PIERRE – Aberdeen Central cross country runners got their season off a quick start Friday morning at the Pierre Invitational in a meet that featured two tight races at the finish line. Both individual winners won their respective races by slightly more than one second.

The Golden Eagles claimed four of the top five spots in the boys’ race, while the Central girls showed a big improvement over last year’s times at the same meet.

Pierre’s Caleb Morris won the boys’ race and Central took the next four positions led by Carson Urlacher in second place.

“Carson Urlacher has been training well and had a solid race today,” said Central boys’ coach Greg Murley.

Central’s Patrick Severson was third, followed by teammates Max Nelson in fourth, and Esten Foss in fifth.

“I feel we ran well for our first meet of the season,” Murley said. “Our guys put in a lot of hard work this summer and it’s nice to finally be able to get out and race.”

The girls’ race featured a familiar battle between Emery Larson and Ella Boekelheide. The two have gone toe-to-toe in the past in Class B, but Larson has now moved to Pierre after competing at Chester.

Larson, the defending Class B state cross country champion, edged Northwestern’s Boekelheide in a tight finish.

Meanwhile, Central’s Juna Ramey finished third leading a solid effort from the Golden Eagles.

“Most of our varsity athletes have put in a ton of work over the summer to get read for this season, which is definitely playing in their favor,” said Central girls’ coach Eric Pedersen.

Among the top 10 runners in the girls’ race included Madisyn Gellhaus of Ipswich in sixth, Central’s Allie Novstrup in seventh, and Warner’s Kenna Wolberg in tenth.

Central had four runners among the next 10 group of runners, including Allison Brenner in 13th, Evie Novstrup in 15th, Kylee Hanley in 17th, and Khloe Cochran in 20th.

Pedersen said he compared times from the same event a year ago and that his runners showed noticeable improvement.

“I went back and looked at results from last year, and most of our kids were over a minute faster than last year at this time,” Pedersen said. “So that’s really encouraging to start the season out with some increased production.”

The Golden Eagles will now head to the Augustana Twilight meet next weekend in Sioux Falls.

“We start our season with this smaller meet, and then will turn about next week and head to one of the largest meet at the Augustana Twilight,” Murley said. “It’s good to get this one under our belts.”

BOYS’ DIVISION

1, Caleb Morris, Pierre, 12:36.96; 2, Carson Urlacher, Aberdeen Central, 12:37.61; 3, Patrick Severson, Aberdeen Central, 12:57.95; 4, Max Nelson, Aberdeen Central, 12:59.78; 5, Esten Foss, Aberdeen Central, 13:14.95; 6, Tayshaun Cudmore, Dupree, 13:18.65; 7, Korbin Stark, Faulkton, 13:44.78; 8, Sam Schultz, Aberdeen Central, 13:56.43; 9, Spencer Olsen, Dupree, 14:05.46; 10, Jayden Brandt, Pierre, 14:12.62;

11, Cody Kiesz, Aberdeen Central, 14:13.65; 12, Tryton Parmely, Pierre, 14:25.81; 13, Josh Thorson, Northwestern, 14:28.81; 14, Jacob Mason, Pierre, 14:34.02; 15, Ty Boekelheide, Northwestern, 14:39.21; 16, Logan Niedebaumer, Faulkton 14:41.58; 17, Will Clemens, Northwestern, 14:44.90; 18, Spencer Sargent, Stanley County, 14:45.46; 19, Daniel Mason, Pierre, 14:47.27; 20, Ian Rounds, Pierre, 14:48.40;

21, CJ Moses, Pierre, 14:51.84; 22, Rylan Evenson, Warner, 14:58.18; 23, Carson Ewalt, Northwestern, 14:59.87; 24, James Stolley, Pierre, 15:08.21; 25, Tripp Schrempp, Dupree, 15:16.05; 26, Philip Holsing, Faulkton, 15:34.46; 27, Jarren Haven, Northwestern, 15:37.77; 28, Aaron Blachford, Northwestern, 15:18.87; 29, Tyson Peterson, Stanley County, 16:43.17; 30, Tate Bray, Faulkton, 16:52.52; 31, Cole Noon, Faulkton, 16:59.18.

GIRLS’ DIVISION

1, Emery Larson, Pierre, 14:43.37; 2, Ella Boekelheide, Northwestern, 14:44.54; 3, Juna Ramey, Aberdeen Central, 15:18.40; 4, Gwen Richter, Pierre, 15:32.08; 5, Harper Shaffer, Pierre, 15:38.42; 6, Madisyn Gellhaus, Ipswich, 15:45.49; 7, Allie Novstrup, Aberdeen Central, 15:54.11; 8, Devyn Ran Roekel, Pierre, 16:02.56; 9, Mason Berg, Pierre, 16:13.14; 10, Kenna Wolberg, Warner, 16:26.71;

11, Kamora Rutherford, Stanley County, 16:39.68; 12, Tara Blachford, Northwestern, 16:40.95; 13, Allison Brenner, Aberdeen Central, 16:44.02; 14, Charlee Williams-Smith, Pierre, 16:49.30; 15, Evie Novstrup, Aberdeen Central, 16:50.96; 16, Jayne Lees, Pierre, 16:52.64; 17, Kylee Hanley, Aberdeen Central, 16:53.14; 18, Elaina Rounds, Pierre, 17:06.58; 19, Gracie Rutherford, Stanley County, 17:18.55; 20, Khloe Cochran, Aberdeen Central, 17:20.99;

21, Kaysen Magee, Stanley County, 17:23.11; 22, Gracyn Kadlec, Ipswich, 17:45.55; 23, Rhyann Roseland, Faulkton, 18:12.93; 24, Allyson Bauer, Pierre, 18:24.20; 25, Liz Preszler, Aberdeen Central, 18:26.96; 26, Reese Hadrick, Faulkton, 18:28.27; 27, Elsa Schiferl, Aberdeen Central, 18:45.65; 28, Addisyn Heinrich, Warner, 18:50.21; 29, Lucia Holsing, Faulkton, 20:26.24.