CEB's Mendoza running for fourth straight State title, TC's Grimshaw a favorite in girl's competition

Todd County's Lottie Grimshaw, an eighth grader leads Pine Ridge's Jessica Tall in the Todd County Invitational, she will be a favorite in Saturday's State Cross country meet in Huron. PHOTO COURTESY OF RANDY BACHELOR, WHITE RIVER. CHAMBERLAIN/BELLE FOURCHE - Lottie Grimshaw, an eighth grader at Todd County, defended her Region 5A cross country individual title Friday in Belle Fourche by blowing away the field, defeating Alayna Ackerman of St. Thomas More/RC Christian by 33 seconds with a time of 16:14 over the 4000 meter course. Todd County girls took second to St. Thomas More 37-39.

Kiko Mendoza led a very strong Cheyenne Eagle Butte team to the Region 4A championship Thursday in Chamberlain with a stunning 15:18, 12 seconds ahead of past state A champion Alex Muntefering of Parkston and 59 seconds in front of Ian Wiest of McLaughlin. Eagle Butte placed four runners in the top ten to win the Region 4A boy's tem title with 21 points to McLaughlin's 45 points.

Mendoza, a senior, is the three time defending state B champion and is looking for his fourth straight state cross country individual championship. He transferred from Takini to Cheyenne Eagle Butte last winter so he will be competing at state at the A level this year.

Cheyenne Eagle Butte won the Lakota Nation Invitational Cross Country title this year and the Region 4A on Thursday in Chamberlain; they should be a favorite for the state A championship as well and include Kiki Mendoza, Cordray White Dog, Dysan Lends His Horse, George Iron Shield, Seven Annis, Merrill Mitchell, Nick Houston and Aaron Turning Heart. PHOTO COURTESY OF JERRY MATTHEWS, DOUBLE M PHOTOGRAPHY Marc Whirlwind Soldier, a junior at Todd County finished second to Andy Coy of Hill City 16:19 to 16:25 but helped to lead the Falcons to the Region 5A boy's team title 38-51 over Red Cloud. Custer was third with 56, last year's state champ Hill City was fourth with 58 and Pine Ridge took fifth with 63.

Cheyenne Eagle Butte's Ashley Iron Moccasin finished third in the Region 4A girl's cross country race Thursday in Chamberlain behind Stanley County's Courtney Ziebert and Parkston's Alena Laber helping her team to a second place finish with 40 points just behind Chamberlain's 35 points.

Red Cloud qualified three girls in the top 20 including seventh grader Christi Sioux Bob in 7th, Desirae Blacksmith 12th and Saige Pourier 18th. Jessica Tall of Pine Ridge was sixth. The top three teams and the top 20 individuals qualify for state.

In addition to Whirlwind Soldier, Todd County's Region 5A winning boy's team included 4.Wes Running, 18.Max Grimshaw and 23.Brad Eagle Deer and 45.Charles Metcalf. Henry Crow took fifth and assisted the Red Cloud boys to second place behind Todd County; Red Cloud's team also included 7.Kyle Blacksmith, 17.Jon Ross, 31.Frank Sioux Bob, 32.Brandon Two Bulls and 38.Terrance Clifford. Pine Ridge qualified Dallas Two Lance in sixth and Nick Charging in 15th and included 27.Tre Walking, 30.Robert Iron Cloud, 37.Kelsey Good Lance and 44.Wilbur Red Elk. St. Francis qualified two runners as well Cory Eagleman in 11th and Derek Two Eagle in 20th and included 43.Daryl Jones. Little Wound's Cecil Marshall was 50th.

Following Grimshaw for Todd County was 8.Tawny Berry, 10.Kylie Wilson, 25.Josie Stone, 31.Lisa Antoine and 43.Becky Reddest. Red Cloud qualified three including 7.Christi Sioux Bob, 12.Desirae Blacksmith and 18.Saige Pourier and included 27.Laree Pourier, 30.Billi White and 41.Laura Red Cloud. Jessica Tall from Pine Ridge qualified with a sixth place finish, Calandra Wanatee was 36th. St. Francis had three runners 32.Jori Gunville, 39.Halana Quick Bear and 45.Clarene White Lance.

In addition to Mendoza, CEB's Region 4A winning boy's tem included 5.Dysan Lends His Horse, 6.George Iron Shield, 9.Cordray White Dog and 11.Aaron Turning Heart. Runner-up McLaughlin included 3.Ian Wiest, 8.Ch'ato Wiest and 13.Sam Iron Thunder.

Region 4A runner-ups CEB Lady Braves included: 3.Iron Moccasin, 6.D'Aryn Lends His Horse, 12.Koda Kersteins and 19.Allie Moran.

This years South Dakota State Cross Country championships are set Saturday, Oct. 25 for the Broadland Creek Golf Course in Huron with the A girls at 12:30 p.m. MT, A boys at 1:30 p.m..

After the Region 4A race, Mendoza has to be the favorite but will be challenged by Muntefering, Coy and Whirlwind Soldier. Todd County boys will most likely battle with Cheyenne Eagle Butte for the boys team title while both of their girls teams should be in the mix as well.