Wildcats earn medals at first meet

The Custer High School cross country team had its inaugural run of the 2022 season Aug. 26 at Douglas’ Early Bird Meet.
Athletes from 16 high schools ran the Prairie Ridge Golf Course and the Wildcats ran well and placed near the top.
Ramsey Karim earned third place in the girls 5K run with a final time of 20:25.33.
Head coach Karen Karim said Custer’s Brit Wheeler also “ran a solid race” with a 23:12.23 timed 5K.
The Wildcat boys varsity team also showed endurance in their 5K as Gage Grohs placed fifth with a time of 18:05.06, while , Drew Lehman ran into ninth place at 18:19.95.
With open spots on the varsity cross country team, Coach Karim said she looks forward to seeing the Wildcat junior varsity’s top runner, Kian Rusch, run in future meets, too.
At the Douglas’ Early Bird meet, Rusch won junior varsity’s third place 5K run at a time of  20:48.09.  
“The JV girls also ran great,” Coach Karim said.
In the 3K, Keira Alfson was the champion with a final time of 13:03.40.  Right behind her was teammate Mattea Marshall, who  placed second at a time of 13:06.40.
Both of these times are also personal 3K records for Alfson and Marshall.
Coach Karim finds confidence in Custer’s cross country performances so far this season. She said the “off season mileage” the athletes put in this summer is one of the benefits that is continuing to help them rise to the top of the results board.
Months of extra practice challenged the Wildcat’s cross country team to pick up speed and learn from teammates’ races.
Custer’s cross country  will next participate in Sioux Falls Sept. 2 at the Augustana Twilight Meet.