Rupert breaks two mile school record

By Esther Noe

 

Fifteen Hill City High School Rangers competed at the Howard Wood Relays in Sioux Falls May 5-6. According to head coach Joe Noyes, this “is one of our bigger meets this time of the year where we get to see where we stack up against other relays and kids in our class statewide.” 

Noyes went on to say that the distance boys performed really well during this meet. Luke Rupert broke the school record in the 3200 meter run by 22 seconds, coming in ninth at 9:33.43. 

Meanwhile, Tate Grabow and Leighton Aves ran lifetime bests in this event. Grabow finished 26th at 9:56.89 and Aves finished 36th at 10:00.54. 

Rupert and Aves participated in the 4x800 relay as well along with Devin Buehler and Brandon Escalante. Coming in fourth, Noyes said, “They ran an 8:14, and they were only four and a half seconds off the school record.”

“Class A in the mid-distance and distance is an extremely deep field this year so the fact that our boys are running this well and placing that high amongst our class is really awesome,” Noyes added. 

Meanwhile, Abby Cutler achieved a personal record, running the 1600 two seconds faster than ever before. She placed 19th at 5:21.78. Cutler later anchored the medley relay and ran her fastest 800 split of the year. Together Cutler, Riley Wiese, Alaina Dean and Sara Dubois placed ninth at 4:27.93. 

The Gas and Go Track and Field Meet at the Kadoka Area Sports Complex was also May 5. Here the Ranger scored in numerous events. 

In the 100 meter run, Jessica Escalante placed sixth at 14.13, and Joy Anderson placed eighth at 14.26. Jessica went on to place seventh in the 200 meter run at 29.22. Then, Lindsey Ronning finished the 400 in sixth at 1:15.45. 

There was a nice Ranger lineup in the 800 run. Brooke Thayer-Burke finished fourth with a time of 2:47.32, Lillie Ross finished fifth with a time of 2:47.53 and Jaelyn Peters finished sixth with a time of 2:51.74.

Aspen Veneklasen claimed first place in the 1600 at 6:11.01. Paiton Flick finished shortly after in second at 6:29.35. 

For the 100 hurdles, Zoe Alexander placed third with a personal record of 18.92.

Jessica, Anderson Demi Schrier and Alexander teamed up for the 4x100 relay and placed third with a time of 56.98. 

The 4x200 relay team included Lexi Brandt, Ronning, Schrier and Alexander. They finished seventh at 2:06.82. 

Then in the 4x800 relay Aspen, Ross, Thayer-Burke and Peters claimed first place with a time of 11:14.65. 

Xitlalic Lupercio took third in discus at 94-10. 

For the Ranger boys, Isaac Dean finished third in the 100 at 11.85. Nick Schroeder followed shortly thereafter in fifth at 12.04. 

In the 200, Aidan Voorhees finished fourth with a time of 24.68, and Zephaniah Martinez finished fifth with a time of 25.19. Martinez also placed second in the 400 at 55.75, and Eli Isakson finished seventh at 1:00.78. 

Isakson ran again in the 800 and placed sixth with a time of 2:25.87. Then in the 1600, Aiden Williams finished fourth at 5:18.89, CJ Stoeckmann finished sixth at 5:28.90 and Connor Baseley finished seventh at 5:29.95. 

Brensen Veneklasen won the 300 hurdles with a personal record of 44.87, and Jerrad Hislop placed second at 48.28. 

In the 4x200 relay, Hislop, Voorhees, Joseph Carson and Brensen finished seventh with a time of 1:49.62.

The Ranger boys had a lineup in the high jump as well. Brensen finished second at 5-4, Chris Ellert finished third at 5-4 and Isaac finished fourth at 5-2. 

Schroeder placed second in long jump at 18-6 1/2, and Isaac placed fourth at 17-6 1/2. Then in the triple jump, Schroeder won at 38-4 1/2. 

“It was a great weekend to be a Ranger,” said Noyes. 

The Rangers’ next track meet is the 2023 Black Hills Conference Track and Field Championship at Lyle Hare Stadium in Spearfish Friday, May 12.

“It's been a ton of fun to see these kids progress and get better each week, and I’m really excited to watch how the championship season goes,” said Noyes.