DHS runners aiming high at West Region meet

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At the beginning of the season, the Dickinson High boys and girls cross country teams had two dates in mind: today and Saturday, Oct. 27.

The West Region meet begins at noon today in Jamestown. In two weeks, Dickinson hosts the Class A and B state meets.

“It’s exciting to know that everything that we’ve worked for is finally here,” Dickinson senior Shelby Stoltz said. “We know that we have to put everything we’ve done in the last couple months to use.”

The process of becoming a solid cross country team hasn’t come overnight. Dickinson head coach James Mousseau made that apparent at the first practice.

“It’s definitely been hard for them,” Mousseau said. “Kids these days want to see everything right now, so on the first day I told them they are going to have to patient and just keep working. It took them a little while to really buy into that.”

The runners will admit it took a little time, but after all the strenuous two-a-days they are finally seeing the fruits of their labor.

“I think we’ve put in a lot of work,” said Dylan Gress, a senior from Dickinson Trinity who runs with the Midgets. “We want to see that work pay off.”

Dickinson has started to a taper a little bit in the mileage each week and Mousseau said the runners are starting to more energized.

“We can feel that our legs feel a lot better and we are ready to race,” Stoltz said. “I know the intense is up and we are ready to go.”

On the boys side, sophomore Jackson Binstock leads the Midgets. He is ranked No. 2 in the state behind Bismarck High’s Jake Leingang. The goal for Dickinson is to finish in the top four.

“This year we’d like to be in the top four,” Mousseau said. “Being there with Bismarck High, Bismarck Century and Williston, we are in a tough region. We think we can tangle with those three teams.”

On the girls side, Dickinson High senior Meleah Leiss will be a race-time decision because of a nagging knee injury. However, Mousseau believes the girls team is capable of placing in the top three.

“We have to be in the top three,” Mousseau said. “Our season goal is to be in the top three. Being unhealthy like we are, we might not be full squad.”

Tags: high school cross country, dickinson midgets, sports, preps