Titans find success at Augustana; Babb, DeGeest post new school records

The Tea Area High School cross country teams traveled to Yankton Trails Park this past Friday night, Sept. 6 to run in the annual Augustana Twilight Meet. This meet is one of the premier meets in the region, drawing 1601 athletes from 75 schools in five different States. The Titans shone bright, recording numerous personal bests, five All-Time school performances, and two new school records.

The girls’ Junior Varsity race started the day and the Titan team set the tone for the day with incredible runs. 7th grader Evelyn DeGeest started and finished strong to earn 10th place in the field of 324 runners in a new school record 4K time of 16:21.6. 8th grader Taylor Boehnke also finished well, earning 27th place in a new PR time of 17:10.9 (#8 All-Time 4K). 8th grader Gretchen Curtis claimed 111th (18:51.5) in her first career 4K race, with fellow 8th grader Lola Underberg close behind in 116th place (18:56). Freshman Daphne Decker earned 143rd place in a time of 19:20.8, with 8th grader Grace Chapman close behind in 155th place (19:32.2). 8th grader Sophie Sherwood grabbed 172nd place (19:43.9) and junior Gracie Kramer finished in 194th, posting her second fastest career 4K time of 20:01.3 in the process. Junior Kiley Pendergast earned 194th (20:16.7) in her first race of the season, with 8th grader Natalie Hyronimus close behind in 228th place in a season best time of 20:33.9). Junior Morgan Sehr posted a new PR time of 21:04.1 for 254th place. The JV Girls finished 9th overall in the team scoring.

The JV boys ran next and continued to the theme of fast times. The JV Boys race was the largest of the night featuring 521 runners. Freshman Kadin Zolnowsky led the Titans with a PR time of 15:29.7 to finish in 110th place, with fellow freshman Dawson Lowery close behind in 115th. Lowery posted a season best time of 15:32.9. 7th grader Reed Cerny grabbed 169th place (16:01.1) in his first career 4K race. Freshman Riley Clark posted a season best time of 16:38.7 for 236th place. 7th grader Caden Schuster earned 295th place in his first 4K race in a time of 17:11.1, with sophomore Jaxon Johanneson close behind. Johanneson recorded a PR time of 17:13.1 for 301st place. 7th grader Grant Woodis claimed 354th place (17:40.1) in his first 4K race. Freshman Zaiden Johnson recorded a new PR time of 19:20.3 for 459th place and sophomore Malachi Kaiser grabbed 468th place in a time of 19:40.9. The JV boys finished 24th in the team scoring.

The Varsity girls race was next and featured 324 runners. The Titans impressed, with three placing in the top 50 and all posting season bests. Junior Jaycie Babb used a great start and strong middle mile to put herself in early contention. Babb recorded the best finish ever for a Titan at Augustana, earning 13th place in a new PR and school record time of 18:22.6. Freshman Grace Bialas also attacked the race well, getting out strong and finishing well to earn 35th place in a PR time of 19:08.7 (#2 All-Time). 8th grader Jayna VanLaecken used great mid-race moves to earn 47th place in a new PR time of 19:25.2 (#3 All-Time and only the third Titan girl to run in the 19s). Fresh-man Abby Hilleson used strong strides throughout to post a new PR time of 21:16.2 for 156th place. Junior Meredith Decker kicked well, running a season best 21:54.6 for 193rd place. Freshman Logan Castle recorded a new PR time of 22:15 for 223rd place. Junior Brooklyn Reiners ran a season best 22:57.4 for 273rd place to round out the Titan effort. The Titan girls finished ninth in the team standings, fifth in AA and fourth out of the ESD school competing.

The Varsity boys race concluded the day for High School athletes, featuring 430 competitors. The Titans took the energy the JV and Varsity girls had built and threw it into their races as all six Titans in the field posted new PR times. 

Junior Jack Campbell led the Titans. Campbell used a great start and impressive last mile to earn 75th place in a new PR time of 16:29.4 (#2 All-Time and only 5 seconds off the school record). 

Sophomores Jonah Klemisch and Kaden Christian battled throughout and closed strong to grab 184th place (new PR time of 17:36.1; #10 All-Time) and 200th (new PR time of 17:42.8) respectively. Sophomore Tate VanLaecken ran consistent miles, clock-ing a new PR time of 18:44.9 for 312th place, with junior Jacob DeYoung close behind in 318th place (new PR time of 18:51.6) and sophomore Noah Korver in 323rd (new PR time of 18:55.6). The Titans finished 29th in the team scoring.

The Titans were excited to cheer on Titan cross county alum Holden Jelen in his first career college race for Dakota State University. Jelen turned in a great race, earning 283rd place in a time of 22:35.8 for four miles. 

The Titans were scheduled to compete in Canton on Tuesday and will compete in the Nike Meet on Saturday, Sept. 14 at Yankton Trails Park. Middle school boys begin at 9 a.m., followed by middle school girls, varsity boys, varsity girls, junior varsity boys, and junior varsity girls.