Wildcat boys finish first at region meet

Heading into the state cross country meet, the Custer Jr./Sr. High school boys varsity team is carrying the title of region champions. 
At the last second, the Wildcats edged out the Hill City Rangers, claiming first place by two points at the South Dakota High School Activities Association Region 5A Cross Country Meet Oct. 16 at Hart Ranch in Rapid City. With all six boys placing in the top 11, the Wildcats finished with 22 points.
“They had a good run. Kids were placing where you would hope they would be this time of the year, but you never know. Hill City sure upped their game from last week. They had a much better race, and it was actually super close,” said head coach Karen Karim. “I actually thought they beat us until I saw the score.” 
Peyton Krueger charged down the finish line in third place with a personal record (PR) of 16:36.63. He was just behind Tate Grabow of Hill City in first and Lennon Clarkson of Belle Fourche in second. Dax Frandsen of Hill City followed in fourth place.
After that, Carter Cooper and Kian Rusch kicked into high gear in the last 50 to 100 meters, charging past Barrett Busch of Hill City. Cooper placed fifth at 16:54.06 with a PR, and Rusch placed sixth at 16:55.08. That final push was ultimately what led the ’Cats to victory. 
“The finish kick by Kian Rusch and Carter Cooper passing one of the Hill City boys is actually what made that swing at the very end. I was proud of them. They did a good job,” said Karim. 
Also running for the Wildcats, Zane Gunnell placed eighth at 17:05.83 with a PR, Zachary Cooper placed ninth at 17:16.83 and Austin Drew placed 11th at 17:21.16 with a season record (SR). 
“There wasn’t anyone in there that had a bad race. It was very exciting,” said Karim. 
The junior varsity Wildcats saw similar results, with most of the boys running their best race of the season. 
Adam Hohn placed first at 17:51.94, Jayse Noem placed second at 18:37.44 with a PR, Austin Hewett placed third at 18:44.49 with a PR, Saylor Rice placed fourth at 18:47.33 with a PR, Easton Dooley placed seventh at 19:42.48 with a PR, Brooks Wheeler placed eighth 19:43.28 with a PR, Jared Cooper placed ninth at 19:59.40 and Samuel Cochran placed 15th at 21:37.66 with a PR. 
Almost all of the Wildcat girls had their best races as well. 
In the varsity race, Mikayla Dennis placed 15th at 21:08.25 with a PR, Makenzi Ham placed 17th at 21:18.96 with a PR, Brianna Nobel placed 21st at 22:10.20 with a PR, Emma Halverson placed 27th at 22:56.13 with a PR, Lexi Wilkins placed 30th at 23:17.52 and Kendra Thorp placed 31st at 23:21.63 with a PR. 
As a whole, the girls  team placed fourth, just missing a chance to go to the state meet.
“Our girls were pretty close. Being where they were as a fairly young and inexperienced team, I was proud of their efforts. Their times were good. They just still have a ways to go. I’m expecting that next year we’ll be a little tougher still,” said Karim. 
For the junior varsity race, Keira Thorp placed fifth at 23:46.48 with a PR, Evelyn Garcia placed sixth at 23:54.00 with a PR, Bella Carrier placed seventh at 24:45.21 with a PR, Holly Nielsen placed eighth at 24:54.11 with a SR, Mattea Marshall placed 11th at 26:53.64 with a SR and Jacie Behlings placed 13th at 30:06.57 with a SR.
“You can’t ask for anything more than to finish running your fastest time of your life or your fastest time of the season,” said Karim. 
Krueger, C. Cooper, Rusch, Gunnell, Z. Cooper, Drew, Hohn (as the alternative), Dennis and Ham will all get one more shot at improving their times this season at the South Dakota High School Activities Association Class A State Cross Country Meet Saturday, Oct. 25, in Huron. 
“But really, by the time you go to the state meet, it’s not about the times at all. It’s about racing for places, racing for your team, racing for medals. So that’s what we’re looking for this next week. We got the job done this week to get us there,” said Karim. 
Karim said the athletes are excited. They liked the course when they ran it earlier this season and might have a little altitude advantage, according to Karim. 
“That’s where a couple of our kids had their best races of the season. So we’re hoping for good things,” said Karim.