WATERTOWN – The Aberdeen Central boys earned a top-three team finish at the Watoma Invitational Cross Country Meet at Cattail Crossing Golf Course in Watertown on Thursday.

The Golden Eagles finished with a team score of 103, good enough for a third-place finish. Brandon Valley won the team title with a score of 86, while Sioux Falls Washington earned a runner-up finish (94). Pierre’s Jared Lutmer won the individual title, finishing with a time of 16:00.95, well ahead of O’Gorman’ Jack Castelli (16:43.68).

Individually, Central coach Greg Murley said the team had a solid day.

“We ran OK today,” Murley said. “Joe Perkins was our top runner today, placing 11th. David (VanVeen) had a solid run, placing 15th.”

Perkins finished with a time of 17:19.64, while VanVeen finished in a time of 17:30.50. Eighth-grader Tate DeVries finished 17th. Other Central boys’ runners included Esten Foss (29th), Sam Schultz (33rd), Max Nelson (34th), Patrick Severson (35th), Carson Urlacher (39th), and Rylan Johnson (63rd).

Murley said the team will look forward to the next meet.

“Our eyes are set on ESD next weekend, so that is our focus,” Murley said.

On the girls’ side, Central coach Eric Pedersen was pleased with several performances, including seventh-grader Alyssa Novstrup, who finished in 33rd place with a time of 22:13.27.

“We saw some girls get into good positions and race hard,” Pedersen said. “Alyssa Novstrup was a good example, a seventh-grader we brought up last week who put a really nice race together today and cut over a minute off her time in that varsity race.”

Central’s Juna Ramey led the team with a 13th place finish in a time of 20:47.75. Other Golden Eagle girls’ runners included Khloe Cochran (38th), Morgan VanVeen (44th), Anneliese Miller (52nd), Liz Preszler (54th), Kylee Hanley (55th), Isabella Vrbka (56th), Allison Brenner (58th), Evelyn Novstrup (59th), Elsa Schiferl (60th), Angie Lopez (64th), and Scout Rosendahl (70th).

Pedersen was pleased to see the team improve each week.

“Overall, the entire team makes gains every week,” Pedersen said, “and I’m really happy with the way the girls are coming into the meets, learning, and having fun.”

Brandon Valley’s Mia Wentzy won the individual title with a time of 19:03.70, ahead of Harrisburg’s Hannah Genrich (19:23.91).

Central finished sixth in the team standings with a score of 166. Brandon Valley won the team title with a score of 27, seven points ahead of Harrisburg (34).

Pedersen said Thursday was good practice for the ESD meet on Saturday, Oct. 7.

“We are looking forward to getting ready for ESD next week and today was a good day for that,” Pedersen said.

For complete results, click on the following link:

https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/225081/results/all