RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Mines track and field and cross country teams have announced the signing of 19 incoming freshmen for their rosters in 2024-25.

Chase Bodine is the first of an exciting class of recruits, joining the roster from Wiggins, Colorado and Wiggins High School. A future member of the cross country team as well, Bodine earned two all-conference honors in track and three in cross country along with all-state recognition and two all-region honors. Best times include 4:48.37 (1600m), 10:25.32 (3200m) and 16:40 (5K – Cross).

The first local product is Peyton Cast, hailing from Box Elder, South Dakota and Douglas High School. He was a four-year captain of the varsity program there and will also be joining the cross country team. In addition, Cast was a four-time all-conference selection in cross country. In the 800m, he ran a 2:01.11, while finishing the 1600 in 4:21.46, the mile in 4:38.91 and the 3200m in 9:24.96. On the cross country side, his best finish was 15:36.4 in the 5K.

Jack Errea joins as another local product from our backyard in Rapid City, South Dakota and Central High School. The dual sport (track and cross country) athlete was a two-time state qualifier in track and field while running best times of 2:12 (800m), 5:05 (1600m), 10:25 (3200m), 14:00 (4K) and 17:01 (5K).

Kyrstan Hafla is the first female recruit to join the 2024-25 roster. The Jordan, Montana native is a two-time all-district selection and two-time all-state selection. Primarily a jumper, Hafla's best marks came a 35'8" in the triple jump and finished the 300m hurdles in 49.99. A multi-sport athlete, Hafla competed in volleyball and basketball, lettering four times in each and earning all-state in volleyball.

Lewiston, Minnesota product, Elijah Hoppe joins the roster from Lewiston, Minnesota and Luther High School. His best times came at 11.28 (100m) and 22.79 (200m). Hoppe was a two-time all-conference selection.

Another Minnesota product, Owen Johnson attended Lakeville South High School and is from Lakeville. Also planning to be a member of the cross country team, Johnson was a two-time all-conference selection in cross country. Johnson recorded best times of 1:58 (800m), 4:22 (1600m), 9:42 (3200m) and 16:16 (5K).

Ronan Lander also comes from Minnesota, hailing from Maple Grove and Parnassus Preparatory School. Competing in both track and cross country for six years, Lander was selected to the all-conference team three times across both sports. He finished the 1600m in 4:39, the 3200 in 10:15 and the 5K in 16:42, all personal best times.

Grand Junction, Colorado native, Chase Lester joins the roster as a thrower. 14.02m in the shot put was his best throw.

Eelan Nevel hails from Salem, Oregon and will be a member of the cross country team as well. He participated in both sports for two years at Sprague High School in addition to playing basketball for a year. Nevel earned all-conference honors in both cross country and track. The best times for Nevel came in at 2:03.49 (800m run), 4:30.82 (1500m run) and 17:20 (5K).

Emily Novak is the next addition to the program for 2024-25. The Foley, Minnesota native is planning to compete as a multi. Emily was a three-time all-conference selection at Foley High School along with being a multi-time Section 5AA Champion. Best marks came in the 100m run (13.63), long jump (17'3.25"), triple jump (35'8.75") and pole vault (9'6").

Brock Peasley, originally hailing from Wheatland, Wyoming attended Wheatland High School. Peasley is a well-accomplished multi-sport athlete earning All-State honors in football as well as all-conference honors in basketball. In his lone year of high school track, his personal bests were 11.38 (100m dash), 23.05 (200m run) and 20'9.5" (long jump).

Grace Pridgeon hails from Gillette, Wyoming and Campbell County High School and will be a member of the track and field and cross country teams at South Dakota Mines. Grace ran 1:05.44 in the 400 for her best time.

Another Minnesota product joins the roster in Luke Seuntjens as he comes from Saint Paul, Minnesota and Minnehaha Academy. Seuntjens ran best times of 4:38 in the 1600m run and 9:53 in the 3200m run. In cross country, Seuntjens' best time was 16:42.

Sean Seurer is from Hoven, South Dakota and Gettysburg High School. Seurer ran personal bests of 11.52 and 23.83 in the 100-meter and 200-meter runs. Sean was a multi-sport athlete, also competing in basketball and earning two letters.

From Brookings, South Dakota and Brookings High School, Addison Smetana will be a member of the track and field and cross country teams. Smetana ran best times of 5:40 and 12:17 in the 1600m and 3200m runs. In the 5K, her best time was 19:47.
Michael Thompson is from Haslet, Texas and is a jumper. The best mark for Thompson came at 6'4" in the high jump. Thompson also played football and lettered for two years.

Jacob Vandenack is a thrower, hailing from Yutan, Nebraska. A four-time all-conference selection, Vandenack recorded PRs of 147'6" (discus), 47'7" (shot put) and 145'8" (javelin).

From our backyard, Victoria Verhey is from Rapid City, South Dakota and St. Thomas More. A thrower, Verhey's best mark came at 32'5" in the shotput. A multi-sport athlete, Verhey competed in Cheer and wrestling where she was an all-conference wrestler and all-state in each sport.
Zachary Yates from Monticello, Iowa attended Monticello High School. Yates earned numerous all-conference and all-district honors for the discus in his high school career but threw shot put and hammer as well. His best marks were 158'6" (discus) and 48"5' (shot put).

The cross country team opens its season on September 6 at Black Hills State.  You can follow along with the track and cross country teams all year long by following them on Instagram (@hardrockertrackfieldxc) X (@hardrockertfxc) and Facebook (Hardrocker Track and Field & Cross Country).

About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 13 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.