IHS runners at Redfield, host at home Saturday

Ipswich attended a high school cross country invite hosted by Redfield last Thursday.

The Lady Tigers had two varsity girls runners entered, led by a Top Tenner Tessa Kilber in eighth at 20:56.58. Emily DeRaad also placed 31st of 64 runners in that event at 22:21.78. It was won by Victoria Zirbel of Dakota Hills in 20:00.16, followed by Rana Hegg of Webster Area in 20:13.50.

Ipswich also entered and placed one boy in their varsity race, Maxwell Geditz, also in the Top 10 at fourth in 17:38.66. (There were 83 total runners, led by Mitch Batchelor of Milbank in 16:25.82 and Beau DeBray of Timber Lake was second at 17:19.49.)

Meanwhile, the junior varsity races were both productive for Ipswich. There were 56 JV girls, led by Ipswich's own Ashley Ptacek in 17:15.82. And Kaylin Onken placed 16th in 18:44.80. Chloe Jager was 23rd in 19:56.43, followed by Makala DeRaad 37th in 21:09.97. And Taylor Thorson was first among 83 JV boys at 14:33.67, followed closely by Turner Thorson in second at 14:39.25. Evan Onken placed 13th at 15:50.43 and Dylan Wald was 15th at 15:58.31, while Xavier Kadlec finished 30th at 16:46.33.

Ipswich also had seven girls in the middle-school race, led by Sommer DeRaad 24th at 8:11.30 and Ashlinn Hartwell closely behind in 8:12.00. Altogether there were a total of 115 combined middle-school girls and boys.

Ipswich will next host its annual invitational on Saturday at Split Rock with the action starting at 10 a.m. with the girls' varsity showdown.