Lady Lynx make history with first-ever state XC title

By: 
Jill Meier, Journal editor

The Lady Lynx cross country won the program’s very first Class AA state title. Members of the state championship squad include (from left, kneeling): Seniors Hannah Hendrick, Haylee Waterfall and Mikaela Birath; (row two): Natalie Moose, Coach Tony Thoreson, Katie Wentzy, Hannah Sprecher, Kylie Foss, Coach Larry Beesley, Danica Kocer, Megan Pickering, Lauren Wells and Allison Rief. Jill Meier/BV Journal

The Lady Lynx saved their best race for last.
And oh, what a race it was for the Brandon Valley girls, who made program history by capturing the school’s first-ever Class AA state cross country crown. On more than one occasion this season, the Lady Lynx have finished steps behind Class AA favorites Sioux Falls Lincoln and Aberdeen Central. But Saturday’s race at Rapid City’s Hart Ranch Campground belonged to the BV girls, who finished with 99 points, followed by Lincoln with 104, Aberdeen Central with 109, Yankton with 123 and Rapid City Stevens with 139.
“Wow! History was made at Brandon Valley!” said an elated Lynx coach Larry Beesley. “It was a very special day for a special group of young ladies!”
Beesley, who took over the BV cross country program in 1987, said all seven of the girls, who experienced the Hart Ranch course a month ago at the Rapid City Invite, “ran with confidence and passion,” many of them shaving nearly a minute off of their prior race times on that course.
“Every one of them made a huge move on the second loop to bring home the title,” he said. “These girls accepted the challenge and really came through with some outstanding performances.”
Just as she has all season, Haylee Waterfall was the first Lady Lynx – and seventh in the 120-runner event - to step across the finish line. The senior leader ran the 5,000-meter course in record-breaking time, 19:18.32, shattering her own school record for the fifth time this season in addition to earning all-state honors.
Lauren Wells and Allison Rief also garnered all-state accolades behind their 10th and 18th place finishes, respectively. Wells ran the course in 19:28.36 and Rief clocked in at 19:41.00.
Underclassmen Kylie Foss and Katie Wentzy were within paces of one another behind their 31st and 33rd place efforts. Foss cruised through the course in 20:14.86 and Wentzy finished in 20:15.21.
Senior Mikaela Birath was 40th with her run of 20:37.76, and Megan Pickering had a middle-of-the-pack 54th place finish behind her time of 21:10.89.
Waterfall and Birath, who end their prep careers with a state title in their back pockets, have been a major part of BV’s recent-year successes. The Lady Lynx finished fifth as a team in 2016 and third in 2015.
Brookings sophomore Ellie Abraham won her second state individual title behind her run of 18:23.48, besting Courtney Klatt, of Lincoln, who clocked in at 18:39.72.
As for the Lynx boys – one senior and an assortment of underclassmen - they cashed in at a surprising seventh place.
“We thought a top 10-finish would be a good day,” Beesley said, “but for them to step up and race like they did, super effort for them. This group does not let their lack of varsity experience hold them back and they were determined to surprise some teams. I am very impressed with how much these guys have raced the past few meets. “ 
BV freshman Britton Elkin kept his place at the front of the pack of Lynx boys, posting a time of 17:00.47, guiding the young squad to a top-10 team finish. Elkin’s time landed him 16th place along with all-state honors and a new BV freshman record, surpassing former all-state performer, Greg Beesley’s, record. Senior Thomas Redford crossed the finish line in 17:39.49 for 38th place and sophomore Eli Cheever was right on his heels, claiming 39th place with his run of 17:40.65. Sophomores Zach Hentschel and Colter Elkin were 62nd and 71st in the 120-runner race. Hentschel rolled in at 18:15.36 and Elkin at 18:30.69. Freshman Jace Christoffer’s 76th place run of 18:42.00 completed the team tally. Caleb Klatt was 82nd with his run of 18:52.70.
“This was a great race for these guys! I cannot believe how far they have come since the beginning of August. The boys also made big improvements in time in over one month,” said Beesley, who sees good things on the horizon for this team.
“This group says good-bye to Thomas and returns one of the youngest teams that raced on Saturday. With the majority of the guys returning, Britton and Jace are freshmen, while Eli, Colter, Zach, and Caleb are sophomores, this group is ready to take the next step to get up on the podium,” he said.
Lincoln’s Jack Elliott, a junior, won the boy’s individual title, breaking the tape at 16:09.73. He was followed by Aberdeen Central senior Jackson Harrison at 16:17.47.
 
2017 South Dakota Class AA State 
Cross Country Championships
Class AA Girls
Team scores: 1.) Brandon Valley 99, 2.) SF Lincoln 104, 3.) Aberdeen Central 109; 4.) Yankton 123; 5.) RC Stevens 139; 6.) SF Washington 179; 7.) RC Central 180; 8.) SF O’Gorman 229; 9.) SF Roosevelt 248; 10.) Brookings 269; 11.) Pierre 284; 12.) Sturgis 288; 13.) Harrisburg 321; 14.) Spearfish 377; 15.) Watertown 378; 16.) Huron 448; 17.) Mitchell 451. 
Lady Lynx results (5K, 120 runners): 7.) Haylee Waterfall 19:18.32; 10.) Lauren Wells 19:28.36; 18.) Allison Rief 19:41.00; 31.) Kylie Foss 20:14.86; 33.) Katie Wentzy 20:15.21; 40.) Mikaela Birath 20:37.76; 54.) Megan Pickering 21:10.89.
Class AA Boys
Team scores: 1.) SF Washington 37; 2.) SF Lincoln 38; 3.) SF O’Gorman 115; 4.) RC Stevens 135; 5.) SF Roosevelt 151; 6.) Aberdeen Central 167; 7.) Brandon Valley 225; 8.0 Harrisburg 238; 9.0 Spearfish 276; 10.) Pierre 310; 11.) Sturgis 314; 12.) Brookings 319; 13.) Yankton 342; 14.) Douglas 396; 15.) RC Central 399; 16.) Watertown 428; 17.) Mitchell 460.
Lynx boys’ results (5K, 120 runners): 16.) Britton Elkin 17:00.47; 38.) Thomas Redford 17:39.49; 39.) Eli Cheever 17:40.65; 62.) Zach Hentschel 18:15.36; 71.) Colter Elkin 18:30.69; 76.) Jace Christoffer 18:42.00; 82.) Caleb Klatt 18:52.70.

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