Fargo Davies' Luka Rout sets state meet record with win at Class A boys cross country championship

JAMESTOWN, N.D. — Luka Rout continues to make his runs look effortless. The Fargo Davies junior set a new state meet record on Saturday, racing to a first-place mark of 15 minutes, 13.6 seconds to win his first North Dakota Class A boys cross country championship at Parkhurst Campground and Pipestem Reservoir. It feels good just knowing that I m continuing what I accomplished during track (season), Rout said. Rout swept the Class A boys distance finals at the state track and field meet back in May. Although his 15:13.6 on Saturday was more than 8 seconds off of his personal best of 15:04.9, the time still surpassed the previous state meet record of 15:15.8 set by Bismarck Century s Wil Ihmels in 2024. Rout also shaved 15.1 seconds off of his Eastern Dakota Conference championship-winning time of 15:28.7. The course was good, Rout said. I don t think it was the course or the environment I think I just prepared better for this race than I did for EDC.