Holdeman's top-20 finish leads the way for area runners at Nike Heartland Preview

Sep. 14—SIOUX FALLS — Mitchell-area runners posted strong finishes at the Nike Heartland Preview cross country race on Saturday at Yankton Trail Park.

In the boys varsity race, Mitchell Christian's Silas Holdeman was the top area finisher, placing 17th in a field of 273 varsity runners. He posted a time of 16 minutes, 19.10 seconds.

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Luke Mentele had a solid showing for Mitchell Christian, finishing in 35th place with a time of 16 minutes, 47.10 seconds. The Golden Eagles finished 13th out of 26 teams in the Nike event with 329 points, as Sawyer Holdeman (59th, 17:19.70), Luke Atnip (113th, 18:17.0), Brady Asbenson (147th, 18:37.10), Micah Menning (247th, 21.19.40) and Sam Atnip (248th, 21:26.40) also competed.

Mitchell High School's Micah Bennett led the way for the Kernel boys in the race, finishing 132nd with a time of 18 minutes, 28.10 seconds. Karsten Herges (204th, 19:45.20), Kaiden Colomb (239th, 20:45.10), Landyn Rhoades (249th, 21:28.50) and Carter Buschbach (250th, 21:36.90) also competed for Mitchell, which finished 26th as a team.

Chamberlain's Liam Gill led the way for area boys runners, placing 51st in a time of 17:13.10 seconds, while Platte-Geddes' Walter Graesser finished in 72nd in 17 minutes, 35.9 seconds.

The boys race was won by Sioux Falls Washington runner Cole Reilly in a time of 15 minutes, 18 seconds, with Sioux Falls Washington winning the boys team event out of 26 teams.

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In the girls race, Mitchell Christian's Laura Nemec led the way for the Golden Eagles with a time of 20:35.6 seconds, placing 58th in a field of 222 varsity runners, while Lerae DeLine placed 119th in a time of 21:53.8. Amy Henderson (138th, 22:08.10), Nicole Kleinsasser (207th, 25:02.80) and Trudie Hofer (213th, 25:38.60) also competed for MCS, which finished 19th as a team.

Mitchell High School's Kapri Herges pushed the pace for the Kernels, placing 64th in a time of 20 minutes, 41.7 seconds. Londyn Schroeder (110th, 21:45.6), Averi Gerfen (176th, 23:00.50), Sydnie Pischel (205th, 24:55.10) and Ella Hempel (216th, 25:45.70) also competed for Mitchell in the event, which finished 21st as a team.

Chamberlain's Grace Phillips led the way for area girls runners, placing inside the top 20 at 18th in a time of 18:58.90 seconds, while Platte-Geddes' Berklee Mills finished in 62nd place in 20 minutes, 41.2 seconds. Chamberlain placed 12th as a team.

Harrisburg's Brianna Reilly was the girls champion in a time of 17:26.60, finishing ahead of Spearfish's Peyton VanDeest (17:28.30). Harrisburg won the girls team event out of 24 teams.

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Mitchell Christian will compete next in the Flyer Invitational on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Valley View Golf Course in Freeman, as Mitchell turns to the Clyde Cotton Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19 in Huron.