Mitchell's Hunter Patton brings home all-ESD honors for Kernels cross country

Marcus Traxler, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D.
·2 min read

Oct. 9—BROOKINGS — Mitchell's Hunter Patton provided the top highlight for the Kernel cross country team on Saturday, claiming all-Eastern South Dakota Conference honors during the conference's championship meet at Edgebrook Golf Course.

Patton finished in 11th place in a time of 17 minutes, 7.81 seconds, which was a personal-best time for the Kernel freshman. He is the first MHS boys runner to claim an all-ESD finish since Riley Cowins finished seventh in the 2015 conference meet at Huron.

Harrisburg's Cashton Johnson won the boys varsity race in a time of 16:01.73, ahead of second-place runner Jared Lutmer, of Pierre (16:20.44).

Yankton won the boys team title with 60 points, followed by Brandon Valley (76) and Aberdeen Central (88). The Kernels, with just five male varsity runners, finished last in the team scoring with 237 points. Elijah Schroeder (67th, 19:49.49), Austin Reimnitz (70th, 20:34.93), David Sheets (72nd, 22:15.60) and Abe Gunnare (73rd, 23:54.67) also ran for Mitchell.

In the varsity girls race, Mitchell's Londyn Schroeder was the top Kernels finisher in a time of 21:12.13, good for 23rd place. Schroeder was joined by three other Kernel runners in the race, including Aspen Evers, who took 36th place in a time of 21:40.16, Alexis Daley (46th, 22:11.02), and Mya Vogel (64th, 25:10.96).

With only four runners, Mitchell did not factor in to the team scoring. Brandon Valley was the girls champion with 32 points, followed by Harrisburg with 48 points and Watertown in third with 82 points. The Lynx' Addison Scholten was the individual champion in a time of 18:56.94, defeating Harrisburg's Presli White by nearly 40 seconds.

In the 4,000-meter junior varsity race, Bella Russell had a 19th place finish for Mitchell (19:17.67), while Avrie London was 20th (19:20.23). Mitchell's best boys JV finisher was Kane Grajkowske, who took 47th (17:33.03).

In the 3,000-meter junior high boys race, Colin Pickett had the Kernels' top time of 11:45.64, good for 14th place. Ava Hart was Mitchell's top girls finisher, taking 40th place in a time of 13:49.59.

Mitchell will get an important final tune-up of the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 13 when they participate in the Huron Invitational at Broadland Creek Golf Course, which will be the site of the South Dakota state cross country meet nine days later on Oct. 22. The first race is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday.