HURON – There were no surprises when it came to individual champions in the Class AA races at the State Cross Country Meet Saturday afternoon at Broadland Creek Golf Course.

Defending state champions Ali Bainbridge of Sioux Falls Lincoln and Simeon Birnbaum of Rapid City Stevens won their respective races in convincing fashion. Stevens ended up sweeping the team titles.

As expected Birnbaum set a blistering pace to start the boys’ race and took many of the runners along with him.

“Going into that first mile, I was moving fast and these guys were not very far behind me,” Birnbaum said. “I kept looking down at my watch and I was like we’re moving, but I just kept on pushing harder and harder, and I feel like I pulled lots of guys through harder than they should have gone through that first mile. I went through faster than I should have.”

While Birnbaum was never threatened in the race, that start probably prevented him from reaching a lofty goal he had set for his overall time.

“I feel lots of guys got halfway through the race and they had nothing left to give and they just fell apart,” Birnbaum said. “I feel like I definitely broke a lot of people’s will today. I kind of broke my own will though, too.”

Aberdeen Central’s Tino Lopez earned a place on the podium after working his way through the field for a 13th place finish.

“Basically, I was picking up people one by one,” Lopez said. “I tried to not make it too much, like don’t pick off too many people at once or else it’s going to tire me out.”

Lopez didn’t intend to go out with the pack that included Birnbaum, instead focusing on his own strategy.

“I was aware that I most likely would never get to Simeon,” Lopez said, “so I just laid off him and I focused on people who were behind him, who I could actually manage to get.”

The junior wasn’t sure what he had left in the tank.

“I didn’t think I’d have enough,” Lopez said, “but it turns out I did, just barely.”

The fact that Lopez finished strong and caught runners who were front of him, was nothing new.

“Tino is a really controlled runner that is going to come up on you at the end,” said Central boys’ coach Greg Murley.

Juna Ramey was Central’s top girls’ runner finishing 35th.

Both Central squads finished 12th in team points in a very difficult meet for the Golden Eagles, who were trying to cope with the death of head girls’ coach Bill Martens, who passed away Friday.

“The girls ran with strength and resilience. They chose to compete today, and the courage they showed on the course was admirable,” said assistant girls’ coach Mikayla Arechigo. “They came together and not enough can be said about the toughness and support this group of girls showed one another.”

Arechigo felt the influence of Martens long before she joined the Central coaching staff.

“Coach Martens has done so much for so many runners and the sport of cross country. Not only has he impacted Central athletes, but he also encouraged area athletes through the annual cross country camp,” Arechgio said. “I remember attending the camp as a high school athlete, and the positive energy and passion he had for the sport was inspiring.”

Murley not only lost a fellow coach in Martens, but also a very close friend.

“I knew Bill for 35 years and can not think of an unkind word he ever spoke about others,” Murley said. “He was a life-long learner who never stopped working to be better. He loved his athletes both on and off the competition area. Both veteran and rookie coaches saw him as a role model of how people should coach athletes, build relationships and care.”

It’s safe to say that Martens’ legacy will impact the Golden Eagles program for years come.

Murley said Martens was a kind soul who deeply cared about others.

“He was the best person I know,” Murley said.

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

https://results.dakotatiming.com/display.html?event_id=1084