First Meet: Spearfish girls, Stevens boys win at Douglas Early Bird Invite (2024)

On a bright and sunny Friday morning, the cross country season officially began in South Dakota. Within the West River, both boys and girls teams converged upon Box Elder to get some running in before Labor Day weekend.

When all of the races concluded and results were tallied at the end of the Douglas Early Bird Invitational, which took place last Friday at Prairie Ridge Golf Course, several harriers picked up where they left off from last year and teams engaged in some pretty close competition.

The varsity girls were highlighted by Spearfish sophom*ore Peyton VanDeest and junior Kori Keil, who took first and second, respectively. Ty Petrocco of Sturgis topped the field, while the Rapid City Stevens boys claimed the team standings with 27 total points.

VanDeest, who took second overall in the South Dakota High School Activities Association's Class AA State Cross Country Meet, crossed the finish line with a time of 20:05.79. Keil, who placed ninth at last year's state meet, clocked a time of 20:19.78.

Along with senior Madie Donovan's seventh place showing and time of 21:09.15, TyLee Tetrault (18th, 22:04.25) and Bella Linn (20th, 22:06.89) finished within the top 20 for Spearfish.

For the Spartans, who collected 44 points overall, it was enough to edge out Rapid City Stevens in the team standings, who reeled in 45 points.

The Raiders were paced by Adison Armstrong, who raced to third place with a time of 20:24.60. Sophom*ore Brinna Sheldon was close behind, taking fifth with a time of 20:52.36, and Whitley Adams placed sixth with a time of 20:55.96.

Sturgis hauled 56 total points, led by Lucy Hamer's eighth place finish and time of 21:11.61. Belle Fourche (fourth place, 96 points) was spearheaded by Lia Mundt's fourth place showing and time of 20:33.30.

Douglas junior Kira Ubence, who placed 18th at last year's state meet, ran to a ninth place finish with a time of 21:16.64. Team wise, the Patriots went fifth with 106 points.

Hill City's Brooke Thayer-Burke landed the 10th overall spot with a time of 21:33.37. The Rangers only had three representatives in the varsity girls race.

St. Thomas More's best girls harrier was Monica Moran, who finished 23rd with a time of 23:10.70, and Newell's best placer was Eirelyn Bender (30th, 25:04.25). Brandy Marshall led Lakota Tech with a 31st place finish and time of 25:06.16.

Wall's lone representative Taylee Dartt went 34th with a time of 25:13.92, and New Underwood's Madilyn Wulf was 40th with a time of 27:51.71. Briley Ferguson led Little Wound (42nd, 28:37.54) and Chloe Fire Thunder (43, 29:42.70) paced Lakota Tech.

Following Petrocco, who finished with a time of 16:35.77, was Hill City duo Tate Grabow and Brandon Escalante. Grabow took second (16:41.30), followed by Escalante's third place showing (16:51.98).

Custer's Sean Shipp sprinted to a fourth place finish and a time of 16:52.98.

Then, it was a plethora of Stevens Raiders. Miles Brekhus led the blue with a fifth place spot and a time of 16:53.00, while teammates Tate Van Beek (10th, 17:53.17), Jeriah Alexander (11th, 17:58.04), Evan Perrigo (12th, 17:59.58), Torin Jackson (13th, 18:10.46) and Isaiah Geffre (15th, 18:13.54) weren't too far behind.

Spearfish's Casey Nauta went sixth (17:16.26), followed by Belle Fourche's Lennon Clarkson (seventh, 17:18.75) and Sturgis' Quinn Brunch (eight, 17:21.74). The Spartans went third in the team standings with 79 points, and Belle Fourche recorded sixth with 129 points— which tied Rapid City Christian's total of 129 points.

Wyatt Balliew of Douglas rounded out the top 10, due to a ninth place finish and time of 17:49.90, and Lionel Hanson led the Comets with a 14th place finish and time of 18:12.45.

Philip took second in the team standings, thanks to a quartet of top 25 harriers. Jack Peterson (17th, 18:19.10) led the way, followed by Baylor Burns (20th, 18:30.15), Trey Larson (21st, 18:38.12) and David McKinley (25th, 19:02.97).

Mahpíya Lúta was paced by Caden Pourier (38th, 19:40.78), while Crazy Horse was led by Edward Black Hawk (41st, 20:07.10). Newell was spearheaded by Clint Winkler (43rd, 20:11.82), and Carter Stamper (45th, 20:18.95) was the best harrier for St. Thomas More.

Lyle Roberts (46th, 20:30.20) best represented Hot Springs, as Little Wound's best harrier was Teton Janis (52nd, 21:00.46).

Douglas Early Bird Invitational

Varsity Boys Team Standings

1. Rapid City Stevens 27

2. Philip 76

3. Spearfish 79

4. Douglas 97

5. Rapid City Christian 129

6. Belle Fourche 129

Varsity Boys Top 10 Finishers

1. Ty Petrocco, Sturgis 16:35.67

2. Tate Grabow, Hill City 16:41.30

3. Brandon Escalante, Hill City 16:51.98

4. Sean Shipp, Custer 16:52.98

5. Miles Brekhus, Rapid City Stevens 16:53.00

6. Casey Nauta, Spearfish 17:16.26

7. Lennon Clarkson, Belle Fourche 17:18.75

8. Quinn Bruch, Sturgis 17:21.74

9. Wyatt Balliew, Douglas 17:46.90

10. Tate Van Beek, Rapid City Stevens 17:53.17

Varsity Girls Team Standings

1. Spearfish 44

2. Rapid City Stevens 45

3. Sturgis 56

4. Belle Fourche 96

5. Douglas 106

6. Lakota Tech 170

7. Little Wound 188

Varsity Girls Top 10 Finishers

1. Peyton VanDeest, Spearfish 20:05.79

2. Kori Keil, Spearfish 20:19.78

3. Adison Armstrong, Rapid City Stevens 20:24.60

4. Lia Mundt, Belle Fourche 20:33.30

5. Brinna Sheldon, Rapid City Stevens 20:52.36

6. Whitli Adams, Rapid City Stevens 20:55.96

7. Madie Donovan, Spearfish 21:09.15

8. Lucy Hamer, Sturgis 21:11.61

9. Kira Ubence, Douglas 21:16.64

10. Brooke Thayer-Burke, Hill City 21:33.37