Three boys place top eight at state

Three Hill City High School Ranger boys took off in the 3200 meter run at the South Dakota High School AA Class A State Track & Field Meet at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls. All three of them placed in the top eight. 

Junior Luke Rupert led the Rangers in third place at 9:35.54. Leighton Aves, a junior, finished next in sixth with a personal record of 9:44.09, and Tate Grabow, a freshman, finished eighth with a personal record of 9:45.53.

To give an idea of how fast these boys ran, head coach Joe Noyes explained that in 2011 his assistant coach Jared Noyes was a state champion in Class A at 9:46. All three Ranger boys ran faster than that this year. 

Rupert, Aves and Grabow are now the top three on the school’s top ten list as well. 

These three competed again in the 1600 meter run. Rupert came in seventh with a personal record of 4:26.83, and Aves came in eighth with a personal record of 4:28.83. 

“Most years 4:26 and 4:28 are good enough to win. It just shows how loaded Class A distance is this year. We’re just really proud of those boys,” said Noyes. 

Meanwhile, Grabow placed 14th at 4:35.11. Of this Noyes said, “That’s a lifetime best for him, and he’s only a freshman.”

Rupert and Aves competed again in the 4x800 relay with Devin Buehler and Brandon Escalante. Together, the boys placed fourth at 8:14.13.

“The exciting thing about getting fourth is that it’s only two juniors and two sophomores. So all four of those gentlemen will be back next year,” said Noyes. 

Although the Ranger girls 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams did not make it to finals, they did run season bests in the prelims. The 4x100 included Riley Wiese, Joy Anderson, Anna Dean and Alaina Dean. They ran a 52.16 and placed 11th. 

Wiese, Anderson and Alaina were also on the 4x200 relay team along with Sara Dubois. They also placed 11th at 1:49.91. 

In the medley relay Wiese, Alaina, Dubois and Abby Cutler just missed placing and finished ninth at 4:24.29. However, Noyes said, “They ran their fastest time of the year. Faster than they ran last year to get eighth.”

Noyes said the whole season was a ton of fun, and he is grateful for all the coaches and volunteer coaches. 

This year five seniors are moving on including CJ Stoeckmann, Connor Baseley, Cara Ronish, Isaac Dean and Eli Isakson.

“Five great seniors,” said Noyes. “Do everything you ask. Led by example. Good kids to have in the program, and another year where we had good senior leadership. I think that sets us up for a successful year next year.” 

The Hill City Runners Club starts June 11. This is part of the cross country program training, but anyone in the community interested in joining is welcome. They meet at Ranger Field every Sunday and Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. throughout the summer.