BROOKINGS — Sophomore Victoriah Buffington challenged for a spot in the top 10 for the Huron cross country team during the girls’ varsity race on Thursday in the Russ Strande Invitational.
Buffington turned in a time of 21:41.01 to finish 12th for the Tigers in the 46-runner field.
“She ran strong throughout the race,” Huron coach Angie Thomas said.
Melanie Jacobs of Aberdeen Central had a winning time of 20:16.72, while Ella Kolb of Sioux Falls Washington was second at 20:22.32.
Brooklyn Boetel was 31st for Huron at 22:56.94.
Sioux Falls Washington claimed the girls’ team title with 54 points. Harrisburg was second at 56, followed by Aberdeen Central at 64, Sioux Falls Lincoln at 80 and Brookings at 86.
A trio of Huron runners finished in the top half of the varsity boys’ race.
Cheech Harman and TJ Lien were No. 25 and 26, respectively, for the Tigers with times of 18:48.28 and 18:48.49. Will Radke was 28th at 18:49.53.
“TJ Lien ran another season personal best,” Thomas said. “He was only seven seconds off of his PR that he ran at state last year. He ran a really nice race.”
With three of the top 10 runners in the 65-runner field, Aberdeen Central claimed the boys’ team title with 48 points. Sioux Falls Washington was second at 58, followed by Harrisburg at 85, Sioux Falls Lincoln at 109 and Brookings at 123.
Huron was eighth with a score of 185.
Rounding out the varsity lineup for the Tigers were Angel Olivo Porcayo at 20:45.36, Cameron Cutshaw at 20:50.99 and Gonzalo Quispe-Laura at 21:06.65.
Josie Vlieger challenged for the win in the girls’ junior varsity race for Huron. She finished second at 18:15.36. Hannah Schoenfelder was fifth at 18:33.63, while Tatum Peterson was 19th at 20:11.30.
“Josie Vlieger and Hannah Schoenfelder ran a great race in the JV race,” Thomas said. “Hannah sprinted to the finish and caught two Aberdeen girls at the end.”
Lily Meyer was fifth for Huron in the middle school girls’ race with a time of 13:42.13.
“Lily Meyer ran I nice race to medal,” Thomas said.
The Tigers were scheduled to participate in the Watertown Invitational on Thursday, but that meet has been cancelled. Instead they will participate in a meet hosted by Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Thursday at Yankton Trail Park.
Russ Strande Invitational
Sept. 24 in Brookings
Varsity Boys
Team scores: 1, Aberdeen Central 48; 2, Sioux Falls Washington 58; 3, Harrisburg 85; 4, Sioux Falls Lincoln 109; 5, Brookings 123; 6, Sioux Falls Roosevelt 124; 7, Belle Fourche 164; 8, Huron 185; 9, Madison 233.
Individual results (winner and Huron runners): 1, Sawyer Clarkson, BF, 16:18.53; 25, Cheech Harman, H, 18:48.28; 26, TJ Lien, H, 18:48.49; 28, Will Radke, H, 18:49.53; 60, Angel Olivo Porcayo, H, 20:45.36; 62, Cameron Cutshaw, H, 20:50.99; 64, Gonzalo Quispe-Laura, H, 21:06.65.
Varsity Girls
Team scores: 1, Sioux Falls Washington 54; 2, Harrisburg 56; 3, Aberdeen Central 64; 4, Sioux Falls Lincoln 80; 5, Brookings 86.
Individual results (winner and Huron runners): 1, Melanie Jacobs, AC, 20:16.72; 12, Victoriah Buffington, H, 21:41.01; 31, Brooklyn Boetel, H, 22:56.94.
Junior Varsity Boys
Team scores: 1, Brandon Valley 26; 2, Sioux Falls Lincoln 74; 3, Aberdeen Central 78; 4, Harrisburg 100; 5, Sioux Falls Washington 110; 6, Sioux Falls Roosevelt 128; 7, Brookings 218; 8, Madison 241.
Individual results (winner and Huron runners): 1, Trcyn Hallman, HA, 14:41.70; 47, Will Knippling, H, 16:36.09; 79, Alec Pester, H, 18:16.63; 89, Wah Eh Soe, H, 19:02.95; 95, Ben Ahlers, H, 19:30.48.
Junior Varsity Girls
Team scores: 1, Aberdeen Central 21; 2, Harrisburg 51; 3, Brookings 63; 4, Madison 96.
Individual results (winner and Huron runners): 1, Ellie Mergen, SFR, 18:01.17; 2, Josie Vlieger, H, 18:15.36; 5, Hannah Schoenfelder, H, 18:33.63; 19, Tatum Peterson, H, 20:11.30; 32, Sawyer Hennrich, H, 21:35.45.
Middle School Boys
Team scores: 1, Aberdeen Central 25; 2, Brookings 34; 3, Madison 84; 4, Harrisburg 118; 5, Huron 125.
Individual results (winner and Huron runners): 1, Jonathan Kahler, B, 11:16.72; 29, Angelo Medina, H, 14:09.17; 35, Ryan Florey, H, 14:33.57; 37, Jeremy Hofer, H, 14:37.89; 43, Joshua Olivo, H, 15:05.61; 46, Sebastian Olivo, H, 15:56.43; 62, Griffin Storm, H, 19:41.63; 64, Ben Mattke, H, 21:25.25.
Middle School Girls
Team scores: 1, Harrisburg 23; 2, Aberdeen Central 47; 3, Brookings 52.
Individual results (winner and Huron runners): 1, Bri Miller, HA, 12:41.03; 5, Lily Meyer, H, 13:42.13.
