Ranger boys conference champs
By:
Esther Noe
For the first time in Joe Noyes’ 10 years of being the head coach of the Hill City High School cross country team, the Ranger boys won the Black Hills Conference Cross Country Championships at Hart Ranch Oct. 5. Along with this four boys and three girls from Hill City achieved all-conference.
“That was pretty awesome to check that first goal of championship season,” said Noyes. “I think that the week off of just practice and kind of mentally preparing was the right choice because the kids definitely performed well.”
Luke Rupert was the conference champ for the boys varsity 5K. He won the race with a time of 15:34.64.
“I think he’s really figured out what his race has to look like. It’s not easy. It’s a tough thing to do what he’s doing week in and week out when he races, but he just keeps stepping up. He just keeps answering the call,” said Noyes.
Tate Grabow was the next to finish for the Rangers, claiming fourth place with a personal record of 16:02.36.
“A sophomore getting fourth amongst seniors is pretty sweet,” said Noyes. “The kid really just took advantage of the conference meet and went after it.”
In seventh place was Leighton Aves, clocking in at 16:16.39. Next, was Brandon Escalante coming in 10th at 16:40.55.
Rupert, Grabow, Aves and Escalante all achieved all-conference.
“Our conference is one of the tougher distance conferences in South Dakota, especially with AA and A schools combined. So to have four A boys from Hill City be in the top 10 is really something cool,” said Noyes.
Aiden Williams wrapped things up for the Rangers, finishing 36th at 19:25.09.
In the girls varsity 5K, Abby Cutler claimed second place with a time of 19:03.61.
“She ran a really smart race that set herself up to be successful. She ran fast enough to get second, but I think there’s more in the tank,” said Noyes.
After that, Brooke Thayer-Burke and Aspen Veneklasen finished back to back. Thayer-Burke placed 11th with a time of 20:20.65 and Veneklasen placed 12th with a time of 20:26.94.
“That’s a freshman and a sophomore really showing up and performing well for the girls team,” said Noyes.
Cutler, Thayer-Burke and Veneklasen achieved all-conference as well.
Jaelyn Peters finished next in 24th at 21:28.45. After that Hadley Walker finished 36th with a time of 22:31.03 nd Paiton Flick finished 39th with a time of 22:55.75.
The Region 5A Cross Country Meet will also be at Hart Ranch Oct. 11.
“I like being able to race at the same course back to back. You kind of know how to run it. You know where to make your move,” Noyes said. “You get more confident the more times you run on it. Hart Ranch is a similar course to what the state meet course is so I think it really sets us up to be successful at the state meet.”