Karly Ackley sets lofty new standard in 5K final

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

In the first year that girls in North Dakota ran the same distance as the boys at the NDHSAA state championships, Karly Ackley of Grand Forks Central set a lofty standard. RESULTS

Ackley covered 5,000 meters in 17:13.2 to win the Class A title in Minot. Sophomore Mattie Shirley-Fairbairn of Bismarck was second in 17:24.3 and senior Kelby Anderson of Century was third in 17:39.6.

Davies had a 20-second spread on its five scorers (19:24.4 to 19:44.1) and won the state title with 71 points. 

Hunter Lucas of Davies won the Class A boys race in 15:30.4, edging out Leif Everson of Williston by a single second. Century scored 62 points to win the Class A team title. 

In Class B, New Town continued its domination of the small-school level in North Dakota, scoring 18 points and producing a result that could have won Class A as well. Jalen Chase led the charge with his overall victory in Jamestown, in 15:49.6. New Town's five scorers were across the finish line by 16:28.

Freshman Reagan Baesler of  Hillsboro/Central Valley won the girls B race in 18:11.8. She also led her team to the championship.