Runners Back In Region 1A

The Britton-Hecla cross country team tuned up for the Region 1A meet set for today (Wednesday) in Webster by competing in the Northeast Conference Meet on the same course last Thursday.
    The top three teams and top 20 individual runners in the regional will qualify for the state meet in Rapid City on Oct. 26.  Other teams competing in the region include Aberdeen Roncalli, Clark-Willow Lake, Deuel, Florence-Henry, Great Plains Lutheran, Groton Area, Milbank, Redfield, Sisseton, Tri-State, and Webster Area.  Britton-Hecla just moved up from Class B to Class A this fall. 
    “We ran really strong at the NEC meet,” said B-H coach Stephanie Symens.  “The temperatures were a little warmer than we were hoping, but it is better than having snow on the ground. “We have several kids that have a very good shot at making it to the state meet and the weather looks a little bit cooler and a bit more runner-friendly.”
    Jeris Stark and Livia Knecht will be running in the girls varsity race at the regional.  Stark was 22nd in a 46-runner field in the NEC meet with a 23:58.91 clocking, and Knecht placed 28th in 25:08.93.  Joseph O’Brien is the only B-H boys varsity runner and placed 24th among 41 runners with a time of 22:22.81.
    Three B-H girls competed in the NEC junior varsity race.  Mia Kilker led the way with a ninth place finish in a 22-runner field in 17:48.67.  Avery Leonard was 19th in 20:00.10, and Ceci Anderson placed 20th in 21:08.37.
    Deuel won the boys conference title with 19 points, followed by Milbank at 23, Clark-Willow Lake 69, Webster Area 78, Sisseton 78, and Aberdeen Roncalli 94.  Teams need to field four runners to post a team score.
    Clark-Willow Lake took the girls crown with a 23 total.  Milbank was second at 32, followed by Deuel with 47, Aberdeen Roncalli 68, Redfield 79, and Sisseton 96.