (4000 meters)
10:35 a.m. – JV Boys (4000 meters)
11 a.m. – Parents Day / National Anthem
11:15 a.m. – Varsity Girls (5000 meters)
11:45 a.m.  –  Varsity Boys  (5000 meters)
12:15 p.m. –  Bullpup Run (K-2, 3-4, and 5-6)