News Summary

The city of Mitchell showcased impressive performances during the Watoma and Cougar Invitationals. Local runners shined, with notable accomplishments from both boys’ and girls’ teams. Hunter Patton led the boys’ team at Watoma with a top-ten finish, while Londyn Schroeder stood out for the girls. At the Cougar Invitational, Mitchell Christian’s boys’ team clinched the championship title. With strong finishes and a promising roster, Mitchell is set for a competitive season ahead.

Mitchell’s Cross Country Teams Shine at Recent Invites

The beautiful city of Mitchell recently witnessed some impressive performances at two major cross country events: the Watoma Invitational and the Cougar Invitational. As the fall season heats up, the spirit of competition is gathering momentum, and local runners are stepping up to the challenge!

Watoma Invitational Highlights

This year’s Watoma Invitational took place at the picturesque Cattail Crossing Golf Course on a crisp Thursday. In the boys’ race, Hunter Patton of Mitchell High School grabbed an impressive 10th place with a time of 17:19.17. The speedster from Brandon Valley, Mikah Peters, left everyone behind, clocking in at an astonishing 15:33.84 to claim the win!

Other boys from Mitchell also gave it their all, resulting in the following finishes:

  • Ben Gerlach – 31st place, time: 18:35.89
  • Micah Bennett – 37th place, time: 18:52.83
  • Karsten Herges – 45th place, time: 19:29.29
  • Will Mullenmeister – 59th place, time: 20:35.99
  • Ethan Lofgren – 65th place, time: 22:58.97

As for the team standings, Brandon Valley took home the championship with a cumulative score of 30 points, followed by Harrisburg at 49 points and O’Gorman with 105 points. Mitchell rounded out the competition in seventh place overall with 156 points.

Moving on to the girls’ race, Londyn Schroeder led the charge for Mitchell, finishing 20th with a time of 21:01.65. Another strong runner was Skylar Lawson, who secured 30th place at 21:53.11. The big winner of the day, Brianna Reilly from Harrisburg, crossed the finish line in a blazing 17:10.34.

The girls’ team title went to Harrisburg with an impressive score of 23 points, while Brandon Valley and Pierre followed with 53 points and 85 points respectively. The stage is set for the upcoming Eastern South Dakota Conference meet, which Mitchell will host on October 11 at Wild Oak Golf Course.

Cougar Invitational Success

Cougar Invitational held in Burke, S.D., Mitchell Christian made quite the splash. The boys’ team took the championship title, racking up only 9 points. The standout of the boys’ race was Winner Sawyer Holdeman, who crossed the finish line at 18:00.46. The close competition saw Luke Mentele and Silas Holdeman finish just behind him, with times of 18:00.63 and 18:00.74 respectively.

Mitchell Christian celebrated further successes with additional finishers like Brady Asbenson in 14th (time: 19:39.62) and Luke Atnip in 19th (time: 19:59.72). For team standings, behind Mitchell Christian were Freeman with 37 points and Kimball/White Lake at 59 points.

In the girls’ race at the Cougar Invitational, Kimball/White Lake dominated, also coming in with 9 points. The individual undertaking saw Alli McCord claim victory with a time of 20:35.79, while teammate Lily Baker secured second place at 20:56.10. Mitchell Christian found a commendable finish in the form of Laura Nemec at 9th place (time: 21:59.80) and Hannah DeLine in 10th (time: 22:13.59).

Looking Ahead

As the season progresses, Mitchell High School appears to have a bright future with its impressive roster for the fall 2025 season, with only two boys set to graduate. The senior boys include Dylan Cortave, Benjamin Gerlach, Ethan Logren, Hunter Patton, and Parker Taylor. Additionally, senior girls like Lucy Daley, Alicia Rickett, and Mya Vogel will bolster the team.

This year’s practices kicked off on August 14, focusing heavily on teamwork and preparation as athletes gear up for more competitions. Notable performances include Londyn Schroeder, who broke the Mitchell High School girls’ record in the 5,000-meter race with a stunning time of 19:02.8 at the Augustana Twilight meet, surpassing the previous record of 19:33.9, established back in 2018.

With the first competition just around the corner on August 28 at Wild Oak Golf Course, the excitement is palpable! It’s safe to say that the runners of Mitchell are continuing to put their best foot forward and are ready to take on the challenges that lie ahead.

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