Dogies Record Seven Personal Bests as James Wins JV Race at Heart Ranch

RAPID CITY, S.D. - Newcastle High School turned a busy homecoming week into a memorable day of racing Sept. 24, recording seven personal bests at the Heart Ranch course. LJ James delivered the Dogies’ top finish by winning the JV women’s division in a personal-best 20:33, while Jaden McGuire led the varsity men with the first sub-19-minute performance of McGuire’s career.

The previous night’s rain settled the dust, and clear skies, cool temperatures and calm winds created strong racing conditions. Newcastle’s runners took advantage by staying focused, working together and encouraging teammates throughout the course. The performance was especially rewarding after homecoming activities made the team’s normal practice routine more challenging during the week.

McGuire crossed in 18:59 to break the 19-minute barrier and set the pace for the varsity men. Behind McGuire, Dylan Conley and Lane Carter used pack running to push one another all the way to the finish. Conley placed 116th in 20:22, and Carter followed just three seconds later, placing 117th with a personal-best 20:25. Kendrick Blumenthal and Lucas Scribner formed another tight Newcastle pairing, finishing 127th and 128th in 21:54 and 22:17, respectively.

Christine Swentesky led the varsity women by breaking 22 minutes with a personal-best 21:45, good for 64th place. Cheyanne Bloom reached a milestone of her own, finishing in a personal-best 24:56 and placing 124th. Breaking 25 minutes brought an added burst of excitement to a day already filled with progress. Chanel Hanson placed 130th in 25:59, Hollie Swentesky was 131st in 26:25 and Tacie Carter followed in 133rd with a time of 27:06, giving the Dogies another close pack through the finishing stretch.

Newcastle’s JV runners added two of the day’s most significant performances. James combined the division victory with a personal record of 20:33, turning a strong race into a first-place result. In the JV men’s race, Leigh Beason cut four minutes from the previous best and placed 96th in 26:44, one of the largest improvements of the meet for the Dogies.

From James’ victory to McGuire’s barrier-breaking run, the Dogies translated teamwork into measurable progress. Conley and Carter pushing stride for stride, the varsity women finishing in close groups and seven runners setting personal bests reflected a team racing with confidence. Despite the distractions and schedule changes that came with homecoming week, Newcastle stayed connected and delivered when it was time to race.