The Storm ladies missed out on the team title by one point.   After a couple lightning delays, the girls took to the course led by Lucie Comstock, Kiera Wiertzema, and Gracie Falck who placed 4th, 7th, and 9th, respectively.   “All three girls once again started out conservatively in the first mile and really poured it on the last two miles moving up in the ranks,” commented Head Coach Larry Lasch of the Storm.  “Gracie felt she left “too much in the tank” at her first two races this year and ran more aggressively on Saturday.  Jasmyn Bendict and Addie Kings provided a much needed boost for the team score by finishing 14th and 17th respectively.   Cross Country scores the places of a team’s top four or five runners.  (Top four in South Dakota races, top five in Minnesota and North Dakota races.)   To have Jasmyn and Addie place in the top 10% of the field makes our team very strong.   Both Jasmyn and Addie had huge time drop from week ago and will be stronger and faster in the weeks to come.”

The boys were paced by Noah Berge who placed 9th and Troy Berdt placing 15th.  “Troy ran a very good race keeping Noah in sight most of the way,” stated Coach Lasch.  “Jaxon Hill has been steady this season and improving each race, placing 36th.   A flock of freshman boys are competing very well for the remainder of the varsity spots.” They include Jack Eckren, Harry Ockhardt, Ethan Shur and Charlie Eckren who placed 39th, 41st, 52nd, and 56th respectively.  Also in that mix is sophomore Wyatt Stav and senior Ethan Lauritsen placing 50th and 55th, respectively.  “After Noah and Troy, the rest of the boys are really pushing each other for a spot on the varsity roster,” added Coach Lasch.  “It makes for great intersquad competition.”

Girls Team Results
1. Flandreau 30, 2. Breckenridge/Wahpeton 31, 3. Milbank 33, 4. Madison 63, 5. Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd 94, 6. Border West 103

Boys Team Results
1. Milbank 15, 2. Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd 41, 3. Montevideo 62, 4. Madison 71, 5. Flandreau 81, 6. Breckenridge/Wahpeton 92, 7. Great Plains Lutheran 108, 8. Tri-State 167