SIOUX FALLS – As expected, the Class AA boys’ cross country event turned into a three-runner race at Yankton Trail Park Saturday afternoon.

Simeon Birnbaum of Rapid City Stevens pulled away for the victory, while Keenan Urdiales of Spearfish was able to fight off Josh Martin of Aberdeen Central for second.

“It was really tough on the last push at the end,” said Martin who ran as part of the lead trio for nearly the entire race. “I thought I was going to get the second kid (Urdiales), and then someone told him to hurry up because I was coming and I heard that. Then he started pushing a little bit more and then we were just going even with each other the whole rest of the way.”

Rapid City Stevens won the team title with the Golden Eagles finishing third. Central placed four runners in the top 24. Christian Wells was 19th, Jacob Angerhofer was 20th and Tino Lopez was 22nd.

“It was a pretty solid competitive day,” said Central boys’ coach Greg Murley. “When you look at projections, which a lot of coaches do, you look at team points and we were 14 points better than kind of projected. Any time you score better than you think you’re going to, that’s a good day.”

Alea Hardie of O’Gorman won her third consecutive state championship on the girls’ side. The Knights also won the team title.

Aberdeen Central was seventh as a team, led by Kaylie Peldo who was 36th. Alyssa Roehrich was 41st and Morgan VanVeen 46th.

“I’m really proud of Aberdeen Central cross country. It’s just been a great group of student-athletes to coach and student-athletes that have great character,” said Central girls’ coach Bill Martens. “So I’m real proud of their effort all season. They’ve done the right things. Today they gave a solid team effort. Seventh place is kind of about where we thought we would be, between sixth and tenth.”

Martens was pleased with the season-ending performance of his runners.

“We just wanted to come in and be our best,” he said. “We had a lot of PRs today.”

The meet marked the end of the cross country prep careers for Martin, Angerhofer and Ian Ahlberg.

Martin, last year’s state champion, will exit as one of the most decorated runners in Central history.

“Josh is the most elite runner we’ve ever had at Aberdeen Central,” Murley said. “The thing he’s done is he’s become a pretty good leader for us both on and off the course. He gave it his all. I’m proud of that kid. He’s something else.”

When asked what he will remember most about running for the Golden Eagles, Martin responded, “The team. It’s a really, really good team. Races are fun and all, but I’d say it’s mainly your teammates that make the sport fun.”

The runners also made the season enjoyable for Murley.

“This has been one of the most fun teams I’ve ever coached in my 30 years or so of coaching. They’re great kids,” Murley said. “It’s fun to show up every day. They’ve got a great sense of humor about them, but they have a seriousness to them, too. It’s just been a pleasure to coach them.”

To see complete meet results, click on the following link:

https://results.dakotatiming.com/display.html?event_id=870&res=211023F006