Local runners earn runner-up honors at opening meet

HARTINGTON — For the first time since 2018, Carson Noecker did not win the Hartington-Newcastle Invitational in Hartington.

Noecker, the state’s only four-time state cross country champion, is now competing for the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

School officials moved Thursday’s meet at the Hartington Community Complex to the morning in an attempt to avoid some of the blistering heat.

Even with the 9 a.m. start, the Wildcats were ready to run as they grabbed the runner-up trophy, while the Lady Wildcats took third in the team races.

“I was pleased with the performance of all our runners due to the weather conditions,” HNS coach Mandy Hochstein said. “Both teams handled the heat very well.”

The Wildcats were paced by Cole Rosener, who placed ninth with a time of 20 minutes and 30.64 seconds over the 5,000-meter course.

“Cole has taken a strong leadership role on the team,” Hochstein said. “He has been our lead runner up to this point and gives 100 percent effort in our practices every day — he’s pushing the team to a higher level.”

Battle Creek won the boys’ title with a score of 24; the Wildcats were next with 50.

Homer was third with 54 while Osmond and Pender rounded out the top five.

Alex Elks also found himself in the medals with a time of 20:51.90, which put him in 12th place, as did Isaac Hernandez-Santiago, who grabbed the last medal (15th) with a time of 21:16.57.

“Alex is looking stronger than he did at the end of last year,” Hochstein said. “Isaac had a slow start, but moved up the back half of the race to finish 15th.”

Adam Elks finished 25th in 23:07.44, Aidan Anderson ended up 36th in 24:39.79 and Coven Joachimsen was 42nd in 25:12.64.

The Wildcats also fielded a JV team, with Braeden Kleinschmit in 44th, Aaron Wortmann in 46th, Sam Kuehn in 56th and Gavin Joachimsen in 66th.

Ava Noecker and Claire Rolfes led the Lady Wildcats, finishing sixth and eighth individually.

“They both look to be our leading runners this season,” Hochstein said. “They both ran well in the heat and maintained their front running positions throughout the race.”

Pender swept the team title, placing the top four individuals to score a 10 as a team, the lowest point total possible.

Carmen Buschkamp finished just outside the medals for the Lady Wildcats in 17th.

Abby Anderson was 28th and Isabel Rolfes was 42nd.

Ryell Haug placed 25th running for the Hartington-Newcastle JV.

The Wildcats and Lady Wildcats are set to run in the Wisner-Pilger Invitational on Aug. 31 at Indian Trails Country Club just outside of Beemer.

BOYS TEAM RESULTS:

1. Battle Creek 24; 2. Hartington-Newcastle 50; 3. Homer 54; 4. Osmond 74; 5. Pender 91; 6. Laurel- Concord-Coleridge 117; 7. Homer JV 125; 8. Creighton 131; 9. Battle Creek JV 156; 10. Randolph 156; 11. Hartington-Newcastle JV 183.

BOYS INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:

1. Jaxon Kilmurry (BC) 18:28.80; 2. Brody Taylor (PON) 18:57.43; 3. Gannon Walsh (PEN) 19:25.84; 4. Miles Clausen (BC) 20:01.10; 5. Tyler Olson (LCC) 20:06.38; 6. Myles Allen (BC) 20:17.34 7. Conner Rohrer (CRE) 20:21.49; 8. Lakeyven Smith (WINN) 20:27.61; 9. Cole Rosener (H-N) 20:30.64; 10. Matthew Alderson (OSM) 20:33.81; 11. Broderick Hogan (PON) 20:39.79; 12. Alex Elks (HN) 20:51.90; 13. Dominic True (OSM) 20:58.47; 14. Aayden Harris (HOM) 21:11.97; 15. Isaac Hernandez-Santiago (H-N) 21:16.57; 25. Adam Elks (H-N) 23:07.44; 36. Aidan Anderson (H-N) 24:39.79; 42. Coven Joachimsen (H-N) 25:12.64; 44. Braeden Kleinschmit (H-NJV) 25:16.94; 46. Aaron Wortmann (H-NJV) 25:22.90; 56. Sam Kuehn (H-NJV) 28:32.12; 66. Gavin Joachimsen (H-NJV) 31:32.84.

GIRLS TEAM RESULTS:

1. Pender 10; 2. Homer 35; 3. Hartington-Newcastle 51; 4. LCC, 57; 5. Battle Creek 65.

GIRLS INDIVIDUAL RESULTS:

1. Kyla Krusemark (PEN) 22:58.99; 2. Jala Krusemark (PEN) 23:07.22; 3. Megan Breitbarth (PEN) 23:18.45; 4. Hadley Walsh (PEN) 23:47.59; 5. Lilly Harris (HOM) 23:56.63; 6. Ava Noecker (H-N) 24:10.70; 7. Tressa Bigbear (WINN) 24:31.03; 8. Claire Rolfes (H-N) 24:47.86; 9. Faith Galvin (LCC) 24:58.83; 10. Tyley Jump (HOM) 25:19.22; 11. Jaedyn Bousquet (HOM) 25:23.92; 12. Jovee Valentin (HOM) 25:24.32; 13. Leah Tillman (BC); 14. Grace Herman (BC) 25:43.79; 15. Addy Hoeppner (LCC) 26:04.97; 17. Carmen Buschkamp (H-N) 26:09.38; 25. Ryell Haug (H-NJV) 27:33.56; 28. Abby Anderson (H-N) 28:14.04; 42. Isabel Rolfes (H-N) 33:14.70.