SIOUX FALLS – The Potter County and Northwestern cross country teams finished the season with strong performances at the Class B State Cross Country Meet at Yankton Trail Park on Saturday.

Potter County defended its state girls’ team championship, while Northwestern grabbed the combined team title after the boys’ team finished in third place, and the girls’ team placed sixth.

Potter County secured the team title with a score of 22 points, well ahead of runner-up finisher Arlington (43). The Battlers returned everyone from last season’s championship, and coach Jessica Larson said the plan was simple entering the meet.

“Just staying up to where we needed to be and run together as a team,” Larson said.

Larson said the team was excited about the meet and was prepared to defend its title, which was a result of a team effort in practices and meets throughout the season.

“They all run together as a team in practice, they run together as a team in meets, and they just went out there and ran very well today,” Larson said.

The Battlers’ top finishers were sophomores Dannika Kaup, who finished third; Emma Schlachter, who finished eighth; and Jadyn Ahlemeier, who finished 11th.

Kaup had to pass Arlington’s Kaelyn Ulschmid at the end of the race to capture the third place finish.

“I didn’t think I’d get her at the end, but something in me – I think it was the crowd and all the people I could hear, my friends, my family – just pushed me through, and eventually my legs started moving and I got her,” Kaup said. “It was pretty crazy.”

Kaup said she could also hear her head coach motivating her all the way to the finish.

“She thought she could settle for fourth place, but realized right at the end when I was screaming at her that she could pass the Arlington girl and she did it,” Larson said.

Kaup said there was more pressure to win the team title this year than last year.

“I’m really proud again,” Kaup said. “Last year it seemed easy, but this year it was scary because Chester and Arlington were both really close.”

The Wildcats of Northwestern also had a memorable meet. Coach Kris Boekelheide was glad to see the athletes’ efforts pay off.

“These kids have been working really hard,” Coach Boekelheide said. “Some of these kids have been training since June for this day, so it’s just nice to see their hard work pay off. They deserve it.”

Ella Boekelheide of Northwestern was in a tight battle with Chester Area’s Emery Larson for much of the Class B girls’ race. Boekelheide and Larson were side-by-side for the first half of the race, which resulted in Boekelheide working hard, not only physically, but mentally.

“There was definitely a lot going on in my head. I was just trying to stay confident and trust my body,” Boekelheide said. “Stuff just happens and you got to keep working.”

Boekelheide had to work to stay with Larson during the first half of the race.

“I just had to go with her. I mean, that’s all I could try to do was just stay right on her hip,” Boekelheide said. “I had no idea what she was thinking. I didn’t really know her strategy, so it was really a mind game. I did my best.”

Despite the effort, Larson pulled away from Boekelheide for her second straight Class B state title, while Boekelheide finished runner-up for the second straight season. Although she did not win, Boekelheide was proud of her efforts.

“I don’t know what happened, really, but it happened, and I can’t do anything about it,” Boekelheide said. “I’m still proud of all the work I put in for sure.”

Coach Boekelheide enjoyed watching the two runners compete at the state level.

“Ella’s a smart runner, so we kind of let her feel out the race and know what to do,” Coach Boekelheide said. “It was intense. Fun to watch. It’s nice to get here and see some good runners.”

Northwestern freshman Tara Blachford finished in 10th place.

The Northwestern boys had a pair of runners finish in the top 12 with Nathan Melius taking eighth and Lincoln Woodring finishing in 12th. Woodring was not expected to run in the state meet due to experiencing a health issue at the region meet, but was cleared to run on Thursday.

“Three or four days ago I didn’t even know I was going to be running today, but we went and saw a cardiologist and they said nothing was wrong with my heart,” Woodring said. “We found out that I wasn’t drinking enough water and I was really dehydrated.”

Woodring said he had to drink large amounts of water this week to get prepared for the meet, but once he got out on the course, he became more comfortable as the meet progressed.

“I came out and … started pretty slow, because I didn’t want it to happen again,” Woodring said. “So, I started slow and just tried to pick it up throughout the race.”

Melius said he was surprised to be up among the top runners during the race.

“It was a little different sight than usual,” he said. “Usually, I’m a little further back, but being in that pack at the beginning and kind of keeping (up) with them is kind of a good feeling.”

Coach Boekelheide said she will miss Melius and Woodring and the stability the two seniors brought to the team.

“They’ve always stepped up. They’ve been our top two runners for a long time. They put in the work,” Coach Boekelheide said. “We’re going to really miss them, but they’ve been really stable for our team, and it was great to have them both running today.”

Nicholas Schlachter was Potter County’s top boys’ runner, finishing sixth. Although it was not the place he wanted, he was glad to finish off the season on a high note.

“Would’ve liked to have been (number) one, but a sixth-place finish, it’s a good way to end the season,” Schlachter said.

The senior had an unexpected series of events before the race even began, which did not help his cause during the race.

“Coming off the line (after) throwing up a couple of times, doesn’t put you in a really good spot,” Schlachter said.

Schlachter was also part of a pack of runners fighting for top ten spots during the race. He said it is a battle to stay on pace with other runners.

“It’s a mental battle,” Schlachter said. “It’s up to who’s got the guts. If you can run with everyone up until the last mile mark, it’s who’s got the guts.”

Schlachter was proud to represent the communities of Gettysburg and Hoven during the meet.

“It means a lot to me because I have been the number one runner to come out of both towns,” Schlachter said. “It means a lot to represent both the towns.”

Another top ten finisher was Gavin Hirsch (10th) of Herreid-Selby Area. Hirsch, a sophomore whose goal was to finish in the top ten, was motivating himself throughout the race to keep up with several other runners.

“I just thought, ‘Don’t let them beat me and just keep up the pace, and try to get top ten,’” Hirsch said. Hirsch worked hard during the year to get to this point in the season.

“(I’ve) been running every morning when I get up before school and I run at practice as hard as I can,” Hirsch said. “Just work for it.”

Other area Class B boys who finished in the top 25 included Xavier Kadlec (18th) of Ipswich, Austin Jenkins (18th) of Leola, Korbin Stark (23rd) of Faulkton Area, and Milo Sumption (25th) of Frederick.

Other area Class B girls who finished in the top 25 included Kennadee Wagner (5th) and Kenna Wolberg (15th) of Warner, Autumn Fallis (6th) of Highmore-Harrold, Kendal Uttecht of Wolsey-Wessington (21st), and Madisyn Gellhaus (22nd) of Ipswich.

For complete results, click on the following link:

https://results.dakotatiming.com/display.html?event_id=1366