“I couldn’t believe how fast everyone got out in the first mile,” Wiertzema said. “I knew I just had to grind out the rest of the race.” Despite the twisting, rolling hills, she moved up nearly 20 places over the final two miles. Comstock found her rhythm early and maintained her position throughout the race, demonstrating poise and consistency.

“I am so proud of the effort both girls put forth today,” said Coach Lasch. “The state meet is the biggest stage, and they represented Breckenridge/Wahpeton in first-class fashion. It was the perfect way to cap off a fantastic season.”

A strong group of teammates, family members, and fans made the trip to cheer on the Storm runners, including Rachel Gowin, the last BWXC female athlete to qualify for state in 2019. Coaches Lasch and Haire expressed gratitude for the community’s support and reflected on how much fun it was to coach this year’s team, especially the dynamic duo of Kiera and Lucie.