Lynx runners lead pack on O’G course
By:
Jill Meier, Journal editor
Wilma Kirkeby/For the Journal
(Above) BV senior Britton Elkin was in a league of his own Friday at the O’Gorman Invite, as the first runner to step across the finish line. (Below) Lady Lynx senior Natalie Moose paced herself to a 10th place finish in the varsity girls’ race.
If team points had been tallied at Friday’s O’Gorman Invite, the Lynx boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams would’ve won – hands down.
Brandon Valley head coach Tony Thoreson said his teams looked good coming out of the gates this season, but Friday’s meet “was basically just a race to get a race in, no team points kept, no medals given,” he said.
The Lynx were one of five teams to compete. Harrisburg, Watertown, Yankton and the host O’G Knights were the other four teams.
BV senior Britt Elkin picked up right where he left off in his junior season: At the front of pack. Elkin cruised through the Pasley Park course in 13:09 and was the first runner to step across the line. Following Elkin’s lead were teammates Jeremiah Donahoe and Ben VanDeBerg, who paced themselves to a fourth and sixth place finish, respectively. Donahoe clocked in at 13:53 and VanDeBerg finished in 14:16.
Rounding out the “team score” were Riley Peyton and Dakota Dutson who were the seventh and eighth runners to parade across the finish line. Peyton registered a run of 14:38 and Dutson was one second more at 14:39.
Thoreson said Elkin displayed confidence – and tested – himself on what is a relatively flat course.
As for his cohorts, the coach said they realized midway through the race they “could be running harder so they stepped it up and moved up through the runners. It was a good deal for us.”
Like the Lynx boys, the girls’ returning frontrunner – Mia Wentzy – returned to her front-of-the-pack role.
“Mia went out and challenged the girls from O’Gorman,” Thoreson said, “and ran well with them.” She was the third runner to finish the race, turning in a time of 15:21.
Freshman Sarah VanDeBerg stepped across the finish line at the 16-minute, 23-second mark, which was good enough for fifth place. Gracyn Gruber, Addison Scholten, Natalie Moose and Kylie Foss nabbed eighth through 11th places.
Gruber posted a run of 16:42 for eighth, followed by Scholten and Moose (both 16:43) and Foss (16:45).
“The girls ran great,” Thoreson summed up. “They held together as a tight group.”
This week, BV hosts a four-team home meet stepping off at 4 p.m. at McHardy Park. BV will match wits with Yankton, Brookings and Sioux Falls Roosevelt.
O’Gorman Invite
Lynx varsity boys’ results: 1.) Britton Elkin 13:09; 4.) Jeremiah Donahoe 13:53; 6.) Ben VanDeBerg 14:16; 7.) Riley Peyton 14:38; 8.) Dakota Dutson 14:39; 10.) Cole Borchardt 14:47; 18.) Tyler Groen 15:20; 21.) Aaron House 15:41; 22.) Gabe Anthony 15:44; 26.) Dustin Groen 16:27.
First as a team – 26 points.
Lady Lynx varsity results: 3.) Mia Wentzy 15:21; 5.) Sarah VanDeBerg 16:23; 8.) Gracyn Gruber 16:42; 9.) Addison Scholten 16:43; 10.) Natalie Moose 16:43; 11.) Kylie Foss 16:45; 13.) Haley Bergan 17:07; 16.) Chantel bickler 17:31; 23.) Katie Wentzy 17:50; 26.) Hannah Sprecher 18:19.
First as a team – 35 points.
Lynx JV boys’ results: 4.) Paul Kern 12:07; 5.) Camden Coughlin 12:19; 11.) Mikah Peters 12:41; 16.) Jakson Santi 13:04; 17.) Bergan Irey 13:08; 22.) Brian Schnieder 13:23; 24.) Tate Roberts 13:31; 26.) Michael Leidholt 13:38; 27.) Josh Lee 13:44; 29.) Isaac Anderson 13:46; 33.) Kurtis McArthur 13:56; 37.) Shawn Harris 14:08; 40.) Ryan Prsler 14:32; 43.) Colton Padgett 14:54; 44.) Alex Kauffman 14:55; 52.) Isaiah Eli 15:34; 55.) Benjamin Barr 15:51; 56.) Matthew Beck 15:53; 59.) Saddler Elkin 16:32; 61.) Dane Petersen 19:45; 62.) Rylan Roberts 20:24.
Lady Lynx JV results: 4.) Lillian Sprecher 14:43; 5.) Madison Pederson 14:52; 10.) Rachael Spencer 15:15; 28.) Morgan Beck 20:53.
