(Eric Hansen, Gary Haven, Lisa Gustin and Andy Busse)

South Dakota’s team in the Primal Quest Badlands endurance race has gone through some personnel changes since the team was first announced last winter. Gary Haven and Lisa Gustin are still on the team, but the other two spots have changed.

By the way, if you’ve never heard of Primal Quest, it’s not just a walk in the park. The race will test competitors in skills such as off-road running, mountain biking, caving, swimming, kayaking and fixed-line ropes. It will also test their physical endurance. The race covers 600 miles, and runs 24-7 until it’s over. The best teams might finish in six days; for others it could take 10 days. Some teams won’t finish.

Early on , Team South Dakota member Dan Jensen had to drop out. He was replaced by Jason Kingsbury, but Jason suffered a fracture to his lumbar spine on July 29. He spent three days in the hospital, and was sent home in a back brace. Needless to say, he won’t be participating in Primal Quest Badlands.

“Jason was our best cave navigator, excellent ground navigator, biker and bike wrench,” the team said on its website. “We will miss his filthy mounth!!”

Meanwhile team captain Paulette Kirby of Rapid City left the team in early July to join Semper Fi, one of the other teams in the Primal Quest competition.

Team South Dakota had to scramble, but they now have a complete roster. Andrew Busse replaced Paulette on the team. He is a South Dakota National Guard helicopter pilot. He’s also on the Guard’s biathlon — skiing and shooting — team. He has competed internationally.

Replacing Kingsbury is Eric Hansen, Andrew’s friend, He’s a firefighter for the past seven years. “We are quickly getting him up to par with gear and training,” the team said.

I hope the changes to put Team South Dakota at a disadvantage going into the race, which starts Friday. But from what I’ve been reading, this is not uncommon.

The Semper Fi team added Paulette Kirby because one of their members had to drop out. And a couple of setbacks, including a serious mountain biking accident, has sideline the entire Nike team this year. That’s significant, because Nike has won Primal Quest for the past five years. With Nike out, the field is wide open.

So Team South Dakota, despite its personnel changes, has as good a chance as any team to complete the course — and maybe win it.