Who thinks running is not fun? Just ask the forty-one area youth that spent 3 days attending a distance running camp on June 26-28 at the Randall Creek Recreation Area by the Fort Randall Dam. The running camp was organized by cross country coaches Larry Lucas (Andes Central/Dakota Christian) and Tom Cartney (Wagner).

Each morning the runners did a 3-mile run and then participated in group discussions and activities related to developing a strong running base and how to improve both as an athlete and an individual. Some of the camp activities were: Stretching and strengthening individual running muscles, developing core strength, setting and meeting goals, developing a runner’s diet, and training to accomplish a personal goal. The camp concluded on Friday morning with a 5K fun run followed by a talk from Doug Petersen, the cross country head coach at the University of Sioux Falls.

Other fun activities were playing Frisbee disc golf, swimming, and enjoying the views of the Missouri River. The summer temperatures were warm, and a lot of water and fresh fruit were consumed by everyone!

In addition to runners from Andes Central/Dakota Christian and Wager, there were runners from Avon, Burke, Gregory, Kimball/White Lake, Tripp/Delmont/ Armour, and Elk Point/Jefferson. This year the cross country season begins with organized practices on August 15, the first meet day is August 31, and the state meet will be October 26. The coaches and runners attending the camp all left with positive plans for a successful season as well as being able to build on relationships with other runners and schools.

Runners and coaches who attended the camp were: Lexi Schoenfelder, Isabella Brouwer, Hannah Hansum, Sonya Hansum, Tony Hansum, and Coach Lucas and Beth Harrington from Andes Central/Dakota Christian; Teddy Slaba, Cooper Slaba, Presley Slaba, Jackson Rolston, Vincent Bechen, Caleb Zephier, Jason Weston, Ryan Conroy, Myles Kokes, Jordan Iron, Curtis Jensen, Mieke Slaba, and Coaches Julie and Thomas Cartney from Wagner; Tyler Tjeerdsma from Avon; Garner Burrus, Cade Burrus, Cody Williams, Keith Hoffman, Bryce Bartling, Nick Nelson, and Coach Kensey from Burke; Carson Klundt, Adyson Stukel, Sierra Rencountre, Emma Thomas, Luke Sinclair, and Coach Voigt from Gregory; Summer Skluzak,

Josie McCord, Alkane Metcalfe, Christiane Gaulke, Taya Chelmo, Drew Ekstrum, Spencer Hanson, Jayden Kott, and Coach McCord fromKimball/White Lake;Makayla Fuoss, Micah Leonard, and Corbin Fuoss, Tripp/Delmont/ Armour; Paetyn Cole, Elk Point/ Jefferson; and Coach Lucas’s granddaughter Orah Wight from Sioux Falls along with daughters Whitney Lucas Molitor (Sioux Falls), Jenna Lucas (Sioux Falls), and Andrea Herrera (Vermillion).