Roosevelt boys, Lincoln girls break through

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

RESULTS

The cross country energy in South Dakota is squarely focused on the state's largest city, Sioux Falls, these days. 

In the Class AA state meet at Yankton Trails on Saturday, Sioux Falls Lincoln's Gabe Peters moved up a spot from 2014's runner-up finish and won the state title in 15:52.89. 

However, the team battle featured Sioux Falls rivals and it was Roosevelt ending Lincoln's three-year streak ast the top team in thestate, 58 points to Lincoln's 78. A third Sioux Falls team, Washington, was third with 95 points. 

In Class A, West Central of Hartford scored 33 points to win the team title. Chance Dooley of Custer ran 15:56.70 for the second-fastest time of the day behind Peters.

James Valley Christian won the Class B title with 20 points.

The Sioux Falls Lincoln girls won their first state championship by putting six girls in the top 30 of the Class AA final, scoring 58 points. The Patriots returned nearly everyone from last year's runner-up finish. The top seven only has one senior. 

Eleanor Abraham, an eighth grader from Brookings, stayed strong in the final 50 meters to win the AA individual title in 18:44.8 -- just a second ahead of Yankton's Savannah Woods. 

The fastest girl in the state, however ,was Class A winner Ella Byers of Chamberlain, who ran 18:41.3 and won her race by 20 seconds. Custer won the team title with 38. 

In Class B, Aleah Steger led Ipswich to the team title with her win in 19:17.7.