Milbank Cross Country Runners Take Several Top Fives and Top Tens

The Lennox Invitational is always a great opportunity to compete on a fast course against a majority of the southern Class A schools, commented Eric Townsend, head coach for Milbank. “ With great competition, a fast course, and great weather, nearly every runner had either a season or a personal best in the distance they ran.  Many runners were also minutes faster than a year ago,” noted Townsend.

The varsity girls team placed fourth in a field of 13 complete teams. The varsity boys placed 13th amongst 15 complete teams.  The middle school  girls earned third place against nine complete teams. 

Individually, Jeter Scoular took fifth place. Ella Koplin took third, and Macy Mueller placed eighth in the varsity races.  In the JV girls competition, Ainsley Brown took fifth place and Lennox Spors captured eighth.  

Townsend also gave kudos to junior Franco Flores. Flores had his best race of the season thus far at Lennox.  He was the second Milbank finisher and placed 40th overall.  His time on the course was his first time under 18 minutes, and it was 91 seconds faster than his time a year ago. Townsend congratulated seventh-grader Kingsley Jensen on running her first varsity race in competition. She was the fourth Bulldog finisher and placed 38th.   

“Overall, the Lennox Invite, held on October 2, was an outstanding meet for the Bulldog CC teams,” declared Townsend. “As we head into the last weeks of the season, both teams are in about as good of a position as we can be in. Some injuries are still lingering, but both teams appear poised for battle for the NEC crown this Thursday (October 8).” 

The Northeast Conference (NEC)  Meet will be held in Webster on October 8. Start time is 1 p.m. 

Girls Varsity – 5,000 Meters
Team Rankings

1. West Central – 46
2. Lennox – 59
3. Crofton – 68
4. Milbank – 74
5. Chamberlain – 76
6. Mac – Floyd Valley – 78
7. Tea Area – 82
8. Ethan/Parkston – 101
9. Beresford – 128
10. Sioux Falls Roosevelt – 152
11. Elk Point- Jefferson – 211
12. Tri-Valley – 220
13. Adrian/Ellsworth – 221

Individual Efforts: Sophomore Avery Arens of Crofton won the race with her time of 17:06.

Milbank Varsity Girls
3. Ella Koplin (10th) – 19:00
8. Macy Mueller (12th) –  19:30
31. Audrey Schmeichel (7th) – 20:57
38. Kingsley Jensen (7th) – 21:07
61. Haylen Schneck (9th) – 22:14
79. Paola Cuhulac Segundo (9th) – 23:31

Boys Varsity – 5,000 Meters
Team Rankings

1. Sioux Falls Roosevelt  – 59
2. Vermillion – 65
3. MOC – Floyd Valley – 8
4. West Central – 101
5. Lennox – 108
6. Elk Point – Jefferson – 114
7. Tea Area – 117
8. Beresford – 127
9. Garretson – 142
10. Chamberlain – 144
11. Tri-Valley – 155
12. Dell Rapids – 158
13. Milbank – 175
14. Wagner – 248
15. Adrian/Ellsworth – 278

Individual Efforts: Junior Jaxton Rinehart of Tri-Valley won the race at 15:40.
Milbank Varsity Boys
5. Jeter Scoular (12th) – 16:06
40. Franco Flores (11th) – 17:41
68. Beckham Berry (12th)  – 18:52
76. Rylan Wendland (11th) – 19:09
85. Finn Gilmore (7th) – 19:30
90. Matt Unzen (9th ) – 19:51

Junior Varsity Girls  4,000 Meters
Top -3 Team Rankings 

1. Chamberlain – 29
2. MOC Floyd Valley – 31
3. Wagner – 75

Individual Efforts: Eighth-grader Carly Castle of Tea Area won the race at 16:27.
Milbank JV Girls
5. Ainsley Brown (8th) – 17:02
8. Lennox Spors (8th) – 17:14
21. Mackenzie Mueller (11th) – 18:35

Girls Middle School  3,000 Meters
Team Rankings

1. Tea Area – 19
2. Ethan/Parkston – 35
3. Milbank – 50
4. Chamberlain – 80
5. Elk Point-Jefferson – 96
6. Crofton – 105
7. West Central – 115
8. Vermillion – 125
9. Dell Rapids – 127

Individual Efforts: Seventh-grader Genevieve Decker of Tea Area won the race at 11:46.

Milbank Middle School Girls
9. Sophie Gruba (8th) – 12:50
12. Harmony Campbell (8th) – 13:16
17. Quetzalli Culhuac Segundo (8th) – 13:26
18. Preslie Owen (7th) – 13:31
38. Fernanda Hernandez Vasquez (8th) 14:37
42. Brooklyn Eckberg (8th) – 14:42
58. Kami Dashiell (7th) – 16:14
65. Hadley Allen (7th) – 17:23

Individual Efforts:  Tate Siemonsma of Garretson won the race in 10:58

MIlbank Middle School Boys
23. Landon Athey (7th) 13:05