PIERRE – The Aberdeen Central cross country squads had a strong showing in their season-opening meet at the Pierre Invitational on Friday.

Central’s Josh Martin won the boys’ race with teammate Jacob Angerhofer third. Kaylie Peldo of Central won the girls’ race, with teammates Alyssa Roehrich and Kiana Joerger second and third, respectively.

“We’ve had many athletes really step up their training. It was good to see their hard work pay off today,” said Central girls’ coach Bill Martens. “We’ve used good training progression. Some of our runners utilized new race strategies. We had a lot of PRs today. Several of our runners cut well over a minute off their time in comparison to last year. A few improved by over two minutes.”

Until the season actually starts, it can be tough to see how much that training has paid off. The opening meet proved what the coaches have witnessed during the off season.

“It’s always good to get the first meet jitters out of the way,” said Central boys’ coach Greg Murley. “The results show our kids had a great summer of running. We ran well in both the JV and varsity races.”

Martin, the defending Class AA state champion, won the boys’ race by nearly 25 seconds.

The girls’ event was much closer as Peldo edged Roehrich by nearly eight seconds and Joerger by about nine seconds.

While the trio of Golden Eagles led the pack of girls runners, Martens was happy with his entire team’s effort.

“I am really pleased with the results today, but not surprised,” he said. “This group was race ready. Their preparation has been excellent.”

Central is now off until competing at the Augustana Twilight meet in Sioux Falls on Friday.

The Eagles will take some momentum into that meet, but know the season is just getting started.

“This gives us a good starting point,” Murley said, “but we have lots more work to do, yet.”

BOYS’ DIVISION

1, Josh Martin, Aberdeen Central, 12:50.50; 2, Hayden Shaffer, Pierre, 13:14.92; 3, Jacob Angerhofer, Aberdeen Central, 13:32.86; 4, Jared Lutmer, Pierre, 13:39.93; 5, Christian Wells, Aberdeen Central, 13:53.49; 6, Tino Lopez, Aberdeen Central, 13:54.21; 7, Anthony Miller, Aberdeen Central, 14:12.45; 8, Blake Judson, Pierre, 14:15.53; 9, Ian Ahlberg, Aberdeen Central, 14:20.68; 10, Trevor Thomsen, Rapid City Central, 14:23.22;

11, Noah Miller, Aberdeen Central, 14:29.41; 12, Gage Dietterle, Rapid City Central, 14:43.26; 13, Brady Gere, Pierre, 14:57.77; 14, Tarin Hutchinson, Rapid City Central, 15:26.34; 15, Taylor Thorson, Ipswich, 15:48.78; 16, Thane Radke, Rapid City Central, 16:09.46; 17, Andrew Borland, Rapid City Central, 17:11.27; 18, Tristen Brown, Rapid City Central, 18:41.10.

GIRLS’ DIVISION

1, Kaylie Peldo, Aberdeen Central, 16:37.29; 2, Alyssa Roehrich, Aberdeen Central, 16:44.86; 2, Kiana Joerger, Aberdeen Central, 16:45.41; 4, Katelyn Beshara, Rapid City Central, 17:15.93; 5, Jazzlyn Rombouogh, Pierre, 17:41.24; 6, Autumn Iverson, Pierre, 17:52.27; 7, Alison Kirsch, Rapid City Central, 17:55.50; 8, Evelynn Gillis, Rapid City Central, 17:57.21; 9, Alivia Burgard, Aberdeen Central, 18:02.09; 10, Elizabeth Schlabach, Rapid City Central, 18:06.93;

11, Alexis Ketterling, Aberdeen Central, 18:10.17; 12, Aglaia Ramey, Aberdeen Central, 18:19.28; 13, Evelyn Trefz, Aberdeen Central, 18:33.96; 14, Ivy Hise, Rapid City Central, 18:35.83; 15, Jordan Phillips, Aberdeen Central, 19:21.47; 16, Sadie Struble, Aberdeen Central, 19:38.98; 17, Addison Ward, Aberdeen Central, 19:55.99; 18, Angelina Lopez, Aberdeen Central, 20:02.57; 19, Faye Calvert, Aberdeen Central, 21:19.89.