The Frederick Area cross country team. Front row, from left: Arabella Clark, Katie Bretsch, Jillian Ellwein, Sofia Losure, Morgan Sumption, Laura Sumption, Gabby Millard, Samantha Dallmann, Ruby Dallmann, and Chloe Arneson; and back row, coach Sarah Sumption, Howard Sumption, Tate Dosch, Erik Losure, Titus Kippley, Noah Kippley, Winston Clark, Milo Sumption, Andrew Schlosser, and coach Janelle Barondeau. Not pictured: Braelyn White.
Twenty student athletes are out for cross country this year: 12 girls (eight in high school and four in junior high) and eight boys (five in high school and three in junior high).
Except for the cancelation of the second meet due to poor air quality, the team has been fortunate to have good weather for practices and meets.
“The first meet went very well,” Coach Janelle Barondeau said. “Most of the girls cut time from last year’s Redfield meet, and Morgan placed ninth out of 63. We placed three runners for the boys varsity: Milo was seventh, Titus was 17th, and Winston placed 20th out of 86 runners. Howard also had a great showing, finishing 23rd. The boys varsity team finished fourth. The JV girls—Katie, Gabby, and Sam—ran well, finishing fifth, 12th, and 20th, respectively. The JV girls placed second as a team. For the middle school boys, Andrew had a great debut race, finishing third out of 65 runners, and Tate had a nice race, finishing 13th.”
Since that first race, the team has run in Webster, Faulkton, and Groton.
The boys varsity team won the Webster meet (Milo Sumption placed second, Winston Clark placed seventh, and Howard Sumption placed ninth), came in third in Faulkton, and won the Groton meet (Milo was second, Winston was sixth, Howard was seventh, and Noah Kippley and Titus Kippley were 11th and 12th, respectively).
The girls varsity team came in second in Webster (Morgan Sumption placed sixth, Jillian Ellwein was 14th and Sofia Losure was 15th) and placed fourth in Faulkton (Morgan placed fifth and Jillian Ellwein was 15th). The team’s best finish so far was in Groton, where Morgan Sumption won the race and the team took home the plaque. Jillian Ellwein placed third, Laura Sumption placed sixth, Sofia Losure placed seventh, Katie Bretsch was 10th and Gabby Millard was 14th.
Seventh-grader Andrew Schlosser has also had some notable finishes. He won the junior high boys race in Webster and placed fifth in the JV boys race in Groton.
Barondeau said all the runners have set goals of working hard and becoming their best. “Many are hoping to return to the state meet,” she said.
Form and the mental aspects of racing are areas of focus for the team. “We also want to improve pace during races and racing strategies,” Barondeau said.
“Once again we have a very dedicated and positive bunch of athletes,” she added. “It looks to be an exciting season!”
The Frederick Area boys varsity cross country team won the Webster Invitational meet on Sept. 11. Pictured from left are Coach Janelle Barondeau, Noah Kippley, Titus Kippley, Milo Sumption, Winston Clark, Howard Sumption, and Coach Sarah Sumption.
The Frederick Area girls varsity cross country team won the Groton Invitational on Sept. 25. Morgan Sumption won the race. Pictured are Gabby Millard, Jillian Ellwein, Morgan Sumption, Sofia Losure, Laura Sumption, and Katie Bretsch.
The Frederick Area boys varsity cross country team won the Groton Invitational on Sept. 25. Pictured are Titus Kippley, Winston Clark, Milo Sumption, Noah Kippley, and Howard Sumption.
See more photos on the Frederick SD Facebook page.
