Harrisburg asserted its dominance at the 2026 South Dakota State High School Cross Country Championships held at Hart Ranch Camping Resort in Rapid City, finishing with a commanding team score of 41. The Lady Hawks’ performance was anchored by a deep roster that swept the top three individual spots, securing the team title ahead of Sioux Falls Lincoln (71) and O’Gorman (144). With 36 teams and 150 individual athletes earning awards across the six divisions, the event highlighted the depth of talent in South Dakota high school running, where the top six teams in each class qualified for statewide honors.
Brianna Reilly and the Lady Hawks secure top honors in a competitive six-class field.
Individual competition was equally fierce, with Harrisburg’s Brianna Reilly claiming the individual title in the 5,000 meters with a time of 17:06.5. Reilly was joined on the podium by teammate Hannah Genrich (17:20.5) and Rapid City Stevens’ Iris Birnbaum (17:21.2), who finished just 0.7 seconds behind Genrich. The top five finishers were separated by less than 30 seconds, demonstrating the high level of parity among elite runners. Other notable performances included Peyton VanDeest of Spearfish (17:36.2) and Mia Kadi of Sioux Falls Lincoln (17:52.6), who rounded out the top five in the individual standings.
The team standings revealed a tight race in the middle of the pack, with Yankton (145) and Brookings (148) finishing just one point apart for fourth and fifth place. Watertown rounded out the top six with a score of 155, narrowly edging out Rapid City Stevens (167) for the final qualifying spot. The event served as a crucial benchmark for the 2026 season, with 25 individuals per division earning state recognition. As the season progresses, the performances of Reilly, Genrich, and Birnbaum will be closely watched as they prepare for the next phase of competition.
Source: Yahoo Sports
