Successful run at Spearfish

The Bulldog Cross Country team found success in its second meet of the season, the Northern Hills Invite in Spearfish, SD Fri., Sept. 2.

Five Bulldog runners competed in the 5000-meter junior varsity division and finished third as a team. Sophomore Angel Villegas finished in a state-qualifying time of 20:19.25, placing eighth.

Sophomore Wyatt Flahaven finished in 21:10.12, while sophomore Holden Ayer crossed the finish line in 22:05.40. Senior Kort McLaughlin and sophomore Jager McLaughlin finished in 22:45.16 and 22:57.61.

Four Bulldog runners competed in the 3000-meter middle school race divisions. Eighth-grader Maddison Neiman finished in a time of 15:42.79, while seventh-grader Rylan Asheim crossed the finish line in 18:19.56.

Sixth-graders Remmington Johnson and Eva Stark competed in the Middle School Girls 3000-meter race. Johnson ran a time of 15:51.25, placing 10th, while Stark finished in 17:18.33 in 16th place.

In just one week, the Bulldog runners saw times improve, and the shaved times bode well as the runners competed in 90-degree temperatures. The middle school runners, who ran a third of a mile longer, kept consistency, noted coaches Ann Marie Mickle and Jen Jungwirth.

"Our runners worked hard this past week, and their times in Spearfish showed it," said Mickle. "In addition, it's great to see the cohesiveness and positivity that the team is developing."

The Bulldog Cross Country team will race in the Big Horn Invitational on Sept. 9 and Custer Invitational on Sept. 15.