Bulldogs and Batchelors Win Big at CC Invitational

The Milbank GrandStay Invitational was held Saturday, September 11, at 
Whetstone Creek Golf Course. Nick Batchelor topped the field in the Boys’ Varsity  Cross Country 5K Run with a time of 15:55.87. His closest competitor, Kaleb Foltz from Tri-State, came in at 17:14.01. Nick’s sister, Ashlynn Batchelor, took first place in the girls’ 5K run. She came in with a time of 18:46.97  Halle Bauer of Great Plains came in second at 19:04.19. 

With 10 schools competing, the Milbank boys also took the top spot as a team. Their average time was 17:21.03. LQPV/Dawson took second place with an average time of 18:09.38.  Madison was third; Flandreau, fourth; Minnewaska fifth; Breckenridge-Wahpeton, sixth; the Border West Buccaneers, seventh; Tri-State, eighth; Montevideo, ninth; and Great Plains Lutheran was tenth.

As a team, the Lady Bulldogs came in a close second with an average time of 20:49.62. Minnewaska, a ranked Minnesota team, took first place with an average time of 20:39.09. Great Plains Lutheran was third; Breckenridge/Wahpeton, fourth;  Flandreau, fifth; Lac qui Parle Valley-Dawson, sixth; and the Border West Buccaneers were seventh.

Eric Townsend, head cross country coach at MHS, sees a great season ahead for both the Bulldogs and the Lady Bulldogs. He commended Nick Batchelor on his win and said, “Nick has been and continues to be one of the top distance runners in the state, especially in Class A.  He has been a huge leader for our boys’ teams for six years. We are excited to watch Nick finish out his senior season strong.”  He also commented on sophomore Payton Brown’s success. “Payton has been a huge addition to the boys team although this is his first season in cross country.  Payton showed some distance ability during track season last year and we knew he could be a big factor for the boys team.”  

Boys Individual Times – 61 Places 1. Batchelor, Nick — Milbank –15:55.87 2. Foltz, Kaleb — Tri-State — 17:14.01 3. Gerdes, Dylan — Madison — 17:30.54 3 4. Sterud, Payton — Lac qui Parle — 17:31.94 4
5. Brown, Payton — Milbank — 17:33.46 5
6. Batchelor, James — Milbank — 17:38.98 6
7. Allpress, Kaiden — Lac qui Parle 17:41.12 7
8. Ruddy, Aidan — Breckenridge — 17:52.15 8
9. Arens, Joe — Border West — 18:07.61 9
10. Graham, Isaac — Milbank — 18:15.78 10
34 Van Peursem, Grant — Milbank — 20:02.30 33
39 Sandvig, Jack — Milbank — 20:30.21 37
45 Meyer, Bryan — Milbank — 21:05.50

Coach Townsend says, “Eighth grader Ashlynn Batchelor, put in a ton of miles over the summer and appears to be even better than last season.  She has developed into one of the top distance runners in the state. We are excited to see Ashlynn continue to improve throughout her second cross country season.”  “Fellow eighth grader Leah Meyer appears to be a great fit and will help the girls team tremendously,” Townsend said. “It will be exciting to watch Leah continue to move up the pack throughout the season.”

Girls Individual Times – 49 Places 1. Batchelor, Ashlynn — Milbank — 18:46.97 1
2. Bauer, Halle — Great Plains — 19:04.19 2
3. Zirbel, Madison — Dakota Hills — 19:26.90
4. Wiese, Faith — Flandreau — 19:49.51 3
5. Danielson, Olivia — Minnewaska — 19:57.40 4
6. Ankeny, Lauren — Minnewaska — 20:16.57 5
7. Chevalier, Sydnie — Minnewaska — 20:52.42 6
8. Bendix, Taylor — Great Plains — 20:55.55 7
9. Meyer, Leah — Milbank — 21:09.98 8
10. Street, Maurina — Milbank — 21:20.72 9
16. Brown, Maiah — Milbank — 22:00.80 15
22. Berry, Tyra — Milbank — 22:41.06 20
24.Neugebauer, Ellie Milbank 23:10.66
27. O’ Farrell, Ashlyn — Milbank — 23:20.06
34. Speidel, Kynlee — Milbank — 23:57.87

Next up for the Bulldog cross country teams are the Charger Invitational in Sioux Falls today, Tuesday, September 14, and the Huron Invitational on Saturday, September 18.