Bulldog Cross Country wins at Newell

The Sundance Bulldogs varsity boys' cross country team won the Irrigator Invitational in Newell, SD. on Fri., Sept. 15. The Bulldogs crossed the finish line with three top-ten finishes in the competition, including a first-place finish.

Senior Deklan Gill won the varsity 5000-meter run in his season-best time of 18:54.38. Junior Angel Villegas finished sixth in a time of 19:39.41, while fellow junior Holden Ayer finished ninth, running in a state-qualifying time of 20:55.04.

Juniors Wyatt Flahaven and Kyten Johnson finished in 21:20.19 and 21:58.17, respectively.

"The success we found in Newell is just what the team needed and it bodes well for the work they have put in so far this season," said co-coach Ann Marie Mickle. "Every runner improved their times this past week, and we look forward to seeing how much stronger each runner can become as the season continues to progress."

All five varsity runners saw improved race times and set new season PRs. 

Freshman Maddison Neiman ran the 4000-meter junior varsity race in a time of 21:02.98, earning a third-place medal.

The Bulldog junior high team also found great success in Newell. Seventh-grader Remmington Johnson won her 2000-meter race in a time of 8:55.83. Seventh-grader Eva Stark placed sixth, running in a time of 9:55.93. Seventh-graders Taylor Asheim and Ava Cooney ran in times of 11:30.32 and 12:09.13, respectively. 

Eighth-grader Rylan Asheim ran in a time of 9:23.34, finishing ninth. Six-grader CJ Koep ran in a time of 11:17.06.

"We see the junior high runners keep getting stronger, as well. Their hard work is paying off," Mickle said. "We're proud of the finishes we're seeing for this young team."

The Bulldogs will host the Bulldog Invitational during the SHS Homecoming festivities on Friday, Sept. 22. The meet begins at 9 a.m. and will be at the Sundance Golf Course. A youth fun run will kick off the events at 9 a.m.

The girls' varsity and junior varsity race is at 9:30 a.m. The boys' varsity and junior varsity is at 10 a.m. The middle school race is at 10:30 a.m.