The race to state is on

The Hill City Cross Country Team had a successful Black Hills Conference meet Thursday at Hart Ranch and hopes to qualify both the girls and boys team for state this week on the same course.

“The conference meet, as a coach, was a really nice indicator,” said head coach Joe Noyes, “We’re doing the right things because the kids finally raced to where I thought they could.”

“We’re starting to see some of that fitness show through,” said Noyes, “It’s clicking now.”

The girls team finished fourth overall Thursday with seventh-grader Nora Moss leading the team to the finish line in 15th place with a time of 20:54.8 and claiming an all-conference title.

Right behind Moss were seventh graders Quinn Walker in 16th place (20:56.3) and Savannah Hansen in 18th (21:02.7).

In 28th place, Hadley Walker crossed the finish line with a 22:13.7, followed by Aliyah Peters in 32nd (22:26.0) and Aspen Veneklasen 36th (22:53.5).

The boys team finished in sixth place with John Titus (J.T.) Isakson leading the Rangers with a seventh-place finish with a time of 16:21.9, followed by Jeremiah White in 14th (17:04.7), both earning all-conference titles.

Soren Farrar crossed the finish line next in 28th place (18:27.8), followed by Rowdy Isakson in 40th (20:04.7), and Marco DuBois rounding out the Rangers in 43rd (20:26.0).

“We’re always encouraging kids to own your sport,” said Noyes. “Know the kids from other schools who are beating you by a place or two. 

“That’s truly how you do better as a team, finding those kids in your range and then finding a way to race with them and beat them.”

Hill City will return to the course at Hart Ranch  Thursday, Oct. 15 for the South Dakota High School Athletic Association Region 5A Cross Country Meet to try to qualify for the state meet, which will also be held at Hart Ranch Saturday, Oct. 24. The top three teams will advance to the state meet.

“I’m excited for the next couple of weeks,” said Noyes.