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Velva Invitational gives Panthers cross-country team ‘a chance to see more competition’

By Sue Sitter - | Sep 4, 2021

The Rugby Panthers followed their impressive showing at a major A/B meet in Jamestown Aug. 21 with an even better performance at the smaller Velva Invitational Aug. 24 at Velva’s Star City Golf Course.

Panthers coach Bill Jansen said the smaller Velva meet for class B schools gave the Panthers “a chance to see more of our competition. We want to continue to get stronger and more consistent.”

Two standout runners on the girls’ varsity team, Amelia Shepard and Brooklyn Bartsch, did just that. Shepard had placed fifth among the large pack of A/B runners in the 5000-meter event at Jamestown. Bartsch had finished just behind her in sixth place. At Velva, Shepard finished in first place in the 5000-meter event with a time of 21 minutes, 18 seconds. Bartsch finished second with a time of 21:22.

In the boys’ varsity 5000-meter race, standout Austin Dibble, who had finished among the top runners in Jamestown, finished in second place at Velva with a time of 18:17.

J/V runner Evyn Jacobson, who had finished first at Jamestown in the girls’ 3000-meter race, finished first at Velva with a time of 12:47. Ben Sullivan finished in fifth place for the J/V boys with a time of 12:41.

The Panthers traveled next to Carrington for another class B meet Aug. 31, where Jansen indicated the team would hone their skills even more. Results from that race will appear in the Sept. 11 Tribune.

Rugby Results from the Velva Invitational were:

Varsity girls’ 5000-meters:

Amelia Shepard, first place, 21:18; Brooklyn Bartsch, second place, 21:22; Hannah Senechal, fourth place, 21:53; Quinn Neppl, 10th place, 23:17; Ashlyn Dibble, 11th place, 23:52; Jaelyn Lunde, 12th place, 24:04; Kendyl Hager, 15th place, 24:23; Sara Schmaltz, 17th place, 24:52; Mikaylee Livedalen, 18th place, 24:57; Rylah Hager, 20th place, 25:18; Kinsey Arnston, 23rd place, 25:45; Jaclyn Duchscher, 25th place, 26:07; Rylie Suchor, 32nd place, 28:37.

Varsity boys’ 5000-meters:

Austin Dibble, second place, 18:17; Connor Klein, 12th place, 20:44; Jenner Johnson, 16th place, 20:59; Connor Ramsey, 19th place, 21:22; Kristian Fritz, 27th place, 21:47; Maddex Kirchofner, 28th place, 22:05; Andrew Duchscher, 30th place, 22:15; Wyatt Oppen, 32nd place, 22:29; Riley Odden, 34th place, 22:51.

J/V girls’ 3000-meters:

Evyn Jacobson, first place, 12:47; Keyara Lundstrom, seventh place, 13:52; Ava Jacobson, ninth place, 13:54; Mauvlyn Kirchofner, 10th place, 13:56; Mya McNeff, 12th place, 14:23; Jesse Wolf, 14th place, 14:31; Brooklyn Hager, 15th place, 14:36; Tressa Arnston, 17th place, 15:05; Livvy Johnson, 19th place, 15:16; Reese Gullickson, 20th place, 15:18; Sophie Oppen, 21st place, 15:37; Ava Wurgler, 24th place, 16:17; Haylee Jundt, 29th place, 17:39.

J/V boys’ 3000-meters:

Ben Sullivan, fifth place, 12:41; Austin Duchscher, eighth place, 12:42; Brayden Herman, 13th place, 14:05; Kiefer Fritz, 18th place, 14:30; Kale Deatherage, 22nd place, 14:53; Damien Herman, 25th place, 15:25.