On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, the strong southerly winds helped push the Suburban up to Gettysburg for the region 4B cross-country meet. While the area around Highmore looked like the dirty thirties, with all the dust blowing off of the barren bean fields, it was clearer up near Gettysburg.
With the previous meets held on the Gettysburg course and the dry, windy weather, the course was well worn. It was fast. From each region of Class B, the top twenty runners advance to the state meet, along with the top three teams.
The varsity girls were the first to step to the starting line after the coaches’ meeting. Wessington Springs drew box 2 on the starting line. The starting line went east to west, and the runners headed south off the line before taking a left turn for two smaller loops through the trees.
The Spartans entered four athletes of the five possible for Class B. The girls started strong off the line and stayed with groups of runners to try to help shield some of the wind blowing so hard.
Leading the Spartans was Alexis Roesler who was moving up in the top ten. Alexis held on to the 8th place medal with her time of 20:57.87. Masynn Mebius and Ella Kolousek had positioned themselves well early on in the race. They battled hard to stay near the top twenty. Bailey Yost was running well, trying to keep an eye on Masynn and Ella as she stayed within her pack of girls. As they neared the finish line, running their fastest time of the season, Masynn Mebius crossed the finish line in 23:16.57, finishing in 23rd place. Ella Kolousek ran 23:53.29 and finished in 27th place. Bailey Yost had an amazing finish as she crossed the line for the last time at a cross-country meet for the Spartans. She ran 25:17.05 and finished in 32nd place. I am proud of all these girls. Alexis secured her spot at the starting line in the State Cross Country meet next Saturday to be ran at Hart Ranch.
For the boys, we told them the course was fast and to stay with a group and work their way forward as the race progressed. Both boys started well off the line. Sam Welsch was running comfortably and worked up to within the top ten. Ranick had himself in good position mid pack and as the race neared the finish, Sam moved up a couple of positions and Ranick had to battle hard to stay within the top twenty. Sam finished the 5K course in 17:47.92 to secure the 7th place medal. Ranick was in and out of the top twenty and kept pushing. To be honest, I thought he was just out of the placings. As he finished from the last spot I saw him out on the course, he crossed the finish line and was handed the 20th place medal, securing his spot at the state meet. Ranick ran 19:20.58 and I have never been happier to be wrong for a kid than at that moment.
We will leave on Friday to head west to Rapid City. The meet will be held at the Hart Ranch camping resort on Saturday, October 26, 2024.
Alexis will step to the line with the rest of the Class B girls at 12 p.m. Mountain time. Ranick and Sam will join the Class B boys at 1:30 p.m. Mountain time. Go Spartans GO!